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Prominent features.-Approaching the entrance to St. Andrew Bay from seaward, the shore first appears as a low, unbroken line of woods. Upon nearer approach, the sand beach shows in an unbroken white line, with the exception of the entrances at East Pass which show as dark breaks in the white expanse. The new dredged cut will not show unless the vessel is on or near the line of the cut. The first landmarks to be seen are the smoke and tall stacks of the paper mill at Bay Harbor. Later the elevated water tank at St. Andrew will show. The entrance light is a poor mark in the daytime as it shows against a background of trees. From the cut, a tall hotel at Panama City is a prominent landmark. The water in the vicinity of the. entrance is remarkably clear, and even in rough weather the outlines of the channel and spits can be distinguished by the difference in color of the water-deepest where it is darkest.

Entrance Channels.-A new entrance channel has been dredged from the Gulf into St. Andrew Bay about 41⁄2 miles northwestward of Hurricane Island. This channel is a straight cut through the peninsula south of Alligator Point, extending from deep water in the Gulf, in the direction 52° true (NE. 14 E. mag.) to deep water in St. Andrew Bay. The entrance is protected by jetties. The project depth is 27 feet (8.2 m) over a width of 300 feet, deepened to 29 feet (8.8 m) and widened to 450 feet the approach channel in the Gulf, but the channel is subject to considerable shoaling and until the banks of the channel become stable, the project depth will be maintained by frequent dredging. The channel is well marked by lights and lighted buoys.

St. Andrew Bay Entrance Light, at the inner end of the west jetty is a flashing white light, 72 feet (21.9 m) high and visible 12 miles. St. Andrew Bay Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy is 1.3 miles offshore, on the prolongation of the channel.

East Pass, lying southeastward of Hurricane Island, was the former entrance to St. Andrew Bay. Since the completion of the new channel, the lighted aids in East Pass have been discontinued. The old pass carries a depth of 20 feet (6.1 m), but is subject to shoaling and should be used only with local knowledge. The wreck of a tug lies about 600 yards east of the channel in about 7 feet (2.1 m) of water.

A small shallow pass leads west of Hurricane Island and in 1929 a new pass opened up through the island. The latter carries a depth of 5 feet (1.5 m) but is unmarked; it is subject to change by storms and should be used only with local knowledge.

Courtney Point Shoal is a shoal spit extending for 1 mile eastward of Courtney Point. Depths of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) are found near the outer part of the shoal. A light in 11 feet (3.3 m) marks the eastern edge of the shoal, but large vessels should give the light a good berth since depths of 23 to 25 feet (7.0 to 7.6 m) extend for 1/4 mile southeastward.

Middle Ground is a large shoal area with a least depth of 112 feet (3.5 m) lying in midchannel north of Red-fish Point. Large vessels should favor the point here, passing about 125 yards north of Redfish Point Light.

Panama City is the county seat of Bay County and has been extended to include the towns of St. Andrew, Millville, and Bay Harbor. An

office of the United States Army engineers is located at the courthouse. One of the largest paper mills in the world is located at Bay Harbor. This is the principal industry although there is some commerce in fish, lumber, and naval stores. Massalena Bayou, at Panama City opposite Red-fish Point, is the location of many landings for fish boats and yachts. A weekly passenger and cargo boat from Mobile, Pensacola, Apalachicola, and Carrabelle docks just below the bridge here. The bridge is a wooden structure with a single lift span with a horizontal clearance of 32 feet and a vertical clearance of 82 (2.6 m) feet at mean high water when closed. The entrance to the bayou is through a dredged channel marked on its western side by piles and by a range of two lights at night. A depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) can be carried through the dredged cut to the drawbridge, and 6 feet (1.8 m) can be carried through the bridge and into the yacht harbor above the bridge. Watson Bayou is used extensively for a yacht harbor and there are many boat landings here. There are shipyards and marine ways at Millville on Watson Bayou. Vessels must use care in approaching the head of the bayou as there are many piles and sunken logs to be found there. Depths of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3.0 m) can be carried to the wharves at Millville.

Communication.-Panama City has a railroad communication with the interior of the State and bus communication to all points. A passenger and freight steamer makes weekly trips to Mobile, Pensacola, Apalachicola, and Carrabelle. Several lines of freight steamships have regular sailings to Gulf and Atlantic coast ports. There is an airport on the south shore of Goose Bayou, North Bay. Panama City has several good hotels. There is no commercial radio station but radio messages can be sent by telegraph via Pensacola or other radio stations.

Supplies.-Gasoline, fuel oil, and Diesel oil can be obtained at Panama City and Bay Harbor. The fresh water is said to be good for boiler purposes. Coal can be obtained in small quantities. A large supply of coal is kept on hand at Bay Harbor for the use of the paper mill but there are no facilities for loading sufficient quantities to be used for bunker coal. Provisions are available in large quantities. Ship chandlery and yacht supplies can be obtained in limited quantities.

Repairs. Minor repairs to small vessels can be made at Massalena Bayou, Panama City, where there are marine ways of about 60 tons capacity. At Millville there are ways capable of hauling vessels up to 160 feet in length and a draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) forward and 12 feet (3.6 m) aft. Some machine repairs can also be made.

Wharves.-Bay Harbor is the principal loading port for large vessels. A depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) can be carried to the wharf here. Depths of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3.0 m) can be carried to the wharves at Millville on Watson Bayou. A depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) can be carried to the wharf in Massalena Bayou below the bridge at Panama City.

Harbor master. The harbor master assigns anchorages and berths to vessels and enforces the rules and regulations of the port. In accordance with State law he may charge 1 cent per ton upon vessels entering the port to discharge or load cargo, and one-half cent per ton for each vessel entering for bunker coal. The harbor master is stationed at Panama City.

Pilots. Licensed pilots are stationed at Panama City. Pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels. See extracts from the laws of Florida relating to pilotage on p. 8. Pilotage is advisable for all large vessels entering or leaving the port. Rates of pilotage are: For vessels drawing from 6 to 10 feet, $3 per foot; 10 to 14 feet, $4 per foot; 14 to 20 feet, $5 per foot; over 20 feet, $6 per foot. Since there is no radio at Panama City, pilots may be called by radio through Pensacola or Key West or by prearrangement. Pilots board vessels at the sea buoy off the dredged entrance cut.

A customs officer is stationed at Panama City. Customs officers board vessels at the anchorage midway between Red Fish Point and the beacon on Courtney Shoal. The customhouse landing is at Bay Harbor.

Quarantine.-The quarantine office is stationed at Panama City. Vessels subject to visitation are boarded at the anchorage midway between Red Fish Point and the beacon on Courtney Shoal.

Hospital. The nearest marine hospital is at Mobile. There is a contract United States Public Health doctor and small private hospitals at Panama City.

Towboats may be had at Millville or Bay Harbor. These are small towboats used for towing barges and are too small to assist vessels in distress or to assist in docking a large vessel.

Anchorage.-Excellent anchorage can be found almost anywhere inside the bay where the depth is suitable. The usual anchorage for large vessels is off the wharves at Panama City to the northwestward of the Middle Ground in 6 or 7 fathoms (11.0 to 12.8 m). The quarantine and customs anchorage is about midway between Redfish - Point and the beacon on Courtney Point Shoal.

Storm warnings (day and night) are displayed from the elevated municipal water tank at St. Andrew.

Tides. The tides are chiefly diurnal; the average rise and fall is about 1.5 feet. Winds greatly affect the tide and frequently all traces of normal tidal action are obliterated. Long-continued southerly winds raise the water level in the bay and northerly winds lower it.

Currents. A strong ebb current sets outward through the dredged cut and causes heavy tide rips if the wind is southerly and of moderate strength. Small vessels bound in or out, when there is a moderate southerly or westerly breeze, should endeavor to reach the entrance during flood current.

East Bay is an arm of St. Andrew Bay, extending in a general eastsoutheasterly direction for about 18 miles. It is from 3 mile to 214 miles wide, and forms part of the Intracoastal Waterway to Apalachicola. The shoal spits making off from the various points in the bay are marked by day beacons, and the dredged channel leading through the eastern part of the bay to the intracoastal canal at the mouth of Wetappo Creek is also marked by day beacons. Dupont Bridge, locally known as East Bay Bridge, crosses the bay at Long Point. The bridge has a center pier draw with a horizontal clearance of 90 feet on either side of the center pier, and a vertical clearance when closed of 14 feet (4.3 m) at mean high water. A white light is shown from the top of the bridge at the center of the draw span.

East Bay has depths of 45 to 50 feet (13.7 to 15.2 m) as far as Dupont Bridge; 15 feet (4.6 m) can be carried as far as Goose

Point and 10 feet (3.0 m) to beyond Farmdale. To the eastward of East Point there are numerous spots with 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m). There are several small settlements on East Bay, none of which have any commercial importance. Wetappo is an abandoned post office and consists of a school and a few scattered houses, at the mouth of Sandy Creek. A depth of 32 feet (1.0 m) can be taken through a narrow channel marked by stakes into the bayou where there is deeper water extending for approximately 3 miles to a highway bridge. Allanton consists of a post office, school, and a few scattered houses. Farmdale is a post office, school, and a few houses located on the western side of the entrance to Maddox Bayou. A depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) can be carried at mean low water through an entrance channel, marked by bush stakes, into the bayou where there is a small landing. Bell Island consists of a few summer cottages only. Cook on Laird Bayou, consists of a few scattered houses, some of which are unoccupied. Callaway, on Callaway Bayou, consists of a few houses only. San Blas consists of a few houses on the main highway. Cromanton is a post office with a church, school, and several houses. Parker is a post office with a few houses and store. Pearl Bayou, south of Dupont Bridge, and Pitt Bayou on the western side of Long Point afford good anchorage for small craft. Parker Bayou, on the eastern side of the settlement of Parker, is little used. Martin Bayou is obstructed at its entrance by a fixed wooden bridge having a horizontal clearance of 141⁄2 feet and a vertical clearance of 612 feet (2.0 m) at mean high water.

West Bay extends in a northwesterly direction from St. Andrews Bay, and is generally free from dangers except for several oyster bars with depths of 7 or 8 feet (21 or 2.4 m) over them. Hathaway Bridge, locally known as West Bay Bridge, crosses the bay at Sulphur Point. The bridge has a center pier draw with a horizontal clearance of 75 feet on either side of the center pier, and a vertical clearance of 12 feet (3.7 m) at mean high water. A white light is shown from the top of the bridge at the center of the draw span. The abandoned settlement of Murfee, now but one or two houses, is located on Burnt Mill Creek which empties into the northern part of West Bay. There is a depth of about 8 feet (2.4 m) in the entrance to the creek, but it shoals rapidly about 1⁄2 mile from the entrance. West Bay Creek empties into the head of West Bay. A depth of 5 feet (1.5 m) can be carried at low water to the lumber wharf on the south side of the entrance, thence about 2 feet (0.6 m) through a narrow winding channel, marked by poles, for about 1 mile, to the fixed highway bridge at the settlement of West Bay. This bridge has a horizontal clearance of 33 feet and a vertical clearance of 71/2 feet (2.2 m) at mean high water. There is a post office, sawmill, general store, and gasoline station at West Bay.

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Twelve feet (3.7 m) can be carried to within 21⁄2 miles of the head of West Bay and 6 feet (1.8 m) to within half a mile of the shore.

North Bay extends in a northeasterly direction from St. Andrew Bay and has a channel depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) for 5 miles to North Bay Bridge and thence about 5 feet (1.5 m) for 42 miles to Bay Head, a summer resort at the head of the bay. There are several oys

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ster bars near the middle of the bay, those below the bridge having depths of 5 to 9 feet (1.5 to 2.7 m), and those above the bridge 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) over them. North Bay Bridge, which crosses the bay near Lynn Haven,is a wooden highway bridge having a single lift draw with a horizontal clearance of 37 feet and a vertical clearance of 42 feet (1.4 m) at mean high water when closed.

There are several bayous making off from North Bay which afford anchorage for small craft. There is an airport on the southern bank of Goose Bayou. Lynn Haven is a town on the south side of North Bay, about 11⁄2 mile back from the shore. There is a small launch basin, protected by a wooden bulkhead and connected by road to Lynn Haven, located 1/4 mile west of the bridge on the south shore of the bay. A depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m) can be carried at mean low water into the basin. Southport, on Fanning Bayou, is a post office and railroad terminal. A depth of about 6 feet (1.8 m) can be carried at mean low water to the wharf on the west side of the town.

Grand Lagoon, extending for about 41⁄2 miles northwestward from St. Andrew Bay, is of little importance and is seldom used. A fixed highway bridge crosses the lagoon about 112 miles from the entrance. The bridge has a horizontal clearance between piers of 17 feet and a vertical clearance of 712 feet (2.2 m) at mean high water. A depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) can be carried to within 12 mile of the bridge, thence 2 feet (0.6 m) for about 1 mile above the bridge.

DIRECTIONS-ST. ANDREW BAY

Courses and Distances for approaching St. Andrew Bay are given on page 60 and also under Coastwise Courses (position No. 11). The following courses and distances are for the bay.

The Inland Rules are to be followed inside St. Andrew Bay Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy.