by water hyacinths. The lock through the dam (134 feet by 36 feet) is inoperative. The minimum draft to Croom is effective during low stages of the river.

There was formerly considerable shipment of phosphate rock from the Withlacoochee River but this rock is now shipped by rail and there is now relatively small commerce on the river.

Port Inglis has been nearly abandoned since shipment of phosphate rock by water has ceased, and there are only one or two families left here.

Yankeetown (population 157 by 1930 census) is a post office and the main town on the river. It is a small winter resort and fishing village, 3 miles above Port Inglis. There is a hotel and store here and gasoline, oil, and provisions can be obtained and some repairs to small boats can be made.

Inglis is a small settlement and post office 7 miles above the mouth of the river. Gasoline, oil, fresh water, and provisions can be obtained.

Tides and currents.-The mean rise and fall of tide is 22 feet. A tidal current sets easterly from the loading pool during flood and westerly during ebb. The later is said sometimes to attain a velocity of 3 knots and must be taken into account by vessels coming in from the entrance buoy. A strong northeasterly wind may increase the velocity of the ebb current and a southwesterly wind may decrease it. Directions, Withlacoochee Anchorage and River. From the entrance buoy, steer 62° true (NE. by E. 3/8 E. mag.) for 51⁄2 miles to East Shoal Buoy 1, which is on the northeast side of the anchorage. Then steer 65° true (NE. by E. 5/8 E. mag.) for 4 miles to Withlacoochee River Beacons 1 and 2, which mark the entrance to the dredged cut into the river. Withlacoochee River Light is located 1/4 mile northeastward of beacon 1, the light is 34 feet high and beacon 1 is 15 feet high. Numerous beacons and spoil banks mark the dredged cut from here into the river.

13. CEDAR KEYS

(Chart 480)

Cedar Keys is a group of keys and islets, 90 miles northward of Tampa Bay. They are low, sandy, and covered with a growth of mangrove trees. The most prominent object from offshore is Cedar Keys Unused Lighthouse (Lat. 29°-05.8′; Long. 83°-03.9′), showing a white tower on Sea Horse Key, the most southerly key of the group. This tower shows to seaward from among the trees; it stands on a 45-foot mound on the south side of the key and its top is 75 feet high.

Seahorse Reef is a dangerous shoal with little depth over it, extending 11 miles southwestward from Seahorse Key. It is marked by Seahorse Reef Spit Bell Buoy 3 off its outer end and by Seahorse Reef Light, 2 miles northeastward of the end.

Cedar Keys (population 1,066 by the 1930 census) is a small town on Way Key. The former railroad has been removed but a State highway connects with Bronson and Gainesville. A draft of 1012 feet (3.2 m) can be carried through the main ship channel and about 8 feet (2.4 m) can be taken alongside the wharves. Gasoline, water,

some provisions, and some supplies for small boats can be obtained. There is a limited supply of rain water which is used for drinking. Boats up to 50 feet in length and 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) draft can be hauled; some repairs can be made but there is no machine shop. There are no regular pilots but local pilots are available. Depot Key, on the opposite side of the harbor, is practically deserted.

Storm Warnings (day only) are displayed at Cedar Keys.

Main Ship Channel, east of Seahorse Keys has a controlling depth of 1012 feet (3.2 m). Although somewhat crooked, the channel is well marked by beacons, lights, and lighted ranges and is not difficult to follow. The deepest draft now using the channel is about 9 feet (2.7 m).

Northwest Channel, north of North and Middle Keys is good for a draft of about 5 feet (1.5 m). Small craft bound up the coast, if their draft will permit, should enter by the Main Ship Channel and leave by Northwest Channel, rather than cross Seahorse Reef.

South Bar Channel, north of Depot Key, has a least depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m). There are only a few markers and the passage is somewhat difficult for stranger. It is used chiefly by local boats.

Anchorage.-Cedar Keys Harbor is protected on all sides by keys and shoals, and affords a safe anchorage for small vessels in all weathers. The best anchorages are off the town and off the northwest side of Depot Key; these anchorages are used by the smaller vessels. Good anchorage in 12 feet (3.7 m) is found in the channel just above Cedar Keys Light 8 northeastward of Seashore Key. Shoals on both sides prevent a heavy sea, and the holding ground is good. Vessels waiting to enter the main ship channel can anchor in 14 feet (4.3 m), with Seahorse Key bearing 13° true (N. by E. mag.), distant 212 miles. There is a small boat basin directly behind Cedar Keys. The entrance is through Boat Channel, passing north of Way Key; a draft of 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) can be taken into Boat Channel.

Fog. There is considerable fog in this locality during the winter months; southerly winds bring it in and northerly winds clear it

away.

Tides and currents.-The mean rise and fall of tides at Cedar Keys is 2.4 feet. Outside the entrance the current sets eastward on the flood and westward on the ebb. Inside, the currents in general follow the channels.

Directions, Main Ship Channel.-Pass southard and well eastward of Seahorse Reef Spit Bell Buoy 3 at the south end of Seahorse Reef and then steer northeastward until Cedar Keys Unused Lighthouse on Seahorse Key bears 16° true (N. by E. 14 E. mag.) when it will be range with Main Channel Beacon 3 which is 1/4 mile northeastward of Cedar Keys Main Entrance Light 1. Pass 100 yards eastward of the light and follow the courses given below:

in

From the position to the east of Cedar Key Light 17 (Position 6 below), boats of less than 5 feet draft can proceed to the northeastward, passing off the north side of Depot Key and to the eastward of Beacon 22 and on to the wharves at Cedar Keys. There is a controlling depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) across the shoal to the eastward of Beacon 22.

(13) MAIN SHIP CHANNEL

145

Coastwise Courses and Distances to a position off Seahorse Reef Spit Bell Buoy 3 are given on page 63. (Position 7). The following Courses and Distances are for the Main Ship Channel. The Inland Rules apply inside Seahorse Reef Spit Bell Buoy 3.

Passing westward of Beacons 4 & 6 and

to west and north of Cut E Rear Range
Light 8.

4. Cut E Rear Range Light 8 100 yds. north-
west of Light:

Direct (Cut D Lighted Range ahead). Reverse (Cut D Lighted Range astern) Passing north of Beacons 10, 12, and 14 and south of Beacon 9 and Light 11.

5. Front Range Light-Cuts D and B. This is a front light for two ranges; pass it close-by to northwest:

Direct (Cut B Lighted Range astern). Reverse (Cut B Lighted Range ahead) Passing east of Light 13 and Beacon 15. 6. Cedar Key Light 17. Close-by to eastward:

39

219

58

238

Passing north of Beacon 22.

9. Position off Cedar Keys wharves.

To leave by the Northwest Channel.-This channel leaves the main ship channel at Cedar Keys Light 16, passing around Piney Point (the most southerly point of Way Key) and the Middle Keys to North Bank Light I which marks the outside entrance to the channel.

Sufficient directions are simply to use the latest edition of Chart 480 and be guided by the numerous beacons. The shoalest place in the channel is the vicinity of Beacon 5A, south of Piney Point where the controlling depth is about 5 feet (1.5 m).

To enter by South Bar Channel.-From a position 1 mile southwestward of Withlacoochee River Light, a course 318° true (NW. mag.) for 1212 miles leads to South Bar Light 2. Or, from Withlacoochee East Shoal Buoy 1, a course of 334° true (NNW. 1⁄2 W. mag.) for 1134 miles leads to South Bar Light 2. Pass close to southwestward of South Bar Light 2, and steer 299° true (NW. by W. 5% W. mag.) with the south tangent of Dog Island nearly dead ahead. Approaching Beacons 1 and 6, pass between them, then round Beacon 1 and continue in a westsouthwesterly direction, passing south of Beacon 8 and thence to the wharves at Cedar Keys.

14. CEDAR KEYS TO ST. MARKS RIVER

(Charts 180 and 181)

From Cedar Keys the coast extends in a general northwesterly direction for about 75 miles, and then westerly for 10 miles to St. Marks River. Inland for 1 or 2 miles it is low and marshy and backed by pine forests. The shore line is broken by a number of unimportant creeks and rivers, some of which are navigable for a draft of 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m). Offshore for a distance of 10 miles the bottom is exceedingly irregular and broken, with coral heads and reefs everywhere in evidence. For light-draft vessels this shoal water affords fair anchorage, with considerable protection from heavy seas. This stretch of the coast is frequented mostly by spongers and fishermen, and strangers desiring to enter any of the rivers or creeks should employ one of them who is familiar with the

route.

Suwannee Sound, beginning 4 miles north of Cedar Keys, is bounded on the west by a long line of narrow reefs known as Suwannee Reef, and on the east by the mainland. It is about 8 miles long and has an average width of about 3 miles. There are several entrances to the sound, the main one being Derrick Key Gap, through which a channel 6 feet (1.8 m) deep and 70 feet wide has been dredged. This channel is subject to shoaling, and in 1935 the controlling depth was about 4 feet (1.2 m). This channel is well marked by beacons. Ranch Bar Gap, 311⁄2 miles northwest of Derrick Key is also good for about 4 feet (1.2 m) draft through an unmarked channel. West Gap, 61/4 miles northwest of Derrick Key is shallow and is only used by local boats on high water.

Suwannee River empties into Suwannee Sound through two mouths, known as East Pass and West Pass. A branch of West Pass is known as Northwest Pass. A channel 5 feet (1.5 m) deep has been dredged through the shoals at the entrance to East Pass. This channel is marked by beacons and is the main entrance to the river; it is subject to shoaling and in 1935 the controlling depth was about 3 feet (0.9 m). West Pass is little used and is good for only shallow draft boats. At high tide a draft of 3 feet (0.9 m) can be taken out Northwest Pass, and through an opening in the reefs to the Gulf, but the channel is not marked and should not be attempted by strangers.

(14) SUWANNEE RIVER

147

A draft of about 3 feet (0.9 m) can be carried from the Gulf up the Suwannee River to Rolands Bluff (Branford), 68 miles above the mouth; from 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) can be carried to the rapids 21⁄2 miles below Ellaville, 115 miles above the mouth; and at high stages small boats can go to White Springs, 150 miles above the mouth. The river is tidal for 21 miles above the mouth. Above the tidal section the slope is steep and the current rapid. Extreme fluctuations occur due to freshets. Low water usually occurs in the winter and high water in the fall months. There is little commerce on the river.

Directions, Derrick Key to Suwannee River. The passages through Derrick Key Gap and the East Pass into the river are both well marked by numerous beacons. Use the latest edition of chart 180 as a guide and follow the beacons closely.

North Bank Light 1.-Pass 300 to 400 yards to the westward of this light.

Bn. 2.-Pass 100 yards to westward.

Bn. 1.-Pass to eastward.

Bns. 3, 3A, 5, 7, 9, 11.-Pass to southward. There is an old bird rack near Bn. 3 which is a good mark for steering. The shoalest depth in the gap is generally between Bns. 3 and 3A; there was a controlling depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) at this point in 1935. Bn. 2.-Pass west and north of.

Bns. 1, 3, 5.—Pass east and north of. The channel turns westward at Bn. 3.

Bns. 4 and 6.-Pass west and south of. The channel turns north at Bn. 4.

From Bn. 6, a course 331° true (NNW. 34 W. mag) [Reverse 151° true (SSE. 34 E. mag.)] for 4 miles leads to Suwannee River East Pass Channel Bn. 2. Pass to the north and west of Bns. 2, 4, and 6 and to the east and south of Bns. 1 and 3. Beyond Bn. 3 there are usually a few stakes marking the channel into the river.

Pepperfish Keys are the only objects between Cedar Keys and St. Marks Lighthouse that a stranger can recognize. They lie from one-fourth to 1 mile off the mainland and on account of their separation from the general coast line can be made out at a distance of from 5 to 6 miles. Four bird racks have been built off Pepperfish Keys, the northernmost lying 11/4 miles west by north of the keys, and the others 2, 3, and 311⁄2 miles south of this one. A white sand 32 beach on the north end of Pepperfish Keys can be easily identified. A tall clump of trees on Pine Point is also prominent.

Good, protected anchorage for small boats can be found northeast of the westernmost Pepperfish Keys. There is 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) of water here and the bottom is sand with patches of boulders. The approach to the anchorage is from the westward and extends in a generally east by south direction through an unmarked channel. Boats of less than 4 feet (1.2 m) draft can enter by passing to northward of the northernmost bird rack, and by keeping in dark water, as the shoals show light colored.

Steinhatchee River discharges into Deadman Bay, 38 miles northwestward of Cedar Keys. A draft of about 5 feet (1.5 m) can be taken into the river on a favorable tide, and good depths will be found inside, but the approach is obstructed by shoals and oyster bars. There are no marks that could be recognized by a stranger.