BLACK ROCK HARBOR

203

The axis of the 18-foot (5.5 m) dredged channel leads about 150 yards off the horizontally striped buoy on the east side and about 100 feet off the end of the wall at the former steelworks (east side of harbor, nearly 1/4 mile below Stratford Avenue Bridge). The course through the channel is 317° true (NNW. 34 W. mag.).

BLACK ROCK HARBOR (CHART 220)

lies 2 miles westward of the entrance of Bridgeport Harbor and is well marked by Black Rock and Penfield Reef Lighthouses on the north and south sides of the entrance. Anchorage exposed only to southeasterly winds, can be selected in the entrance northeastward of Fairfield Bar in 18 to 22 feet (5.5 to 6.7 m). The lead is a good guide, except in the vicinity of the easterly part of Fairfield Bar and the reef on the north side of the entrance. The depths on either side of the dredged channel westward of Fayerweather Island are 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m), and small craft of less than 6-foot (1.8 m) draft can select anchorage as far up as the yacht club. Black Rock Harbor and the creeks at its head are the approach by water to the large manufactories in the western part of Bridgeport. A channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet (5.5 m) deep is dredged from the harbor to Cedar Creek, thence the same depth and 150 feet wide to the branches, and the same depth and 100 feet wide in the branches. There are depths of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.6 m) at some of the wharves. The channel is marked by buoys, and there are sometimes bush stakes on the shoal flats on each side of the channel.

The channel in Burr Creek has been dredged 100 feet wide and 7 feet (2.1 m) deep in the lower part; in the straight reach leading to the coal wharf at its head, the channel is 75 feet wide, except in one place where there is rock. In 1925 the channel had a controlling depth of 312 feet (1.1 m) to the head. The channel is not marked except for a horizontally striped buoy at the eastern side of the entrance and has very little traffic. The range of a distant white church spire and the eastern end of a small shed, in front of a concrete house with a red roof, on the point on the west side leads in the first section of the channel. Then keep in mid-channel around the point and then steer for the coal wharf at the head. The flats at the entrance, between Burr and Cedar Creeks, are mostly bare at low water.

At high water vessels of 20-foot (6.1 m) draft can go to the heads of the two branches of Cedar Creek and 6-foot (1.8 m) draft in Burr Creek, but they will lie aground at low water.

Fayerweather Island, on the eastern side of the entrance, is marked at its south end by Black Rock Lighthouse (white tower). A breakwater and a seawall connect its northern part with the shore eastward. Point Rock Shoal, which shoals abruptly, extends % mile southward from the south end of the island, and is marked at its south end by a red buoy. There is little depth for a distance. of 400 yards from the island, and thence it shelves off to 18 feet (5.5 m) at the buoy.

Fairfield Bar and Penfield Reef, on the south side of Black Rock Harbor, are described on page 204.

Bridgeport Yacht Club is on the point on the west side of the harbor, nearly 2 mile north-northwestward of Black Rock Light

161875°-33- -14

house. There is anchorage off the landing and between it and another yacht club landing, 300 yards northward, in 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 m). A shoal with 3 or 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) over it lies between this anchorage and the dredged channel. An old stone landing which shows near low water extends 150 yards from the shore at a point 250 yards southward of the Bridgeport Yacht Club. Gasoline can be obtained at the upper yacht club landing. The Standard Oil Co. has a fuel station at Black Rock Harbor where fuel oil and gasoline are obtainable from a meter connection on the wharf. There is a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) at mean low water alongside the wharf, which has a frontage of 147 feet.

Pilots. See under Bridgeport Harbor.

Tides.-The mean rise and fall of tides is about 7 feet.

DIRECTIONS, BLACK ROCK 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 southward of the nun buoy, a 273° true (WNW. 5% W. mag.) course for 4 miles will lead to the entrance at the red buoy southward of Black Rock Lighthouse.

From Bridgeport.-From abreast the red nun buoy lying 3⁄4 mile southward of Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse a 242° true (WSW. 5% W. mag.) course will lead southward of the red buoy southward of Black Rock Lighthouse.

From westward.-Pass 3 mile or more southeastward of Penfield Reef Lighthouse and 1/4 mile or more eastward of Black Rock beacon; or Black Rock Lighthouse bearing westward of 348° true (N. mag.) will lead 1/4 mile or more eastward of Black Rock beacon. When Penfield Reef Lighthouse bears 237° true (WSW. 1 W. mag.), the course can be shaped to pass westward of the red buoy southward of Black Rock Lighthouse.

From southward of the red nun buoy, about 3 mile southward of Black Rock Lighthouse, shape the course to pass 100 feet eastward of black buoy No. 1, which is at the entrance to the dredged channel. The channel is very well buoyed and chart 220 is the guide.

A shoal off the point separating the two branches at the head of Cedar Creek must be carefully avoided. To enter the east branch, pass about 100 feet off the wharf on the southeast side below the entrance and head up the middle of the branch. To enter the west branch, pass 100 feet off the wharves on the northwest side below the entrance and 75 feet off the wharves on the southeast side of the branch.

BLACK ROCK HARBOR TO NORWALK ISLANDS

Fairfield Bar, forming the southwest side of Black Rock Harbor, is well bare at low water out to The Cows, a distance of nearly 1 mile; and a shoal with little depth extends 1/4 mile eastward from The Cows to The Little Cows, which are awash at low water. The easterly point of the reefs, lying nearly 1/4 mile southward of the northeast point of the shoal near The Little Cows, is marked by a red skeleton iron beacon with cage. Penfield Reef, on which are rocks

SOUTHPORT HARBOR

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bare at low water, extends 1/4 mile southward from The Cows to Penfield Reef Lighthouse; the 18-foot (5.5 m) curve lies 250 yards southeastward of the lighthouse, and the lighthouse should not be approached closer, even by small craft.

Penfield Reef Lighthouse is a white tower on a granite dwelling on pier. The light is flashing red, flash 1.5 seconds, eclipse 3.5 seconds, 51 feet (15.5 m) high and visible 12 miles. The fog signal is a reed horn, blast 3 seconds, silent 17 seconds.

Flat Island, lying nearly 2 miles westward of Penfield Reef Lighthouse, is covered at high water, and is the highest part of a reef, partly bare at low water and with little depth over any part of it, which extends over 3 mile southward from Pine Creek Point. A lighted bell buoy marking the end of the shoal lies about 300 yards southward of Flat Island and over 1/2 mile southward of the point.

Southport Harbor (chart 220) is the entrance of Mill River at the head of the bight over 1 mile northwestward of Flat Island. It has been improved by dredging a channel 8 feet (2.4 m) deep to the wharves at Southport. In 1932, the entrance channel had a least width of 50 feet and the controlling depth into the harbor, after dredging by private interests, was 8 feet (2.4 m). Depths in the harbor vary from 7 to 20 feet (2.1 to 6.1 m) and over. The entrance is marked by two lights, the outer one, a flashing green light, lying on the bar 500 feet inside the 6-foot (1.8 m) curve and 175 feet westward of the middle of the dredged channel, and the inner one, a flashing red light, on the end of the breakwater which extends in a southwesterly direction from the eastern point at the entrance of the river. The channel is well marked by buoys to White Rock. Tides.-The mean rise and fall of tides is about 7 feet.

Directions, Southport Harbor.-Head for the breakwater light on course 352° true (N. 3 E. mag.), passing midway between the black and red buoys and 75 yards eastward of the outer light. When past black can buoy No. 5, haul about one point to westward and round the breakwater light at a distance of about 75 yards, passing also to westward of red nun buoy No. 8. Pass 150 feet northwestward of the angle of the breakwater, 50 feet westward of red nun buoy No. 10, 70 feet southeastward of White Rock and then favor slightly the west side of the narrow entrance. Then head for the brick buildings at the wharf, and then pass 100 feet off the wharves. Strangers should proceed with caution."

Southport is a village on the north side of Mill River. Gasoline, hardware, and other supplies can be obtained, and there is a marine railway where vessels up to 35 feet in length and 3-foot draft can be hauled out. The deepest draft of vessels entering is 11 feet (3.4 m). A towboat can be obtained at Bridgeport. Ice closes the river at times during the winter.

Frost Point, 1 mile westward of Southport entrance, is marked by two large residences and by an observation pier on its southeast side. A reef, partly bare at low water, extends about 3 miles southward from the point.

Sherwood Point is marked by a bare bowlder on the reef which extends about 250 yards off the point. A rocky patch on which the least depth_found is 12 feet (3.7 m) lies 3⁄44 to 1 mile southward of Sherwood Point. There are numerous oyster stakes between Frost and Sherwood Points.

WESTPORT HARBOR (CHART 221)

Saugatuck River, or Westport Harbor, lies 6 miles westward of Penfield Reef Lighthouse and northward of Cockenoe Island. Anchorage exposed to southeasterly winds can be had in the entrance in 12 to 22 feet (3.7 to 6.7 m), 14 to 3% mile southward of Cedar Point (marked by a short breakwater) at the east side of the entrance. Anchorage for small craft, sheltered from all winds, can be had 75 to 100 yards off the beach westward of Bluff Point (north end of Seymour Point). The channel in Saugatuck River is narrow and crooked and there are few aids. Vessels suffer damage at times by striking projecting ledges or bowlders and should therefore proceed with caution and preferably on a rising tide.

The channel is good for a depth of about 6 feet (1.8 m) at low water to Judy Point, then 3 feet (0.9 m) across the bar, and then 4 feet (1.2 m) to Saugatuck. Above this point the channel was improved to obtain a width of 60 feet and depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) to Westport, but shoaling has occurred and the depth is about 22 feet (0.8 m) to the lower wharves at Westport and 1 foot (0.3 m) to the upper wharves.

A channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet (3 m) deep has been dredged to a private bulkheaded basin about 200 feet wide and 10 feet (3 m) deep, on the east side of the river. The entrance, southward of Kitts Island (low and grassy), is marked by private buoys. On the west side of the basin are a prominent concrete tower and a boathouse.

Another privately dredged channel, with a controlling depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) leads to a basin in the bight to the westward of Compo Beach. The entrance is northeastward from the inner mid-channel buoy, about 650 yards westward of Cedar Point.

Saugatuck, a village about 21⁄2 miles above the entrance, is the railroad station for Westport. Gasoline, coal, and other supplies are obtainable. There are depths of 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 m) at the principal wharves.

Westport, a town at the head of navigation, about 1 mile above Saugatuck, has several manufactories and some trade in coal and cement by water.

Bridges. The lower, or railroad, bridge at Saugatuck has a bascule opening 57 feet wide and 13 feet above high water. The overhead wires at the bridge are 135 feet (41 m) above high water. The upper, or highway, bridge at Saugatuck is a center pier draw with openings 54 feet wide, the east opening only being used. The highway bridge at Westport has a bascule opening 50 feet wide.

Bridge regulations prescribed for the railroad bridge require that the draw shall be immediately opened at any time between 5 a. m. and 9 p. m. upon a signal of three short blasts (each of about two seconds duration) of a horn or steam whistle; except when a train scheduled to pass beyond the bridge without stop has passed the last station nearest the bridge and is in motion toward the bridge, the bridge shall be opened for the vessel as soon as the approaching train has been brought to a stop at the drawbridge signal. In case the bridge can not be immediately opened when the signal is given, a red flag or ball by day or a red light by night

shall be conspicuously displayed. Signals for the opening of the draw shall be answered by a whistle or horn on the bridge with three short blasts when the opening is commenced or by not less than four short, sharp blasts, each of not more than one second duration, when the bridge can not be promptly opened.

For small unlicensed craft which can not pass the closed bridge the draw will be opened as soon as practicable, but in no case shall the delay be over 20 minutes.

Towboats can be had at Bridgeport and South Norwalk, and are employed by vessels.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of the tides is about 7 feet. Freshets do not affect appreciably the height of the water in the navigable part of the river.

Ice forms in winter the whole length of the river to its mouth.

DIRECTIONS, WESTPORT HARBOR

From eastward.-From the lighted bell buoy southward of Flat Island a 261° true (W. 14 N. mag.) course for 4 miles will lead to the outer mid-channel buoy 1/4 mile southward of Cedar Point. Approaching from westward outside of Norwalk Islands, pass southward of the lighted bell buoy southward of George Rock and eastward of the black buoy eastward of the rock, giving the buoys a good berth. Pass over 1/4 mile northward of the black buoy and steer 292° true (NW. by W. mag.) to the outer mid-channel buoy 1/4 mile southwestward of Cedar Point. To save going around the lighted bell buoy southward of George Rock, some local vessels, when eastward of Goose Island, run on the range of the old tower on Sheffield Island and the south tangent of Goose Island, and carry a least depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) at low water. The channel is very narrow and leads very close to rocky shoals and should not be attempted without local knowledge.

From a position 150 yards westward of outer mid-channel buoy, steer 318° true (NNW. 5% W. mag.) until past the upper mid-channel buoy; then steer for Kitts Island and follow the curve of the channel westward and southward to Bluff Point, passing southward of the private buoys southeastward of Kitts Island. The channel then follows the west bank, as shown on the chart (sometimes marked with private buoys) to the large bare rock near Judy Point, and then crosses the river on a course about 89° true (E. by S. mag.). Sometimes there are stakes on the south side of the lower end and north side of the upper end of the channel at the crossover. The channel then follows the east bank to the lower bridge, the west bank to the second bridge, and then through the east opening.

The west edge of the channel is then about on the line of the center pier of the draw for a little over 100 yards, and then heads for a white house on the east bank above. From a small landing on the east bank the channel crosses to the west bank abreast the tannery, then near the middle until the river widens, and then follows the west bank, keeping out of the bights, to the lower wharves at Westport. From abreast the lower wharves a narrow channel leads across to the wharves on the east bank below the bridge.