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Passing about 200 feet southwestward of the perpendicularly striped bell buoy at the entrance, steer 306° true (NW. 14 N. mag.), following the red buoys at a distance of 75 to 100 feet, until Housatonic River Light No. 1 is about abeam. On this course, during a flood tide, care must be used to avoid being set on the shoals on the west side by the strong westerly currents. Then steer 314° true (NW. by N. mag.) until 100 feet eastward of black buoy No. 7, passing 100 feet eastward of light No. 3; then steer 306° true (NW. 14 N. mag.) passing between the red and black buoys and about 100 feet eastward of light No. 5, at the south end of the dike. Continue about 100 yards past the light on this course and then haul over to pass about 100 feet westward of red buoy No. 14 and follow the curve of the channel northward, passing about 250 feet eastward of the wharves at Stratford.

Above Stratford chart 219 is the guide. Buoys have been established to mark the channels across the bars, and sometimes ranges, erected in connection with dredging operations, may be in position.

BRIDGEPORT HARBOR (CHART 220)

is on the north side of Long Island Sound, north-northwestward of Stratford Shoal Lighthouse. It is the principal approach to Bridgeport, and is a secure harbor for vessels of 21 feet (6.4 m) or less draft. The harbor has been improved by the construction of two converging breakwaters on the flats at the entrance and by dredging a straight channel 300 feet wide and 22 feet (6.7 m) deep from the entrance to the anchorage basin of the same depth opposite the breakwater making off from Tongue Point. From this basin a channel 18 feet (5.5 m) deep, with anchorage basins on the east side, has been dredged in the harbor and Poquonock River. (See also the description of the tributaries of the harbor following.) In 1927 the entrance channel to just inside the inner breakwater had shoaled to 21 feet (6.4 m) and thence 1712 feet (5.3 m) to the Stratford Avenue Bridge. A shoal of 162 feet (5 m) was reported in 1932, in the entrance channel between buoys Nos. 4 and 6. Much of the traffic of Bridgeport is on Poquonock River, the tributaries of the harbor, Black Rock Harbor and Cedar Creek; the latter are described under a separate heading.

Bridgeport is one of the important manufacturing cities of Connecticut. The carrying trade by water is large, the principal cargoes being coal, petroleum products, and iron; most of the coal is brought in barges and canal boats. The deepest draft of vessels going up Poquonock River above the bridges is about 17 feet (5.2 m). The depths alongside the railroad wharf and city dock (foot of Wall Street just below the first bridge) are 18 to 20 feet (5.5 to 6.1 m). There are depths of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.6 m) at some of the wharves in Poquonock River, but there is little depth at others.

The prominent objects, besides the lighthouses, are the group of four smokestacks of the United Illuminating Co. at Steel Point, the two towers of the high-voltage line crossing at the railroad bridge, a tall slender church spire and a gas tank at the southwestern part of town. At night a large red neon sign of the City Lumber Co. shows up well, on the east side of the channel northeastward of

BRIDGEPORT HARBOR

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Tongue Point, and the rays of the aero beacon, about 11⁄2 miles northwestward of Stratford Point, can be seen from offshore.

Bridgeport East Breakwater Light is a flashing red light on a post on the end of the east breakwater at the entrance of the harbor. Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse, a white structure on piles, lies 200 feet westward of the dredged channel and 500 feet inside the ends of the breakwaters at the entrance. The remains of an old structure, which show at low water about 150 feet northward of the lighthouse, are marked on the southeast side by a buoy.

Outer beacon is a black barrel on a steel pipe and lies % mile northward of Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse and 160 yards westward of the dredged channel.

Bridgeport Breakwater Lighthouse, a black, conical tower on pier, is at the end of the breakwater making off from Tongue Point to the edge of the channel.

Johnson Creek entrance lies eastward of Bridgeport Breakwater Lighthouse and at the northeast corner of the 22-foot (6.7 m) anchorage basin. It is under improvement to maintain a channel 12 feet (3.7 m) deep and 125 to 175 feet wide to the first bend above the drawbridge; thence 9 feet (2.7 m) deep and 175 to 100 feet wide to a point 350 yards below the dam at the head of navigation. In 1929 the lower portion of the improvement had a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) and the upper portion 10 feet (3 m). Pleasure Beach Highway Bridge at the entrance has a center pier draw with a least opening 65 feet wide and 7 feet above high water. Vessels require local knowledge to follow the best water, but small craft proceeding with care can use the channel, as follows:

Pass midway between the red and black buoys at the entrance, steer for the center pier of the draw, pass preferably through the south opening, and then keep in line with the center pier until abreast the shipyard wharf. Then make the bend, keeping about 100 feet off the row of piles at the shipyard, and then follow the wharves at a distance of 75 feet. Pass about 100 feet off the yacht club landing, exercise care in making the turn, and stand up the straight reach with a lone tree in line with a bridge opening in the dam at the head. Keep a little westward of the range on approaching the head of the creek, pass 100 feet off a boat landing on the west side, and when about 200 feet from the dam haul in for the coal wharf on the west side.

A channel 80 feet or more wide and 10 feet (3 m) deep has been dredged on the north side of Tongue Point to the wharf on the south side of the slip and the coal hoist on the north side; there is a depth of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.7 m) at the wharf and hoist. The channel has shoaled and in 1932 had a depth of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m). To enter, open slightly the face of the wharf on the south side, pass about 75 feet off the bulkhead on the south side of the entrance, about the same distance off the lower end of the wharf, and then cross to the coal hoist. There is a prominent yellow chimney at the factory on Tongue Point.

On the eastern side of the harbor 1/4 mile northward of Bridgeport Breakwater Lighthouse is the entrance of a dredged channel from 50 to 70 feet wide and 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m) deep, which has been dredged to the power plant on the east side of the harbor.

A range for the channel, used by local pilots, is the chimneys of the large brick schoolhouse just open northward of the trees above the power house.

Yellow Mill Pond has been improved by dredging a channel 18 feet (5.5 m) deep to the upper wharf, above which it decreases to 5 feet (1.5 m) at the head. The entrance is on the northeast side of the harbor 1/4 mile above Tongue Point and is marked on its north side by a horizontally striped buoy. Yellow Mill Highway bridge has draw openings 552 feet wide (the east opening only being used) and vertical clearance 7 feet above high water and crosses the channel at Stratford Avenue. Below the bridge the wharves extend out to the eastern edge of the channel. Above the bridge the yellow chimney on Tongue Point in range with the west side of the east draw opening leads about in the axis of the channel, passing about 150 feet off the coal wharf. The coal wharf has a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) and the sand dock on the west side above the coal wharf 8 feet (2.4 m). The flats on both sides of the channel are largely bare at low water.

Poquonock River has been improved by dredging a channel 18 feet (5.5 m) deep for a distance of % mile above the Stratford Avenue Bridge to the angle in the channel nearly 3⁄4 mile above the East Washington Avenue Bridge. The short section of dredged channel above the 18-foot (5.5 m) channel has a depth of about 12 feet (3.7 m). In 1929, these depths were 19 feet and 13 feet (5.8 and 4 m) respectively. The channel in Poquonock River is easily followed by small craft with the aid of the chart, but a towboat is needed by vessels to assist in making the sharp bends. Proceeding up the river the following bascule bridges cross the river:

Stratford Avenue Bridge, with an opening 135 feet wide and 71⁄2 feet above high water; the railroad bridge, with an opening 70 feet wide and 18 feet above high water (the overhead wires at the bridge are 160 feet (49 m) above high water); Congress Street Bridge, with an opening 67 feet wide and 8 feet above high water; East Washington Avenue Bridge, with an opening 69 feet wide and 4.8 feet above high water; Grand Street Bridge, with an opening 71 feet wide and 14 feet above high water.

Bridge regulations have been prescribed by the Secretary of War to govern the opening of the drawbridges across Poquonock River, Yellow Mill Channel, and Johnson Creek, as follows:

1. The signals for opening the draws of the above-named bridges shall be given by blasts of a horn or steam whistle as follows: Stratford Avenue Highway Bridge, 1 long and 1 short blast. Railroad bridge, 3 short blasts. Congress Street Highway Bridge, 4 short blasts. East Washington Avenue Bridge, 1 long and 2 short blasts. Grand Street Highway Bridge, 1 long and 3 short blasts. Yellow Mill Highway Bridge, 1 long and 1 short blast. Pleasure Beach Highway Bridge, 1 long and 1 short blast. In case the draw of any bridge can not be immediately opened when the signals are given, a red flag or ball by day and a red light by night shall be conspicuously displayed on the bridge.

2. Except as hereinafter provided, the draws of the above-named bridges shall be immediately opened, upon the prescribed signal, at all times during the day or night, for the passage of foreign vessels and "vessels of the United States," as defined in section 4311 of the Revised Statutes, and for any other vessels or water craft which can not pass the closed bridges the said draws shall be opened at such time within 20 minutes after the prescribed signal from the vessel or craft as in the judgment of the bridge tender will cause the

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least interference with the land traffic over the bridge. Exceptions: (a) Closed periods when the draws of the highway bridges over Poquonock River and Yellow Mill Channel need not be opened for vessels of any class are authorized as follows: Between 6.30 and 7.15 a. m., between 7.45 and 8 a. m., and between 4.40 and 5.10 p. m. (b) Periods when the draws of the highway bridges over Poquonock River and Yellow Mill Channel need be opened only for the passage of power-driven vessels, other than yachts and pleasure craft, 40 feet and over in length or 10 tons and over net register, are authorized as follows: Between 7.15 and 7.45 a. m., between 11.30 a. m. and 1 p. m., and between 5.10 and 6 p. m. (c) Closed periods when the draw of the Pleasure Beach Highway Bridge need not be opened for vessels of any class are authorized as follows: Between 10.30 and 11 p. m., and between 11.15 and 11.45 p. m. (d) Delay in opening the draw of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Bridge for not more than seven minutes after the giving of signal is authorized when a passenger or mail train is actually ready to pass over the bridge.

3. For every vessel that can not pass the closed bridges the operation of the draws shall afford full horizontal and vertical clearance in the draw opening, regardless of the size or requirements of the passing vessel.

Pilots are not generally taken except by vessels subject to compulsory pilotage, which are foreign and registered vessels drawing 9 feet and over if spoken. A pilot can be obtained from the towboats. The following are the rates of pilotage: $2 per foot of draft for vessels up to 12 feet, increasing $0.25 per foot to a maximum of $4 per foot of draft for vessels of 20-foot draft and over. Inward and outward rates are the same and apply throughout the year. Towboats can always be had by making signal. The towboat office is located on the west side of the channel, adjacent to the Stratford Avenue Bridge.

Anchorage basins have been dredged on both sides of the channel in the harbor, and are well marked so as to render them fully available and easily made.

The 22-foot (6.7 m) anchorage basin on the southeast side of the channel opposite Tongue Point Breakwater has a width of 800 feet and is the best anchorage for large vessels. In 1927 this anchorage had depths of 14 to 22 feet (4.3 to 6.7 m).

On the eastern side of the harbor, extending northwestward from the 22-foot (6.7 m) anchorage basin to the entrance of Yellow Mill Pond, is an anchorage basin 12 feet (3.7 m) deep and 300 feet wide. The generally used anchorage is on the east side of the channel close to southwestward of the 12-foot (3.7 m) anchorage. It is 500 feet wide, and has a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m) up to the anchorage described in the next paragraph.

An anchorage dredged to a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m), generally used by small craft, is on the east side of the channel at the upper end of the harbor between the former steel works and the Stratford Avenue Bridge. In 1927 this anchorage had shoaled to a depth of 9 to 1112 feet (2.7 to 3.5 m).

Vessels sometimes anchor off the entrance of Bridgeport Harbor for shelter in strong northerly winds; the holding ground is good, and the lead a good guide.

Supplies. Coal, water, provisions, and ship chandler's stores can be obtained. Water can be had through hose at the City Dock or from towboats which act as water boats.

Repairs to vessels and machinery of steamers can be made at Bridgeport, where there are several marine railways; the largest, on

Johnson Creek, has a length of 150 feet and a capacity of about 500 tons, draft 812 feet forward and 16 feet aft.

Hospital. There is a relief station of the United States Public Health Service at Bridgeport.

Storm warnings are displayed from a prominent flagstaff at Seaside Park, western entrance of Bridgeport Harbor.

Communication.-Steamers make regular trips to Port Jefferson throughout the year and to Rye Beach during the summer. Bridgeport is on the line of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.

Currents. In the entrance channel, between the breakwaters, slack water occurs about 4 hour before the current turns eastward and westward at the Race (about 2 hours after high and low water at New London). The strength of flood and ebb occurs about 1/4 hour after strength of flood and ebb, respectively, at the Race (about 12 hours before high and low water, respectively, at New London). The average velocity at strength is about 34 knot; the flood sets 340° true (N. 5% W. mag.) and the ebb 175° true (S. 5 W. mag.). Ice does not, as a rule, interfere seriously with navigation; the steamers keep the channel open in the main harbor to the railroad bridge over Poquonock River. The tributaries of the harbor are closed at times.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of tides is about 634 feet.

DIRECTIONS, BRIDGEPORT HARBOR

From eastward.-Approaching around Stratford Point note the description of the shoals off the point in connection with the coast from New Haven to Bridgeport. Small vessels generally make the red nun buoy, which lies about 1 mile from shore and 11⁄2 miles southwestward of Stratford Point Lighthouse. Passing over 200 yards southward and southwestward of the nun buoy, a 293° true (NW. % W. mag.) course for 21⁄2 miles will lead in a least depth of about 15 feet (4.6 m) to the entrance of the harbor southward of nun buoy No. 4, or a 282° true (NW. by W. % W. mag.) course for 212 miles will lead to the lighted bell buoy at the entrance of the 22-foot (6.7 m) dredged channel.

From westward.-Passing about 1/2 mile southeastward of Penfield Reef Lighthouse, a 40° true (NE. 5% E. mag.) course for about 2 miles will lead to the lighted bell buoy at the entrance of the 22-foot (6.7 m) dredged channel.

Nun buoy No. 4 lies on the east side of the dredged channel % mile southward of Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse, and marks approximately the 18-foot (5.5 m) curve at the entrance of the harbor.

The entrance of the 22-foot (6.7 m) dredged channel lies nearly 1 mile, 189° true (S. by W. % W. mag.) from Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse, and is marked on the east side by a lighted bell buoy. The course through the middle of the dredged channel is 13° true (NNE. 14 E. mag.), passing 350 feet eastward of Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse and 150 feet eastward of Bridgeport Breakwater Lighthouse (on end of Tongue Point Breakwater). With the aid of the lighthouses and buoys there should be no trouble in clear weather in following the axis of the dredged channel. There is little depth on either side of the dredged entrance channel.

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