SAKONNET RIVER, DIRECTIONS

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shelter frequently anchor on the flats in the bight northward of Fogland Point, where the depths are 10 to 14 feet (3 to 4.3 m).

Tides.-The mean rise and fall of tides at Sakonett Point is about 31/2 feet.

Currents.-The two bridges act as dams to maintain the water at different levels on either side of them, and cause dangerous currents through the draws. Vessels usually pass through the draws near the time of slack water, which occurs about 1 hour before the time of high and low water at Newport.

Ice. The river northward of Fogland Point is usually closed by ice for short periods each winter. Ice packs occur at the railroad bridge.

Directions, Sakonnet River.-Pass 3/4 mile westward of Sakonnet Lighthouse and steer 1° true (N. by E. % E. mag.) for 411⁄2 miles, heading for High Hill Point. The course leads near the middle of the river, passing 3% mile westward of the red bell buoy southward of Churchs Point, and to a position 1/2 mile eastward of Black Point. Then steer 337° true (N. 34 W. mag.) to a position 100 yards westward of the Sakonnet River bell buoy No. 6, leaving a black can buoy No. 5, 100 yards to port. Then steer 15° true (NNE. % E. mag.) for 11⁄2 miles to a position midway between a red and a black buoy. Then steer 3 true (N. by E. 5% E. mag.), passing to westward of two red buoys and to eastward of a black buoy and giving Gould Island a berth of about 150 yards. Pass through Stone Bridge draw and keep near the middle of the river until through the second draw (west opening) and then steer 9° true (NNE. / E. mag.), following the eastern bank at a distance of 250 yards until 1/2 mile northward of the second bridge to avoid a shoal with 11 feet (3.4 m) making out from Cedar Island. Then follow mid-channel courses until in Mount Hope Bay.

NARRAGANSETT BAY (CHART 353)

The entrance to this bay is between Brenton Point, the southwestern point of Rhode Island, on the east and Point Judith Neck on the west. The length of the bay from the entrance to its northern extremity at the mouth of the Providence River is 18 miles. It is the approach by water to the cities of Newport, Providence, Fall River, and Taunton, and to a number of towns and villages, the most important of which are Bristol, Wickford, and East Greenwich. The bay is well marked by lights, making its navigation easy either day or night in clear weather. Conanicut and Prudence Islands and several smaller ones lie in the bay and divide it into two passages. Speed trial course.-A naval trial course has been established on the east shore of the north end of Conanicut Island. The course is now 1 nautical mile (6,080.2 feet) in length. The true bearing of the course is N. 03° W.

The approaches to Narrangansett Bay have been examined by means of a wire drag from longitude 71° 25′ W. eastward to the entrance of Buzzards Bay for a width of about 6 miles southward of Brenton Reef Lightship. The eastern passage and parts of the western passage abreast Conanicut Island have also been partly examined.

Brenton Reef Lightship is anchored in 84 feet (25.6 m) off the entrance to the eastern passage. It has a straw-colored hull with "Brenton" on each side, a black circular daymark on the mast, and a circular gallery on a pyramidal skeleton tower forward. The light is occulting white, light 3 seconds, eclipse 1 second, 57 feet (17.4 m) high, and visible 12 miles. If the occulting light is inoperative, a fixed white light will be shown. A fixed white riding light is shown on the forestay, 20 feet (6.1 m) high. The fog signal is a 10-inch and a 6-inch air whistle; group of 2 blasts every 30 seconds, blast (low tone) 3 seconds, blast (high tone) 3 seconds, silent 24 seconds. A bell will ring 5 strokes every 30 seconds if the whistles are disabled. The submarine bell sounds groups of 3 and 9 every 30 seconds.

Eastern Passage, between Rhode Island on the east and Conanicut and Prudence Islands on the west, is good for a least depth of about 10 fathoms (18.3 m) in the channel for a distance of 12 miles above the entrance, and a depth of about 5 fathoms (9.1 m) to the entrance of the dredged channel leading to Providence, which is 30 feet (9.1 m) deep. Eastern Passage is the most direct passage to Newport, Bristol, Mount Hope Bay, and Taunton River.

Western Passage, between Conanicut and Prudence Islands on the east and the mainland on the west, is the approach to Dutch Island Harbor, Wickford, Greenwich Bay, and Providence River. The channel south of Warwick Neck and north of Prudence Island forms a passage through which a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m) can be taken to Providence. Strangers with over 16 feet (4.9 m) draft rarely go above Dutch Island Harbor without a pilot, but vessels of 16 feet (4.9 m) draft should have no difficulty in going to the head of the bay and Providence by following the directions.

Anchorages. The principal anchorages for vessels seeking shelter are Newport Harbor, in the Eastern Passage, and Dutch Island Harbor, in the Western Passage. These harbors afford anchorage with good holding ground for deep-draft vessels, and are used by coasting vessels on the passage between Vineyard Sound and Long Island Sound. Good anchorage will be found almost anywhere in the bay under the lee of the islands or the shore, and vessels becalmed or at night frequently anchor. Point Judith Harbor of Refuge is just west of the point.

Prohibited anchorages.-Anchorage areas have been established by the Secretary of War in the Eastern and Western Passages and in Bristol Harbor. Vessels are prohibited from anchoring outside these areas, and officers of the Coast Guard Service are charged with the enforcement of the regulations governing these anchorages. A publication defining the anchorage areas, with the rules and regulations relating thereto, can be obtained from the Army engineers, Providence, R. I. The following are extracts from the rules and regulations:

1. Except in cases of great emergency, no vessel shall be anchored in the entrances to Narragansett Bay, in Newport Harbor, or in that portion of Bristol Harbor channelward of the State harbor line between the westward prolongations of Union and Franklin Streets, outside of the anchorage areas hereby defined and established.

PROHIBITED ANCHORAGES

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2. Anchors must not be placed outside the anchorage areas, nor shall any vessel be so anchored that any portion of the hull or rigging shall at any time extend outside the boundaries of the anchorage area.

3. Any vessel anchoring under the circumstances of great emergency outside the anchorage areas must be placed near the edge of the channel, and in such position as not to interfere with the free navigation of the channel, nor obstruct the approach to any pier, nor impede the movement of any boat, and shall move away immediately after the emergency ceases, or upon notification by the officer of the Coast Guard Service charged with the enforcement of these regulations.

4. A vessel upon being notified to move into the anchorage limits or to shift its position on anchorage grounds must get under way at once, or signal for a tug, and must change position as directed with reasonable promptness.

5. Whenever the maritime or commercial interests of the United States so require, the officer of the Coast Guard Service enforcing these regulations is hereby empowered to shift the position of any vessel anchored within the anchorage areas, of any vessel anchored outside the anchorage areas, and of any vessel which is so moored or anchored as to impede or obstruct vessel movements in any channel.

6. Nothing in these rules and regulations shall be construed as relieving the owner or person in charge of any vessel from the penalties of the law for obstructing navigation or for obstructing or interfering with range lights, or for not complying with the navigation laws in regard to lights, fog signals, or for otherwise violating the law.

Torpedo-testing range. The following information concerning the establishment of a restricted zone in Narragansett Bay for the testing of torpedoes, and the rules and regulations governing the use of this zone by vessels, has been received from the Secretary of War and is published for the information and guidance of mariners: Under authority of law the following zone in which navigation is likely to be endangered by reason of the operations of the United States Naval Torpedo Station and in which vessels may navigate only subject to rules and regulations is hereby defined and established, and the following rules and regulations relating thereto are hereby prescribed and are in force:

THE DANGER ZONE

Within the area north of Gould Island, west of a line bearing 13° 30' from the east shore of Gould Island through the spindle on Halfway Rock to the south end of Prudence Island, south of Patience Island and east of a line bearing 353° tangent to the west shore of Gould Island and ranging through the northwest point of Patience Island.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. During the period from March 15 to December 31, between the hours of 9 a. m. and 4 p. m. on all days except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, no vessel shall enter into or pass through the area above defined and established if forbidden to do so by the inspector of ordnance in charge, United States Naval Torpedo Station, or his duly accredited representatives.

2. From March 15 to December 31 all vessels are forbidden to anchor within the area defined except in cases of great emergency. Any vessel anchoring under circumstances of great emergency within the area shall move away immediately after the emergency ceases, or upon notification by the officer or employee charged with the enforcement of these regulations.

3. Any vessel upon being notified to shift its position or course must change position or course as directed with reasonable promptness.

4. During periods when testing is in progress, all vessels in or near the danger zone will be met by representatives of the inspector of ordnance in charge, suitably warned, and given necessary instructions and orders relative to navigating zone. Government vessels, seaplanes, or other equipment patrolling the zone will fly or expose a square red flag.

5. Nothing in these regulations shall prevent the setting of fish traps within the area under permits granted by the War Department, nor shall the passage of fishing vessels to and from authorized traps be unreasonably interfered with or restricted.

Pilots for Fall River and the harbors in Rhode Island will sometimes be found cruising between Point Judith and Cuttyhunk and also off Block Island. A pilot can be obtained by making signal off Block Island, Beavertail Lighthouse, and Brenton Point Coast Guard Station. If a vessel passes into the bay without having been boarded by a pilot, one may be obtained at Newport or Dutch Island Harbor. State pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels or vessels from a foreign port.

The pilotage rates to all ports in Rhode Island, except Newport, Dutch Island and Narragansett Pier vary from $1.25 per foot for vessels of 72-foot or less draft up to $4 per foot for vessels of 18-foot draft and over.

The rates to Newport, Dutch Island, and Narragansett Pier vary from $1 per foot for vessels of 10-foot or less draft to $3 per foot for vessels of 2012-foot draft and over.

From November 1 to May 1 an additional charge of 50 cents per foot is made.

Pilot rates for Fall River are $3 per foot of draft for vessels up to 500 tons, and then increases 50 cents per foot for each additional 500 tons, with a maximum of $5 per foot of draft for over 2,000 tons. Towboats are frequently used by sailing vessels in the bay, especially those bound to Providence by the Western Passage, and may sometimes be found off the entrance or in Newport Harbor. It is usual for vessels entering by the Western Passage to put into Dutch Island Harbor and from there telephone to the towboat office at Providence. A towboat may be had by making signal off Point Judith, Beavertail Lighthouse or Brenton Point Coast Guard Station.

Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the regulations of the United States Public Health Service. There are quarantine officers at Providence and Newport.

Hospital. There are relief stations of the United States Public Health Service at Newport and Providence.

Supplies. Coal, water, gasoline, and ship chandler's stores can be obtained at Newport, Providence, and Fall River, and gasoline and provisions at most of the towns on the bay or its tributaries.

Repairs to the hulls of vessels can be made at Newport, Fall River, and Providence, and to the machinery of steamers at Providence. For further information see the descriptions of the ports, and the table on page 5.

Storm-warning displays are made at Point Judith, Newport, Saunderstown (opposite Dutch Island), Fall River, and Providence. Fogs. In the entrance to the bay and its approach fogs are more prevalent from April to October than during the rest of the year; they are brought in by winds from east through south to southwest, and are cleared off by northerly and westerly winds; their usual duration is 4 to 12 hours, but periods of 4 to 6 days have been known, with but short clear intervals. The head of the bay will sometimes be free from fog when the entrance is completely shut in.

Ice.-Navigation in the bay and its tributaries is sometimes impeded by floating ice, and in severe winters by pack or field ice. The ice breaking up in Providence River and Mount Hope Bay is set by north and northeast winds down the bay through the Eastern Passage, and if there is much ice a gorge is sometimes formed at Fort Adams, but it is of short duration. The passages are rarely closed for any length of time below Gould Island in the Eastern Passage and Dutch Island in the Western Passage. During January and February, Mount Hope Bay, Bristol, Providence River, East Greenwich, Warren, and Wickford are usually closed to sailing vessels unaided by steam. The inner harbor of Newport is also sometimes closed during the same months, with the exception of a channel kept open by the New York Steamers.

Currents.-Observations made at Brenton Reef Lightship give the following results:

The strength of flood and ebb occur about 311⁄2 hours before the corresponding strengths at the Race, Long Island Sound (approximately the times of low and high water at Boston) the flood setting northward with a velocity of about 12 knot and the ebb setting southward with a velocity of about 1/2 knot. Slack occurs about 311⁄2 hours before the slacks at the Race (approximately 3 hours after times of high and low water at Boston). Velocities of over 2 knots have been observed with strong winds.

The flood current in Narragansett Bay is irregular due to the fact that each flood generally has a double maximum velocity separated by a minimum velocity which at times may become an ebb current. In the narrows of Eastern Passage and Western Passage the strength of the current is about 1 to 11⁄2 knots. In other parts of the bay the velocity in general is less than a knot.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of the tides varies from about 312 feet at the entrance to 42 feet at Providence.

NARRAGANSETT BAY, EASTERN PASSAGE

Brenton Reef Lightship, described on page 94, off the entrance to Eastern Passage, forms the principal guide to the entrance of Naragansett Bay.

Brenton Point, the southwestern point of Rhode Island, and the eastern point at the entrance to Eastern Passage, is marked by a large residence with cupola. Brenton Reef, extending 11⁄2 mile south-southwestward from the point, is bare in places at low water and is marked at the southern end by a red gong buoy. Seal Rock is a bare rock near the end of a reef extending 1/2 mile from the shore just eastward of Brenton Point.

Butter Ball Rock, a small bare rock about 200 yards from the southern end of Castle Hill, is marked off the western side by a red bell buoy.

Beavertail Lighthouse is a square granite tower, upper half white, attached to a white dwelling, on the south point of Conanicut Island. The light is group flashing white, showing 2 flashes every 15 seconds, 64 feet (19.5 m) high and visible for 14 miles. The fog signal is an air siren blowing group of 2 blasts every 68 seconds, first blast 4 seconds, silent 10 seconds, second blast 4 seconds, silent 50 seconds.