NORWALK RIVER-DIRECTIONS

213

red buoy No. 2 and White Rock Light, 125 feet eastward of Long Beach Light and between buoys Nos. 9A and 4. On this course. Round Beach Light should be a little on the starboard bow.

Round Beach Light to South Norwalk.-When about 300 feet southwestward of the light, haul northward and then northwestward, passing 150 feet to eastward of black bouys Nos. 11, 13, and 15, and about 150 feet off the wharf at Gregory Point. When up to buoy No. 15, steer 323° true (NNW. 14 W. mag.), passing about 100 feet northeastward of black buoy No. 17 and continue to the wharves at South Norwalk.

NORWALK RIVER TO STAMFORD

Wilson Point, on the north shore of Sheffield Island Harbor, has an old coal and oil receiving wharf, which is no longer maintained. Tankers discharge oil to a pipe line at this point. There is a depth of 11 to 16 feet (3.4 to 4.9 m) in a channel 60 feet wide, obtained by dredging, alongside the wharf for a distance of 420 feet from its end. A least depth of 10 feet (3 m) leads to the wharf from 100 yards westward of the horizontally striped buoy lying 400 yards southeastward of Noroton Point.

Between Wilson Point and the northern part of Noroton Point there is good anchorage for small craft in depths of 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 m).

Noroton Point is occupied by a summer settlement and is marked by two flagpoles and a prominent house with red cupola. About 300 yards northward of the point are the ruins of a pier. Pine Point, just westward of Noroton Point, has a wharf with a depth of about 15 feet (4.6 m) at its end, where excursion steamers from New York land in the summer time. There is a large amusement park to the westward of Pine Point. A shoal with depths of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m) extends about 1/4 mile from the shore westward of Noroton Point. The bottom is broken and there are bowlders in places, and small vessels crossing the shoal should proceed with caution.

Ballast Reef, almost bare at low water, extends 300 yards off Roton Point. At the southeast end of the reef there is a detached bowlder which bares at high water. The reef is marked off its southwest side by a red buoy.

Fivemile River (chart 221) is a narrow inlet, the entrance to which lies 351° true (N. 14 E. mag.) from Greens Ledge Lighthouse. It is about 1 mile long, from 100 to 300 yards wide, and shallow except in the dredged channel. The controlling depth just outside the mouth of the river is about 6 feet (1.8 m). The channel shoals up at this point after every heavy storm and has to be redredged frequently. Private dredging has increased the depths in the river opposite Butler Island to about 15 feet (4.6 m). Along the wharves the depth diminishes from 8 to 5 feet (2.4 to 1.5 m). In the northerly bend of the river the channel shoals gradually and is partly bare at low water. The river is used mostly by oyster boats. The mean rise and fall of tides is about 7 feet.

Directions. Small craft can enter Fivemile River by the following directions: Approaching from eastward, give the shore westward of Noroton Point a berth of over 250 yards and pass south

ward of Ballast Reef buoy. From westward, avoid the rock with 2 feet (0.6 m) over it, lying % mile 204° true (SW. 34 S. mag.) off the western point at the entrance and marked with a private black spindle in the summer. From the entrance buoys steer 1° true (N. by E. % E. mag.) for about 1/4 mile until approaching a red buoy. Pass 75 feet westward of the buoy and steer 22° true (NE. by N. mag.), passing 75 feet off the first wharf and to a position 120 feet off the oil company's wharf. From abreast the latter steer 8° true (N. by E. 34 E. mag.), heading 50 feet outside the oyster company's wharf. Proceed with caution and favor the east side of the channel.

Rowayton, a village on Fivemile River, has railroad and electric railroad communication. Coal, gasoline, and water can be obtained. There is a depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) at the coal wharf and oyster company's wharf and less at the others.

Scott Cove has its entrance westward of Fish Islands and about 1 mile 290° true (NW. by W. 1 W. mag.) from Greens Ledge Lighthouse. The bottom in the cove and approach is very broken, and it is suitable only for launches or small craft. Proceed with caution when crossing the broken ground which extends 1/4 mile off the entrance of the cove. In the cove the channel favors the west side. The two reefs near the middle of the lower part of the cove are bare at low water, and the other reefs shown on the chart show, or are awash, at high water. The channel into the small cove on the west side at the entrance of Scott Cove has been dredged to 9 feet (2.7 m) and follows the north side closely to an anchorage with the same depth, favoring the north side. The bare rock off the south side of the entrance is marked by a private spindle from which a light is sometimes shown.

Long Neck Point has numerous summer residences. There are a number of boat landings on both sides of the point. Shoals extend about 4 mile off the point.

The bight between Long Neck Point and Shippan Point has numerous reefs and bowlders, and the bottom is exceedingly broken, necessitating caution in navigation. It is the approach to several shallow coves, none of which are important commercially.

Darien River is a small, shallow stream on the west side of Long Neck Point. There is a least depth of about 2 feet (0.6 m) in the approach to The Gut at the entrance. The best route is via the buoyed channel along the west side of Long Neck Point, taking care to avoid the rocks, bare at low water, which extend nearly 200 yards from shore between the two piers lying 600 yards above the south end of Long Neck Point. Above The Gut the river is practically dry at low water but at high water a draft of 6 feet (1.8 m) can be taken a distance of 5% mile to the lower dam. The higher rocks of the group on the west side of the approach show above water. The rock at the northeast end of the group is bare at low water. A rock which shows at lowest tides lies a little westward of midway between the southerly bare rock of the group and the southerly pier on the west side of Long Neck Point.

Cove Harbor is a small dredged basin, no longer maintained, between bulkhead wharves, lying about 1 mile west-northwestward of

The

Long Neck Point. The basin has a depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m), and the bar across the entrance is practically bare at low water. The dye works formerly occupying this harbor has burned. brick chimney, a prominent feature from well offshore, still remains. There are several rocky areas in the approach to the harbor, and local knowledge is needed for the approach and entrance.

Smith Reef is two rocks, bare at half tide and marked at the south end by a red buoy lying 34 mile southwestward of Long Neck Point. Bold Rock, bare at half tide, is at the east end of the rocky ridge extending northward from Smith Rock. From Bold Rock the rocky ridge with depths of 6 feet (1.8 m) or less extends 3⁄4 mile 316° true (NNW. % W. mag.). There are numerous oyster stakes on this ridge.

A large group of rocks, awash at high water, lies 34 mile northwestward of the south end of Smith Rock and are marked on the south west side by a red. buoy. The largest rock, near the middle of the group, is sometimes marked by a bush stake and a spindle.

Westcott Cove, lying at the northeast side of Shippan Point, may be entered by shallow-draft vessels. A small, well protected yacht anchorage with a shipyard and marine railway for small craft lies at the head of the cove on the west side. The controlling depth across the bar, at the southwest corner of Westcott Cove, is 4 feet (1.2 m) at mean low water, thence 6 feet (1.8 m) to the yacht basin at the northwest corner of the cove.

Directions.-Passing about 150 yards westward of the horizontally striped buoy marking a 4-foot (1.2 m) spot (about 1 mile northeastward of Shippan Point), steer northwestward to pass midway between the private fixed red light at the end of the wharf at the point and flashing white light No. 1, 300 yards to the northward of it. Then steer northwestward to pass 50 feet south and west of flashing red light No. 2. Then head northward for the fixed red light at the south end of the breakwater at the northern end of the cove. Pass 150 feet westward of the light and continue up the center of the dredged channel to the basin. (The west side of the dredged channel is sometimes marked with iron posts to warn the bathers along the beach of the deeper water.)

One mile eastward of Shippan Point is a rocky patch with a least depth of 8 feet (2.4 m).

STAMFORD HARBOR (CHART 221)

is shoal and much obstructed by ledges and rocks, and is of little importance as an anchorage. It is commercially important, however, as the approach to Ship Canal and Rippowam River, which afford access to Stamford. The outer harbor is exposed to southerly and southwesterly winds, but small vessels can enter either Ship Canal or Rippowam River, the latter being generally used by those of less than 7-foot (2.1 m) draft.

Anchorage.-A vessel of less than 10-foot (3 m) draft can anchor just westward of the line of the Stamford Harbor range lights and just northward of a 10-foot (3 m) rocky patch, with Highwater Rock bearing 259° true (W. % N. mag.), distant 350 yards, in 13 feet (4 m). Deeper draft vessels should anchor south

ward of the 10-foot (3 m) rocky patch. Small craft can anchor off the yacht club and southward or southeastward of Rhode Island Rocks red buoy, where the depths are 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m).

Shippan Point, the eastern point at the entrance of Stamford Harbor, is marked by a prominent residence with a red tile roof, visible from the southward and eastward, and is surrounded by rocks which show at low water; Forked Rock is covered at high water. Red buoys mark the westerly edge of these rocks and the easterly side of the channel in Stamford Harbor. The Cows are a cluster of rocks, almost bare at a good low water, which are marked off the south end by a lighted bell buoy lying 7 mile southward of Shippan Point. Sunken rocks, with 14 feet (4.3 m) or less over them, extend 34 mile southeastward from Shippan Point.

Stamford Harbor Lighthouse is located on Harbor Ledge on the west side at the entrance of Stamford Harbor. The lighthouse is a white, conical tower on a red pier. Broken ground surrounds the light to a distance of 300 yards, and is marked off its southeast edge by a black gong buoy.

Highwater Rock is awash at high water, and rocks bare at low water extend 1/4 mile southward from it to a point 350 yards northeastward of Stamford Harbor Lighthouse.

Grass Island is low and is covered with grass in the summer. There is very little water between the island and the channel and it practically bares at low water.

The entrance channel has been dredged to a width of 200 feet and a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) and extends from the 12-foot (3.7 m) curve in the harbor to the junction of the East and West Branches. The channel is marked by buoys and by Stamford Harbor range lights. In 1932, the controlling depth was 12 feet (3.7 m), but not for the full width.

East Branch, or Ship Canal, has been improved by dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 12 feet (3.7 m) deep to the head of navigation at the railroad. In 1932, this channel had a 12-foot (3.7 m) depth in a narrow channel nearly to the head and about 10 feet (3 m) at the head. The bottom of the channel is hard clay and there are rocks, partly showing at high water, on both sides of the cut. The channel is marked by lights and sometimes by range targets erected in connection with dredging operations. The ranges, when in position, mark the axis of the dredged cuts, and by means of them small vessels of less than about 8-foot (2.4 m) draft should have no difficulty in going up to the wharves, but strangers should proceed with caution. The deepest draft taken to the wharves is about 16 feet (4.9 m) at high water. The depths at the principal wharves range from about 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 m).

West Branch, in the entrance to Rippowam River, has been improved by dredging a channel 100 feet wide and an anchorage basin 200 feet wide at the head of the branch. The bottom of the channel is rocky. In 1932 the controlling depths were 812 feet (2.5 m) in the lower arm up to buoys Nos. 9 and 10, thence 1212 feet (3.8 m) to the anchorage basin, and 10 feet (3 m) in the anchorage. The lower end of the anchorage basin is 400 feet above White Rock; the latter is 100 feet westward of the dredged channel and shows above high water. The head of navigation is at a dam at Oliver Street

STAMFORD HARBOR-DIRECTIONS

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Bridge, 450 feet above the head of the anchorage basin. The depths at the principal wharves range from 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 m).

Stamford is a manufacturing city on the peninsula lying between East and West Branches. The chimney at the gas plant is a prominent object. The principal items of commerce are coal, building materials, automobiles, and petroleum products, carried in vessels drawing from 6 to 142 feet (1.8 to 4.4 m).

Pilots. There is a local pilot who is employed by the deeperdraft vessels entering the harbor. Pilotage is compulsory for foreign and registered vessels drawing 9 feet (2.7 m) or over if spoken. Charges for pilotage are $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.

The harbor master has charge of the berthing and anchoring of vessels.

Communication.-A ferry runs to Oyster Bay in the summer and freight steamers make occasional trips to New York from the steamboat wharf on Ship Canal. Stamford is on the line of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.

Supplies.-Coal and water can be had at the wharves at Stamford. Provisions, gasoline, and other supplies can be obtained.

Repairs. There are shipyards in both the east and west branch with facilities for hauling out small craft. The largest railway can accommodate boats up to about 100 feet long.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of tides is about 714 feet.

Ice forms in the harbor and usually obstructs navigation for about six weeks in winter. Ice frequently extends down to the lighthouse, and sometimes beyond.

DIRECTIONS, STAMFORD HARBOR

From eastward.-Passing 1/2 mile or more southward of Norwalk Islands a 245° true (WSW. % W. mag.) course will lead southward of The Cows lighted bell buoy off Shippan Point. Passing 100 yards westward of the buoy a 323° true (NNW. 14 W. mag.) course will lead westward of the red buoys on the east side of the entrance. From westward.-Passing southward of Execution Rocks Lighthouse a 47° true (NE. by E. 14 E. mag.) course will lead to the entrance. Or passing southward of the red buoy off Greenwich Point a 51° true (NE. by E. 5% E. mag.) course will lead southward of the black buoy off Stamford Harbor Lighthouse.

Passing east-southeastward of Stamford Harbor Lighthouse, about midway between the red buoys and black buoy at the entrance, the course up the harbor is 358° true (N. % E. mag.) with Stamford Harbor range lights in line ahead; a prominent church spire will be seen a little to the left of the range.

Ship Canal.-Pass 70 feet eastward of Stamford Harbor range front light and steer for Stamford Harbor Light No. 3 (black structure). When about 200 yards below the latter light and abreast a small island steer to pass 50 feet eastward of Light No. 3. Then steer in mid-channel, and pass 65 feet westward of Stamford Harbor Light No. 2, and continue in mid-channel.