Race Point Lighthouse, at the extreme northwest end of Cape Cod, is a white tower. The light is fixed white, with a white flash of 4 seconds' duration every 90 seconds, 41 feet (12.5 m) above the water, and visible 12 miles. The fog signal is an air whistle (blast 3 seconds, silent 3 seconds, blast 3 seconds, silent 51 seconds).

From Race Point the shore curves northeastward, eastward, and then southeastward to the Highlands, a total distance of about 9 miles, and is composed of bare, sand hillocks of various heights. On approaching the Highlands the sand hills begin to be covered with a brownish-looking growth of grass, and the land is higher. The pitch of the cape at this point shows a high bluff, on which stands Cape Cod Lighthouse and a radio mast. In coasting, several Coast Guard stations are seen. At the Highlands the shore may be safely approached as close as 1/2 mile, but the water shoals somewhat abruptly, and care must be taken not to go inside of 5 fathoms (9.1 m). From Cape Cod Lighthouse to near Chatham entrance the coast should not be approached closer than 1⁄2 mile.

Peaked Hill Bar commences about 3 miles northwestward of Cape Cod Lighthouse and extends westward along the shore 234 miles, its distance from the beach being about 3/4 mile. The depth over the shoal ranges from 14 to 18 feet (4.3 to 5.5 m) and in heavy weather it is marked by breakers. A lighted whistle buoy with a submarine bell buoy alongside is placed about 2 miles off Peaked Hill Bar and 52 miles north-northwestward of Cape Cod Lighthouse.

Many vessels bound westward into Cape Cod Bay or Boston Harbor in a fog have grounded on Peaked Hill Bar through a failure to take soundings. Keeping in a depth of 20 fathoms (37 m) will insure passing 2 to 21/2 miles off the eastern side of Cape Cod, and will lead to Peaked Hill Bar lighted whistle and submarine bell buoys. Vessels equipped with radio transmitters can fix their position by a sounding taken on a bearing from North Truro radio directionfinder station, or by simultaneous bearings from two or more stations. Cape Cod Lighthouse is a white tower. The light is flashing white (flash 0.2 second, eclipse 4.8 seconds), 183 feet (56 m) above the water, and visible 20 miles. The fog signal is an air oscillator, blast 3 seconds, silent 12 seconds. If the oscillator is disabled, the reed horn will be sounded. A radiobeacon is operated at the light. Just northward of the lighthouse is a reporting station with which vessels may communicate with Boston by using the International Code signals. Close to southward of the lighthouse is North Truro radio direction-finder station.

From the Highlands to Nauset Beach Lighthouse, about 12 miles southward, the shore has a slight curve and consists of steep sand bluffs of various heights, with narrow valleys at intervals. The two Coast Guard stations, located 3 and 634 miles southward from Cape Cod Lighthouse, are fairly prominent objects.

Nauset Beach Lighthouse is a white conical tower. The light is group flashing white (flashes 0.2, 0.2, and 0.2 seconds, eclipses 1.4, 1.4, and 6.6 seconds), 114 feet (35 m) above the water, and visible 17 miles. There is a lighted whistle buoy 5 miles, 30° true from the lighthouse.

Abreast of Nauset Beach Lighthouse, the tidal currents divide and run in opposite directions.

Southward of Nauset Beach Lighthouse the coast turns gradually southward to Chatham, a distance of 1011⁄2 miles. It gradually becomes lower, less steep, slopes gently back from the beach, and is covered with a scanty growth of grass. A few houses appear at long intervals. Nauset, Orleans, and Old Harbor Coast Guard Stations are located 1, 6, and 10 miles, respectively, below Nauset Beach Lighthouse.

About 334 miles below Nauset Beach Lighthouse is the entrance to Nauset Harbor, which may be recognized by the thickly clustered houses in the villages on the summit of The Ridge, a rising ground somewhat higher than the land northward. The entrance is practically bare at low water and is used only by small local craft at high water. Strangers should never attempt to enter.

From Nauset Harbor to Chatham the coast shows a low, sandy shore covered with small hillocks and backed by higher lands. The two radio towers on Nickerson Neck, 3 miles northward from Chatham Lighthouse, are prominent objects from offshore.

Chatham Bar, the northern entrance to Chatham, is about 11 miles southward of Nauset Beach Lighthouse and 3/4 mile northward of Chatham Lighthouse. The channel across the bar is marked by a can buoy and there is a nun buoy and a lighted whistle buoy outside the bar. This bar is dangerous in thick weather, and when in its vicinity the depth should not be shoaled to less than 8 fathoms (14.6 m).

The channel over the bar to the town of Chatham has a depth of about 32 feet (1.1 m) at low water, but is subject to frequent changes, and the buoys at the entrance can not be depended on to lead in the best water. The channel is used only by small local craft with a smooth sea and is not safe for strangers. In 1925 a 6-foot (1.8 m) channel was dredged from the entrance to Meeting House Pond, a distance of 72 miles. It was reported that there was about 5 feet (1.5 m) in this channel in 1932. The large shoal bay northward of the entrance is seldom entered. The beach extends about 1 mile southwestward from Old Harbor Coast Guard Station. There are no wharves on the eastern side of Chatham, the approach being from Stage Harbor (described on p. 57), and there is no channel from Stage Harbor to Chatham Bar.

Chatham Lighthouse is a white, conical tower. The light is group flashing white, 4 flashes every 30 seconds (flashes 0.6, 0.6, 0.6, and 0.6 second, eclipses 4.4, 4.4, 4.4, and 14.4 seconds), 80 feet (24.4 m) high and visible 15 miles.

Monomoy Beach extends 42 miles in a southwesterly direction from Chatham Bar to Monomoy Island. In passing along this beach the town of Chatham and Chatham Lighthouse can be seen over it.

Monomoy Island is a low, narrow spit covered with sand hillocks, and forms the northern side of the entrance to Nantucket Sound. Its eastern shore is foul, having many sand shoals off it. Vessels sometimes anchor off this shore in 4 to 6 fathoms (7.3 to 11 m) and wait for a fair tide to beat through the sounds. As a general rule the shore should not be approached nearer than 1 mile for a distance of 4 miles southward of Chatham Lighthouse. The southern end of Monomoy Island is called Monomoy Point, and nearly 11⁄4 miles

above its southerly extremity stands Monomoy Point unused lighthouse. Shoals make off nearly 5 miles in a general east-northeast direction from the end of Monomoy Point.

Monomoy Point unused lighthouse is a red tower with a covered way to a dwelling. Monomoy and Monomoy Point Coast Guard Stations are located 2 miles north and 34 mile southwest, respectively, from the unused lighthouse.

Storm warnings are displayed at Race Point, Cape Cod Light, Monomoy Point, and from near Chatham Lighthouse.

Currents. See "Currents, Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and approaches," beginning on page 43.

MONOMOY AND NANTUCKET SHOALS (CHARTS 1107 AND 1209)

Eastward and southeastward of the eastern entrance to Nantucket Sound are Monomoy and Nantucket Shoals. Owing to the great extent and distance of some parts of these shoals from the land, and to the strong and baffling tidal currents which set over them, their navigation in thick or foggy weather is hazardous. In clear weather the lighthouses, light vessels, and buoys render the navigation of the two principal channels comparatively easy. The deeper channel leads through these shoals in an easterly direction from Nantucket (Great Point) Lighthouse, and for the purpose of description will be considered as the dividing line between Nantucket and Monomoy Shoals, which are briefly described under separate headings. (For current information, see "Currents, Cape Cod to New York," p. 26, and Currents, Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and approaches,' beginning on p. 43.)

66

Monomoy Shoals consist of numerous detached shoals extending about 51⁄2 miles in an easterly and 91⁄2 miles in a southeasterly and south-southeasterly direction from Monomoy Point. Many parts of these shoals, separated from others by narrow slues, have special names and are briefly described below. It should be remembered that the shoals are shifting in character and are subject to change both in location and depth.

Bearse Shoal is the western, and Pollock Rip the eastern, part of the shoal extending 334 miles eastward of Monomoy Point unused lighthouse. These shoals are a series of sand shoals and ridges, with little water in places for a distance of 2 miles eastward of the unused lighthouse, and 9 to 18 feet (2.7 to 5.5 m) farther eastward. The channel lying between these two shoals is marked by buoys. (See description of Pollock Rip Channel on p. 38.)

Broken Part of Pollock Rip, with depths of 10 to 18 feet (3 to 5.5 m) over it, lies eastward of Pollock Rip and is separated from it by Pollock Rip Slue. The black can buoy at the northwest end of these shoals marks the entrance to Pollock Rip Slue.

Stonehorse, Little Round, and Great Round Shoals are portions of a continuous series of sand shoals and ridges, with depths of 5 to 18 feet (1.5 to 5.5 m) over them, lying directly eastward of the entrance to Nantucket Sound and between the two main channels. Southward and eastward of these shoals there are numerous shoal spots, including Orion Shoal, with depths of 9 to 18 feet (2.7 to 5.5 m) over them.

Shovelful Shoal is a small shoal lying 580 yards southward from Monomoy Point. It has a least depth of 9 feet (2.7 m). A narrow channel, 16 feet (4.9 m) deep, lies between the shoal and Monomoy Point. A narrow channel with a least depth of 15 feet (4.6 m) lies between this shoal and Handkerchief Shoal. Heavy tide rips are usually encountered in this locality.

Handkerchief Shoal extends for 4 miles southwestward from Monomoy Point. It has depths of 2 to 18 feet (0.6 to 5.5 m) and rises abruptly from the deeper water on its southeast side. On the northwest side the water shoals more gradually, and the lead will indicate an approach to danger. The shoal is uneven and shifting in character, and vessels should not attempt to pass to northward of the nun buoy which marks its southern end.

Pollock Rip Lightship is moored in 10 fathoms (18.3 m) about 51⁄2 miles offshore. It has a red hull with "Pollock" on each side, and two masts with circular gratings at each masthead. The light is occulting white every 5 seconds, light 4 seconds, eclipse 1 second, 65 feet (19.8 m) high, and visible 14 miles. A white riding light is exhibited from the forestay to indicate the heading of the vessel. The fog signal is a steam chime whistle (blast 5 seconds, silent 25 seconds). If the whistle is disabled, a bell will be struck by hand. A radiobeacon is operated on the lightship. The radio station receives and transmits messages.

Stonehorse Shoal Lightship is moored in 14 fathoms (25.6 m) about 0.9 mile 153° from Monomoy Point unused lighthouse. It has a black hull with "Stonehorse on each side; two masts; black grating on foremast, light and gallery on mainmast. The light (on mainmast) is occulting white every 4 seconds, light 2 seconds, eclipse 2 seconds, 60 feet (18.3 m) high and visible 12 miles. A fixed white light will be shown if the occulting light is inoperative. A white riding light is exhibited from the forestay to indicate heading of the vessel. The fog signal is a steam chime whistle, blast 3 seconds, silent 12 seconds. A bell will be struck by hand if the whistle is disabled. A submarine bell sounds 1 group of 5 strokes every 12 seconds.

Handkerchief Lightship is moored in 814 fathoms (15.2 m) about 0.6 miles off the southern end of Handkerchief Shoal. It has a red hull with "Handkerchief" on each side, and a black gallery and lantern at the masthead. The light is group flashing white (flashes 1, 1 and 1 second, eclipse 1, 1 and 3 seconds, 40 feet (12.2 m) high and visible for 12 miles. If flashing light is extinguished, a fixed white light will be shown. A white riding light is exhibited from the forestay to indicate heading of the vessel. The fog signal is an air siren, blast 4 seconds, silent 26 seconds. A bell will be struck by hand, 1 stroke every 15 seconds, if whistle is disabled.

Nantucket Shoals is the general name of the numerous different broken shoals which lie southeastward of Nantucket Island and make this one of the most dangerous parts of the coast of the United States for the navigator. These shoals extend 23 miles eastward and 39 miles southeastward from Nantucket Island, are shifting in their nature, and the depths vary from 3 and 4 feet (0.9 and 1.2 m) on some to 4 and 5 fathoms (7.3 and 9.1 m) on others, while slues with depths of 10 fathoms (18.3 m) or more lead between those

NANTUCKET SHOALS

37

farthest offshore. The easterly edge of the shoals has depths of 4 and 42 fathoms (7.3 and 8.2 m) in places, and trends 166° true (S. mag.) from latitude 41° 18' N., longitude 69° 29′ W., to latitude 40° 57' N., longitude 69° 22′ W. Asia Rip, the southeasternmost danger, has a least depth of 6 fathoms (11 m) in latitude 40° 48′ N., longitude 69° 22′ W. Deep-draft vessels should pass southward and eastward of Asia Rip, and eastward of the easterly edge of the shoals as defined above. For a distance of 15 miles eastward and southeastward and 18 miles southward from Nantucket Island, the shoals have depths less than 16 feet (4.9 m), and this area should be avoided by all vessels. The eastern part of this area is marked by Great Rip lighted buoy No. 2 and fishing buoy No. 2, a red nun, and the southern part is marked by Davis South Shoal west buoy, a red and black horizontally striped can. The tidal currents are strong and variable in direction, forming extensive rips and broken water over the shoals.

Telegraph cables.-Three submarine cables of the French Telegraph Cable Co. are located along the east shore of Cape Cod as follows: (1) From a landing at Nauset Beach Light trends in a northeasterly direction; (2) from a landing at Nauset Harbor trends in an easterly direction; (3) from a landing at Nauset Beach (East Orleans) trends in a southeasterly direction.

The cable company cautions vessels from anchoring near these cables. It is willing to indemnify any vessel for anchor and gear cut away and lost in order to prevent interruption of cable communication. This will be done on presentation of the proper sworn evidence of the facts with the exact position of the vessel at the time.

Nantucket Shoals Lightship (latitude 40° 37′ 02′′ N., longitude 69° 37' 06" W.), with red station whistle buoy 0.6 mile, 340° true (N. 12 W. mag.) from it, is the leading mark for vessels passing southward of Nantucket Shoals. It is moored in 30 fathoms (55 m) 43 miles 158° true (S. 34 E. mag.) from Sankaty Head Lighthouse. It has a red hull with "Nantucket " on each side, and two masts with a red circular grating and radio yard at each masthead. The light is a group flashing white, showing 3 flashes every 8 seconds, 65 feet (19.8 m) above the water and visible 14 miles. If the flashing light is inoperative a fixed white light will be shown. A white riding light is exhibited from the forestay to indicate heading of vessel. The fog signal sounds a blast 3 seconds, silent 12 seconds. A bell will be struck by hand if the whistle is inoperative. A radiobeacon is operated at the lightship.

During thick or foggy weather, a submarine oscillator is sounded simultaneously with the radio signal, so that vessels equipped with radio and submarine receivers may determine their distance from the station. The oscillator sounds 2 groups of 6 blasts each every 90 seconds; blasts 1 second each; silence between blasts alternating 3 and 4 seconds each; silence between groups of blasts 12 seconds, long silence 31 seconds. For details see Light List of the United States Lighthouse Service or publication H. O. No. 205.

Day storm warnings are displayed. A vessel, showing her distinguishing lights at night, or her number with International Code signals by day, will be reported. The radio station receives and transmits messages.