sary to avoid collision with passing vessels. The west shore of Blackwells Island should be given a berth of 70 yards, and when abreast of East Sixty-fifth Street the west shore of the island should not be approached closer than 100 yards.

Blackwells Island Reef to Governors Island.-Passing about 100 yards off the Manhattan wharves to the wharf at the foot of East Thirty-third Street steer about 164° true (S. 11⁄2 E. mag.) until about 100 yards off the Brooklyn wharves and keep in the eastern half of the river, about 100 yards off the wharves, until past Third Street Reef about 1/4 mile northward of Williamsburg Bridge. Then follow a mid-river course under the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Vessels can pass on either side of Governors Island into New York Upper Bay, taking care not to pass too close to the Battery and Governors Island.

To pass northward of Governors Island, from a mid-river position off Pier 7 or 8, hold to mid-river until on the East River deep-water range (front mark a fixed red light and a white, slatted, diamond-shaped target on the southwest corner of Pier 11, Brooklyn; rear mark, a fixed green light and a white, vertical-striped target with central black stripe on warehouse No. 38, Brooklyn, under a square slatted target with black center and white margin, on warehouse No. 36); then steer 26012° true (W. % N. mag.) on the range astern. See the description of the channel in the description of East River preceding, and caution regarding currents on page 262.

To pass through Buttermilk Channel, follow the wharves of Brooklyn at a distance of less than 300 yards until abreast Red Hook and the south end of Governors Island. Vessels can then continue to follow the wharves of Brooklyn southward, passing through Red Hook and Bay Ridge Channels, or can steer 237° true (WSW. mag.) to the channel of New York Upper Bay, passing between the shoal extending southwestward from Governors Island and the north end of the shoal lying westward of Red Hook Channel. Approaching Buttermilk Channel from New York Upper Bay, St. Margarets Hotel, in range with the southeasterly end of Governors Island, is a good guide until past the anchorage buoys lying % to 11⁄2 mile southsouthwestward of Governors Island, and then follow the Brooklyn wharves.

HARLEM RIVER AND SPUYTEN DUYVIL CREEK (CHART 274)

These waters form a through passage from Hudson River, 1134 miles above the Battery, to East River westward of Wards Island. The channel is narrow and crooked and is navigable only for steamers or powered vessels. The traffic is extensive. Vessels of too great height to pass under the bridge should preferably make the passage against the current.

Channel.-The project for the improvement of Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek provides for securing a channel 400 feet wide and 15 feet (4.6 m) deep, except at Washington Bridge, where a width of 354 feet is provided, and at the rock cut at Dyckmans Meadow (between Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek), where the projected width is 350 feet and the depth 18 feet (5.5 m). It also provides for straightening the channel at Johnson's iron

works, Spuyten Duyvil Creek, by making a cut 400 feet wide and 15 feet (4.6 m) deep.

In 1932, the controlling depth from the East River to Hudson River was about 15 feet (4.6 m), through a channel of practically 350 feet in width. The widths of channel through bridge draws are 98 to 100 feet.

Bridges.-The following bridges cross the Harlem River. All are center-pier draws, with the exception of High Bridge and Washington Bridge, which are single-span arches, for the full width of

NOTE. The vertical clearances are given for the bridges closed, at mean high water. The signal for the bridges is 3 blasts of the whistle, except for vessels belonging to the United States Government or the city of New York, which give a signal of 4 blasts of the whistle.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of the tides at Willis Avenue Bridge is about 5 feet; Central Bridge, 434 feet; Broadway Bridge, 334 feet; Spuyten Duyvil Bridge, 312 feet.

Currents.-The local rule for the tidal currents is that the current in Harlem River runs from the Hudson River toward East River (south current), while the easterly current is running in East River (Hell Gate); and the reverse. In Harlem River the southerly stream is considered the flood.

The time of slack water is subject to some variations, depending on the freshet conditions in Hudson River, but may be taken approximately the same time as the slacks at Hell Gate (about 12 hours after low and high water at Governors Island). The strengths of the southerly and northerly currents occur about the times of the strength of the easterly and westerly currents, respectively, at Hell Gate (about 12 hours before high and low water, respectively, at

Governors Island). The velocity of the current is 2 knots or more in the narrower parts of the channel. Strong currents with swirls occur between the piers of High Bridge.

Bridge regulations.-The following are the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War for the opening and operation of the draws in the bridges crossing Harlem River:

1. The drawbridges spanning the Harlem River which have a clear space of 24 feet between the undersides thereof and the high water of spring tides shall not be required to open, except for vessels propelled by steam, with or without vessels in tow, nor to open at any time other than between 10 a. m. and 5 p. m., except as hereinafter prescribed in section 7.

2. The clear space prescribed by river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, between the undersides of the bridges and the high water of spring tides is 24 feet, and in order that the draws may not be required to be opened or operated oftener than necessary between 10 a. m. and 5 p. m. from and after the completion of the bridges at Third and Fourth Avenues, the pilot houses, flagpoles, and smokestacks of all tugs propelled by steam, with or without vessels in tow, habitually using said river are not to exceed 24 feet high above the water line, and if now exceeding that height will be reduced in height or hinged, so that they can conveniently pass underneath the draws when closed.

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3. Any tug passing the draw of any of the said bridges as often as once a day for 10 days of any month will be regarded as using said river habitually," and shall conform to the regulation as to height of pilot house, flagpoles and smokestack which is prescribed in section 2 above.

A failure to comply with this regulation by any tug after one warning by the persons owning or controlling any of said bridges shall be sufficient cause for a refusal to open the draw, for the accommodation of said tug, until such later time as may be convenient to the persons controlling the bridge.

4. When a steam vessel wishes to pass the bridge within the time prescribed for opening the draws, the master thereof shall signify his intention by three blasts of the whistle. If the draw is ready to be opened, the signal shall be answered by three blasts of the whistle from the bridge; if the draw is not ready for opening, by two blasts from the bridge.

In

5. The draw shall be opened with the least possible delay upon receiving the prescribed signal, except when said signal is given to a railroad bridge five minutes or less before the scheduled arrival of an express passenger train. this case the draw need not be opened until after the passage of such train, unless the bridge tender has information that said train is delayed as much as five minutes.

6. The bridge at the mouth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek, being a low bridge, shall be opened at all times during the day and night when approached by vessels desiring to pass it, upon receiving the signals prescribed in section 4.

7. The foregoing regulations apply only to commercial or pleasure vessels, tugs, and steamers. Steam vessels owned, controlled, or employed by the United States Government or by the departments of the city of New York, shall be passed without delay through the draws of said bridges at any hour of the day or night, after giving a signal of four blasts of the whistle.

SOUTH COAST OF LONG ISLAND

The south coast of Long Island has a general 247° true (W. by S. mag.) trend for 6811⁄2 miles from Montauk Point to Fire Island Inlet, and thence trends about 263° true (W. 1⁄2 N. mag.) for a little over 35 miles to the western end of Coney Island and the northern point at the entrance to the Lower Bay of New York. It is a clean shore, and may be safely approached as close as 1 mile, with not less than 5 fathoms (9 m) anywhere between Montauk Point and Rockaway Inlet, except off Fire Island Inlet and the inlets westward, where the shore should be given a berth of at least 12 miles. When viewed from seaward it presents but few characteristic features. It is composed of a series of sand hillocks backed by low,

dark woods. Montauk Point and lighthouse are described on page

129.

About 14 miles westward of Montauk Point and 1⁄2 mile back from the beach is the village of Amagansett, and westward of this, along the whole line of the Long Island Railroad and some distance back from the beach, are a number of towns and villages. Southampton is 27 miles westward of Montauk and 121⁄2 miles eastward of Shinnecock Bay.

Shinnecock, Moriches, Great South, and Hempstead Bays lie inside of the beach along the south coast of Long Island and form an inside route for boats of 4-foot (1.2 m) draft. (See the description following.) In 1932 there were three main inlets from sea to these bays used by boats-Fire Island Inlet, Jones Inlet, and East Rockaway Inlet. These inlets are subject to frequent and extensive changes, and although buoyed should not be used in the absence of local knowledge. A small inlet, called Moriches Inlet, broke through in 1931, and is buoyed with private barrels.

Amagansett Radio Direction-Finder Station is located in latitude 40° 58′ 10′′ N., longitude 72° 07′ 27′′ W. and Fire Island Radio Direction-Finder Station is located in latitude 40° 38' 07" N., longitude 73° 12' 32" W. For details regarding these stations see publication H. O. No. 205.

Shinnecock Bay beacon is the old Shinnecock Bay Lighthouse. It is a red brick tower on Ponquogue Point, about the middle of the north side of Shinnecock Bay and 1 mile back from the beach. The new light (group flashing red) is 134 miles 103° true from the former light, near the Shinnecock Coast Guard Station.

Fire Island Lighthouse is a black and white horizontally banded tower. The light is flashing white (flash 0.3 second, eclipse 7.2 seconds), 167 feet (50.9 m) above the water and visible 19 miles. The naval radio direction finder station is near the lighthouse.

Fire Island Lightship, moored in a depth of 16 fathoms (29 m) 93 miles 172° true (S. 3% W. mag.) of Fire Island Lighthouse, has a red hull with "Fire Island" on each side, two black masts, and a black, circular gallery under the lens lantern at head of each. The light (on fore masthead) is group flashing white showing 2 flashes every 6 seconds, 57 feet (17.4 m) above the water and visible 12 miles. If the flashing light is inoperative, a similar light will be shown from the main masthead. A fixed white riding light is exhibited on the bow, 22 feet (6.7 m) high). The fog signal is an air diaphone, blast 3 seconds, silent intervals 4 and 20 seconds. If the whistle be disabled, a bell will be struck by hand a group of 7 strokes every minute. The submarine bell strikes "6-8" every 38 seconds. The radiobeacon sounds groups of 2 dashes. The radio station receives and transmits emergency messages only. (For details see Light List, New York and Approaches, of the United States Lighthouse Service.) The following summer resorts are on the beach and are prominent from offshore: Point of Woods and Ocean Beach, lying 4 and 3 miles, respectively, eastward of Fire Island Lighthouse; Oakbeach, Jones Beach, Long Beach, Far Rockaway, and Rockaway Beach, lying 312, 112, 21, 25, and 27 miles, respectively, westward of Fire Island Lighthouse; and Coney Island.

INLAND WATERS, SOUTH COAST OF LONG ISLAND (CHARTS 578

AND 579)

Shinnecock, Moriches, Great South, and Hempstead Bays form an inside route for boats of 4-foot (1.2 m) draft from Peconic Bay to East Rockaway Inlet. Masted boats are limited to a height of less than 20 feet (6 m) above the water by the fixed bridges over Shinnecock Canal. Westward of East Rockaway Inlet, boats must at present pass outside to reach Jamaica Bay or New York Harbor. Shinnecock Canal connects Great Peconic Bay and Shinnecock Bay. It is partly a dredged cut and is protected at the northern entrance by two short jetties. The canal and dredged cuts through the bays to Great South Bay are owned and maintained by Suffolk County of New York. The cuts between the bays leading to Great South Bay were dredged to a depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) and a width of 60 feet. Shoaling has occurred in some of these cuts and at the Great Peconic Bay buoyed entrance to the canal, and in the fall of 1932 the controlling depth from Great Peconic Bay to Great South Bay was 4 feet (1.2 m). The canal is crossed by two fixed bridges, with spans for the full width of the canal and an overhead clearance of 20 feet (6.1 m). A lock is maintained north of the two bridges crossing the canal. The dimensions of the lock are 2634 feet by 100 feet with a depth over the sills of 42 feet (1.3 m). The gates are opened to allow the current to set south through the canal and are closed to prevent the water from Shinnecock Bay flowing back into Great Peconic Bay. Boats can always go through, as the gates will be opened when necessary.

Slack water in the pond near the northern end of the canal occurs at about half tide in Great Peconic Bay. The curents have considerable velocity, with swirls in the contracted part of the channel, at the lock.

Good Ground, a station on the Long Island Railroad, just west of the canal, is the nearest post office. Canoe Place, the settlement at the canal, has gasoline and some supplies. There are several small boat landings in the canal and it is quite a small-boat center.

Shinnecock Bay (chart 578), about 8 miles long, can be entered by boats of 4-foot (1.2 m) draft, and this depth can be taken into the coves on the north side. The south side of the bay is shoal.

Ponquogue Point, low and sandy, is marked by a prominent old light tower and a steel water tank. A highway bridge, with a lift span, crosses the bay at this point. It has an opening 50 feet wide and a vertical clearance of 14 feet (4.3 m) at mean high water when closed.

Pine Neck, 214 mile westward of Ponquogue Point, is low, flat, and sandy. The shoal extending southward from Pine Neck Point was marked by a private light in 1932. About 1/2 mile east of Pine Neck, a 3-foot (0.9 m) channel, marked by stakes, leads to Tiana Beach, a small summer resort, on the south side of Shinnecock Bay. Weesuck Creek, on the north side near the western end of Shinnecock Bay, has a depth of 2 feet (0.6 m) along the west bank to a bridge at the head. There are two boat yards where motor boat supplies and repairs can be had. The post office is East Quogue. During the summer a ferry runs to Tiana Beach.

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