miles. Then round Great Isaac Lighthouse at a distance of about 4 miles in a depth of about 12 or 13 fathoms (21.9 to 23.8 m).

The principal dangers are the Gingerbread Ground and the rocks and reefs lying between it and Great Isaac Lighthouse, which have a total length of about 30 miles; and the greatest caution and attention to soundings should be observed in approaching this dangerous locality, as the flood tide sets directly on the reefs, and in places parts of it are only about 12 miles from the edge of the bank. From westward of Stirrup Keys to eastward of the Gingerbread Ground the northern edge of the bank is clear and the lead a safe guide, and vessels sometimes anchor here during light winds.

From northward of Great Isaac Lighthouse steamers shape the course across the Gulf Stream for Fowey Rocks Lighthouse. On this course an allowance should be made for a northerly current, averaging about 214 knots for the entire run. It will therefore be necessary to shape the course for a position some 8 or 10 miles southeastward of Fowey Rocks Light to allow for the northerly set. When fixing the position by bearings on the light, keep in mind that while outside the 100-fathom (183 m) curve the vessel is probably in the full strength of the Gulf Stream, where the northerly current may average a velocity of 4 knots; if the light is on the starboard bow, the vessel will be much closer to it than indicated by the distance run between the successive bearings on it. On account of the strong current and the abrupt shoaling inside the 100-fathom (183 m) curve, the greatest caution should be observed in approaching Fowey Rocks and in fixing the position from which to shape the course southward. (See the caution as to currents in the Straits of Florida on p. 51.)

To stand along the western edge of Great Bahama Bank.-If possible, daylight should be selected for the run.

Having rounded Great Isaac Lighthouse at a least distance of 3 miles, steer 223° true (SW. 14 S. mag.) for 10 miles to pass outside Eldorado Shoal, depth 10 feet (3.0 m), taking care in the night not to come within the depth of 10 fathoms (18.3 m), or to bring the light to bear northward of 51° true (NE. 12 E. mag.) until the shoal is passed. The course may then be altered more southward to follow the edge of the bank in not less than 10 fathoms (18.3 m) and pass outside Moselle Shoal buoy.

After passing North Bimini the keys must be closely hugged in order to avoid the Gulf Stream, which sometimes comes close to the rocks. A short calm within a mile of the edge of this part of the bank might drift a sailing vessel so far northward as to oblige her to run around Little Bahama Bank and to enter again from eastward. Therefore, instead of attempting to beat along with a light wind it is more prudent to anchor under North Bimini and await a slant of wind to get around the elbow.

In the winter when near Great Isaac, if the weather indications give warning of a northwester, it is advisable for a sailing vessel to remain in the Northwest Providence Channel and be guided by bearings on Great Isaac until the wind draws northward, which it usually does in 24 to 48 hours.

Vessels proceeding westward from Great Bahama Bank should endeavor to strike soundings on the northwest end of Salt Key Bank. Should the wind be scant from westward, they may run in on the

PROVIDENCE CHANNELS

59

bank on either side of Dog Rocks and pass off southward of the Double Headed Shot Keys; or, should the wind be light and tending to calm, they may anchor on the bank to avoid being set northward. At night vessels had better run down westward of the bank, paying great attention to the lead.

It is advisable for sailing vessels not to stand over for Salt Key Bank until after reaching Orange Key. In the summer months, when light southeasterly winds prevail, a strong northwest current frequently runs into Straits of Florida from Santaren Channel, and vessels meeting with a calm or light airs at this period are sometimes drifted through the straits, even in sight of the keys along the edge of the bank.

Having passed Elbow Key Lighthouse and being clear of Salt Key Bank, the course should be about 233° true (SW. 1⁄2 W. mag.) until close over to the coast of Cuba, to avoid the strength of the current. This course should lead toward the peak of Matanzas and about 12 miles northwest of Piedras Key Lighthouse, but this will depend upon where the vessel leaves the bank and the set of the current, which is very uncertain and sometimes strong into the Nicholas Channel. If bound to ports of the United States on the Gulf of Mexico, keep along the coast of Cuba as far west as Mariel, about 22 miles westward of Habana, and then shape a course to pass westward of Tortugas.

Vessels with a fair wind may shorten the passage by crossing over from Salt Key Bank to Sand Key Lighthouse; a Gulf Stream current with a velocity of about 2 knots in a northeasterly direction will be experienced.

To cross Great Bahama Bank.-Vessels of less than 12 feet (3.7 m) draft can stand across the northwest part of Great Bahama Bank from Northwest Providence Channel, but this should not be attempted unless in the daytime, when the rocky patches can be seen so as to be avoided. The distance with a depth less than 4 fathoms (7.3 m) is 70 miles. About half of this distance carries a depth of a little more than 2 fathoms (3.7 m); 15 miles of this is known as the flats or Middle Ground, which has narrow sand ridges and small black heads, between which the vessel must be guided by eye.

Passing 111⁄2 miles northward of Great Stirrup Key Lighthouse, bring the lighthouse to bear 112° true (ESE. mag.), distant 4 miles. Then steer 238° true (SW. by W. 1 W. mag.) for 33 miles to the edge of the flats or Middle Ground, which extends across the bank and is about 15 miles wide; allowance must be made for the tidal current. Thence a 217° true (SW. 3⁄44 S. mag.) course for 50 miles will lead to a position 5 or 6 miles southeastward and in sight of Orange Key, and the course continued will lead to the edge of the bank about 12 miles southward of it.

In crossing the flats the eye must be the guide between the numerous white sand ridges and the small black heads, which are easily seen, even in the nighttime, if the weather is clear. Should a vessel enter upon the bank with the first of the flood, she should steer a little more westward, and more southward if she enters on the first of the ebb. Although the water is so shoal and clear, the lead should be kept constantly going, the lead line being marked to feet. If eastward of the track and approaching what is known as Long

20712°-36- -5

Bank, the little heads of sponge and dark fans will become more numerous. In the winter months, should the wind haul southward (a sure indication of a northwester), it is advisable to anchor and await the change instead of beating about among the shoals.

Tides. Mean high-water interval on the bank is about 8 hours, and the current has a velocity of 1 to 0.5 knot to within a short distance of the north side of the Middle Ground. On the Middle Ground there is little current; and on the south side of the Middle Ground the current is rotary, setting from east to south and west from high to low water, and through north to east from low to high water.

3. OUTSIDE COAST CAPE HENRY TO CAPE LOOKOUT

(Charts 1227, 1229, 1232, 1233)

Cape Henry, on the south side of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, is a bold range of sand hills, 80 feet (24.4 m) high, with lower ones near the water. On the beach at the cape is Cape Henry Lighthouse, and 340 feet southwestward of it is an unused lighthouse tower. Near the lighthouse are a storm-warning display station and a seacoast telegraph station of the United States Weather Bureau, from which vessels are reported to Norfolk and with which they may communicate by the use of International Code Signals.

Cape Henry Lighthouse, lat. 36°55′34′′ N., long. 76°00′27′′ W., is an octagonal, pyramidal tower, upper and lower half of each face alternately black and white. The light is group flashing white (group of 3 flashes every 20 seconds) with a red sector, 157 feet (47.8 m) above the water, and visible 19 miles.

The fog signal consists of 2 diaphones operated simultaneously, 1 horn points 77° and the other points 333°. The diaphones sound a 2-second blast, and are silent 18 seconds. If the diaphones are disabled the fog signal is a siren, blast 3 seconds, silent 17 seconds.

A radiobeacon and distance-finding station is operated from the lighthouse. (For description see Light List, Atlantic Coast or H. O. Pub. No. 205.)

Gun-firing practice, vicinity of Cape Henry. Information is issued in the "Notice to Mariners" when gun firing from Fort Storey is contemplated. The last notice defined the danger areas as lying between the bearings 50° and 140° true from Cape Henry Lighthouse, for a range of 20,000 yards.

Virginia Beach, a summer resort 5 miles southward of Cape Henry, has railroad communication with Norfolk. The buildings are prominent, especially the Cavalier Hotel, and there is a high, black water tank here. A Coast Guard station is located on the beach here. There is a naval radio direction-finder station operating from the Coast Guard station lat. 36°51'10" N., long. 75°58′33" W. The towers of the naval radio direction-finder station carry twin fixed red lights at the top. (For description, see H. O. Pub. No. 205.)

From Cape Henry to Cape Hatteras the coast trends southward for 103 miles and is broken by Oregon Inlet. From Cape Henry southward for 11 miles there are woods near the beach, but for the remainder of the distance the coast is a low, narrow strip of land or sand beach, from 1% to 234 miles wide, separating the ocean from

the extensive interior waters of North Carolina. Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses, Diamond Shoal Lightship, the buoys, and the Coast Guard stations are the principal marks. The coast between Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras is free from dangers if it be given a berth of 5 miles or more, and along the greater part of it 5 to 9 fathoms (9.1 to 16.5 m) will be found as close as 1 mile from the beach. The shoals lying off this stretch of coast are False Cape Shoals, Platt Shoals, Wimble Shoals, and Hatteras Shoals. In navigating along this coast in thick weather the closest attention should be paid to the soundings and chart, and even then the navigator is likely to be confused and led into danger in consequence of the irregularities of depth.

About 211⁄2 miles southward of Cape Henry there are two sand hills, one 60 feet (18.3 m) and the other 40 feet (12.2 m) high, called, respectively, "Wash Hill" and "Sheep House Hill." When approaching from southward, the locality resembles Cape Henry and is called "False Cape." Several spots with depths of 14 to 18 feet (4.3 to 5.5 m) lie from 34 to 134 miles offshore from False Cape. À lighted whistle buoy (flashing white light) is moored outside these shoals about six miles from shore.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse, lat. 36°22′25'' N., long. 75°49′52′′ W., nearly 34 miles southward of Cape Henry Lighthouse, is a red conical tower. The light is flashing white every 20 seconds (flash 3 seconds, eclipse 17 seconds), 158 feet (45.1 m) above the water, visible 19 miles.

There is a naval radio direction-finder station, lat. 36°17′17′′ N., long. 75°47′49′′ W., located 51⁄2 miles south of Currituck Beach Lighthouse and near Poyner Hill Coast Guard Station. (For description see H. O. Pub. No. 205.)

Wright Memorial Monument, lat. 36°00'51" N., long. 75°40'06" W., about 3/4 miles south of Kittyhawk on the sand hills near the coast, is high and very prominent, and provides a good landmark on this low sandy coast where there are but few prominent objects.

Bodie Island Lighthouse, lat. 35°49′06'' N., long. 75°33′49′′ W., 36 miles southward of Currituck Beach Lighthouse, is a conical tower, alternate white and black horizontal bands above granite base. The light is group occulting white (light 2.5 seconds, eclipse 2.5 seconds, light 2.5 seconds, eclipse 22.5 seconds) every 30 seconds, 156 feet (47.5 m) above the water, and visible 19 miles.

Oregon Inlet, about 2 miles southward of Bodie Island Lighthouse, is entered over a shifting bar, the surveyed depth on which has varied from about 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3.0 m) or more. When inside the bar, anchorage can be found under the lee of the south entrance point. The tidal currents have considerable velocity, sometimes from 3 to 4 knots, and even 5 knots on the ebb with strong westerly winds. About 4 feet (1.2 m) at high water can be taken from the inlet over the bulkhead into Pamlico Sound through a difficult, shifting channel. There are no aids with the exception of Oregon Inlet Whistle Buoy, which marks the entrance. The inlet is used to some extent by local boats, but never by strangers. A ferry crosses the inlet.

Platt Shoals are a number of spots with 42 to 6 fathoms (8.2 to 11.0 m) over them, lying from 214 to 334 miles from the beach and from 6 to 9 miles southeastward of Bodie Island Lighthouse. There

is a good channel with a depth of 8 to 14 fathoms (14.6 to 25.6 m) inside this shoal and about 13 miles from the beach. The shoals are about 311⁄2 miles long in a south-southeast direction and are about 111⁄2 miles wide. In easterly gales the shoaler spots are marked by breakers.

New Inlet, which formerly existed in the beach, 10 miles southward of Bodie Island Lighthouse is entirely closed.

In March 1933 a new inlet was cut through the beach between Pea Island and Chicamacomico Coast Guard stations.

Wimble Shoals are a number of ridges extending out from and lying off the shore to a distance of 4 miles, with depths ranging from 32 to 6 fathoms (6.4 to 11.0 m). The northern end of these shoals is about 15 miles southward of Bodie Island Lighthouse and eastward of the northern end of Chicamacomico Woods. The spot with 32 fathoms (6.4 m) over it lies about 25% miles from shore, and there are several spots with 4 fathoms (7.3 m) over them inshore of it. In easterly gales the shoaler parts are marked by breakers. Wimble Shoal Lighted Whistle Buoy 6 moored 61⁄2 miles offshore marks the outer limit of the shoals.

Cape Hatteras, where the coast makes a sharp bend westward, is low and sandy and is marked by Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. About 0.7 mile northward of the lighthouse is a radio direction-finder station, lat. 35°15′59′′ N., long. 75°31'18" W. (for description see H. O. Pub. No. 205). There is a Coast Guard station about 1 mile southward of the lighthouse.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, lat. 35°15′17′′ N., long. 75°31'16" W., is a black and white spirally banded tower with a red brick base. The light is flashing white (light 1.4 seconds, eclipse 4.6 seconds), 191 feet (58 m) above the water, and visible 20 miles.

Hatteras Shoals extend nearly 10 miles in a southeasterly direction from Cape Hatteras and consists of a number of irregular shoals, some of which have 4 and 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) on their shoaler parts. The three principal shoals have distinctive names. The Spit extends about 2 miles southeastward from the cape.

Diamond Shoal lies 3 miles southeastward of the cape, has little water over it, and is usually marked by breakers. Outer Shoal is at the southeast extremity of Hatteras Shoals and consists of irregular patches with least depths of 5 and 11 feet (1.5 and 3.4 m) over them, which are usually marked by breakers and a wreck or two. Outer Slue Channel, the passage between Outer and Diamond Shoals, has a depth of about 311⁄2 fathoms (6.4 m), but as there are several spots with only 14 and 16 feet (4.3 and 4.9 m) over them and as the channel is not marked, it is not safe to pass north of the Outer Shoal. During strong winds the currents set across the shoals with great velocity.

Wrecks on the Outer Shoal usually occur in the case of vessels approaching from southward in thick weather. The difficulty of making a proper allowance for the set of the Gulf Stream, and also the strong currents near the shore and the shoals, may cause considerable error in the reckoning. The lead and Diamond Shoal Lightship with its radiobeacon are the guides for clearing the shoals. When approaching and uncertain of the position, the greatest care should be observed, the lead kept going at frequent intervals until