(19) PENSACOLA BAY

173

If continuing westward from Pensacola Bay through the Intracoastal Waterway, steer 266° true (W. 1% N. mag.) for 2.7 miles from the position south of Deer Point Light to Pensacola Bay South Flats Buoy 2, passing south of North Flats Buoy 1 en route. From South Flats Buoy 2 steer 257° true (WSW. 1⁄2 W. mag.) for 1.9 miles to a position on the Pensacola Bay Range about 300 yards south of the Navy Yard Outer Bank Lighted Bell Buoy 19. Then follow the Pensacola Bay ship channel to a position off the west end of Santa Rosa Island. The entrance to the Intracoastal Waterway is about 300 yards south of the Caucus Cut Front Range Light.

Directions, St. Andrew Bay to Pensacola Bay (for smaller vessels).—Directions for St. Andrew Bay are given on page 167 and for Pensocola Bay on page 179.

The coastline between St. Andrew Bay and Pensacola Bay is broken at but one point, viz, the entrance to Choctawhatchee Bay. Except at the entrances to the bays, deep water is found close in to the beach and depths of less than 3 fathoms (5.5 m) rarely over one-fourth mile off. For this reason the sea rolls in with undiminished strength, and breaks heavily on the shore when driven by southerly winds. Small craft bound westward from St. Andrew Bay should wait for favorable weather and should not put out until there are strong indications of light air or moderate northerly breezes for a period long enough to make the next port. The distance to the first port, New Pass, is 43 miles, but the distance to the nearest that a stranger may hope to enter successfully after the sea has risen is 41 miles farther, 84 miles from St. Andrew Bay.

From St. Andrew Bay Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy, a course 292° true (WNW. % W. mag.) for 42.5 miles will lead to Choctawhatchee Bay Entrance Lighted Buoy; or the coast can be followed, at a distance of about a mile, between the two buoys.

Directions for Choctawhatchee Bay are given on page 169 and for Santa Rosa Sound on page 171.

If continuing outside, a course 261° true (WSW. 8 W. mag.) for 41 miles leads from Choctawhatchee Bay Entrance Lighted Buoy to Caucus Cut Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy 1A off Pensacola Bay entrance. Or the coast can be followed at a distance of about a mile until abreast the Coast Guard station 2 miles east of the entrance to Pensacola Bay. From there, a least depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) can be carried into the bay by following the shore of Santa Rosa Island. Cross East Bank at a distance of about one-third mile offshore and reduce the distance offshore to about 350 yards when rounding the west end of Santa Rosa Island. This will lead to Fort McRee Range Turn Lighted Bell Buoy 14 off the west end of Santa Rosa Island. But if the sea is rough, it is safer to make Caucus Cut Lighted Bell Buoy 2 and thence enter through the dredged Caucus Channel.

19. PENSACOLA BAY AND PENSACOLA

(Charts 413, 490, and 1265)

Pensacola Bay lies 106 miles west-northwestward from Cape San Blas, 80 miles westward from St. Andrew Bay entrance, 123 miles northeastward of South Pass, Mississippi River, and 40 miles east

northeastward from Mobile Bay entrance. The bay is about 1212 miles long, 212 miles wide, and easy of access either day or night. It is the approach to several towns and the city of Pensacola; to Escambia and East Bays, making northward and eastward, respectively, from its eastern end; and to Santa Rosa Sound. Pensacola Bay is one of the important harbors on the Gulf coast, having a considerable foreign and coastwise trade in cotton, chemicals, lumber, naval stores, and general merchandise; steamers also call here for bunker coal. It affords excellent shelter and anchorage, and in winter is frequently used by coasting vessels as a harbor of refuge. The entrance to Pensacola Bay is three-fourths mile wide and partly obstructed by shoals extending 11⁄2 miles seaward. East Bank, with 13 to 18 feet (4.0 to 5.5 m) over it, extends 1 mile southward of the western part of Santa Rosa Island. Caucus Shoal, with depths of 2 to 18 feet (0.6 to 5.5 m), extends 111⁄2 miles from the point on the western side of the entrance. Middle Ground is between the two and has depths of 9 to 18 feet (2.7 to 5.5 m) over it. All the shoals are shown on the charts.

Caucus Channel, the entrance channel, has been dredged between Caucus Shoal and the Middle Ground. It is well marked by buoys, lighted buoys, and Caucus Cut Lighted Range. The channel is 500 feet wide and in 1935 had a controlling depth of 32 feet (9.8 m). During favorable weather a draft of about 10 feet (3.0 m) can cross East Bank, about 1/3 mile offshore and continue into the bay, about the west end of Santa Rosa Island, about 300 yards offshore. Inside the entrance a depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) can be taken up Pensacola Bay 72 miles to the city of Pensacola, and about 18 feet (5.5 m) to the junction with Escambia and East Bays. The lower part of the bay is free from shoals, except close to the shores, and the depths range from 20 to 40 feet (6.1 to 12.2 m). Inside the 1-fathom (1.8 m) curve, small shoals, submerged piling, piles of rock ballast, and other debris are encountered.

Just above Pensacola the bay is crossed by a highway bridge; the vertical clearance, when closed, is 15 feet (4.6 m) above high water and the swing span has a horizontal clearance of 80 feet.

Prominent features. Twenty-eight miles east of the entrance to Pensacola Bay there is the mast of a wreck, close in alongshore. Eight miles eastward of the entrance, the water tank at the old quarantine station shows over the tops of the trees. The buildings here are also prominent when they come into view. Six and a half miles west of the entrance there is a prominent uncompleted hotel. The wreck of the battleship Massachusetts lies on the point of Caucus Shoal west of the entrance to Pensacola Bay and can be seen for a distance of several miles. There are a number of prominent objects in the vicinity of the Naval Air Station which can easily be identified from the chart. These consist of lights, radio towers, elevated tanks, stacks, etc. Pensacola Lighthouse, the weather observation tower at the extreme southeast point, and a tall brick chimney about midway between, are the more easily identified.

There are numerous prominent objects about the vicinity of Pensacola which can be identified from the chart. Of these, the outstanding are the coal elevators at the end of the Frisco Lines pier and the Muscogee Wharf, the San Carlos hotel (large square-shaped building, with a tall radio mast) near the center of town, and a

group of six tall black steel stacks, all in line, just north of Bayou Chico.

Pensacola Lighthouse (Lat. 30°20'.8; Long. 87°18′.5) is a conical brick tower, lower third white, upper two-thirds black, on the north side of the west end of the bay. The light is flashing white (flash 1.4 seconds, eclipse 18.6 seconds), 191 feet (58 m) above the water, and visible 20 miles.

A United States naval air station and a naval radio station, call letters NAS, are located on the north side of the bay on the point about 2 miles above the entrance.

The entrance to Bayou Grande is blocked by an extensive shoal area. Bayou Chico empties into Pensacola Bay about 1 mile west of Pensacola. The entrance channel is marked by two lights along the north side; a can buoy marks the end of the shoal area extending southeastward from the entrance. Two drawbridges cross the bayou just inside the entrance, each having a controlling horizontal clearance of 80 feet through the draw. In 1935 a draft of 10 feet (3.0 m) could be carried through the entrance channel and for a distance of nearly a mile along the north shore above the bridges. There are several sawmills on the bayou but the shipyard has been discontinued. Care is necessary to avoid shoals, drift logs, and other floating debris.

Pensacola and its port facilities are described on page 177.

Into Bayou Texar a depth of 3 feet (0.9 m) is generally maintained. Escambia Bay extends 9 miles northward from Pensacola Bay. A little over 5 miles above its mouth it is crossed by a railroad bridge with a draw opening 85 feet wide and with a vertical clearance of 7 feet (2.1 m) at low water. The depths in the bay shoal gradually from 15 feet (4.6 m) at the mouth to 7 feet (2.1 m) 2 miles above the bridge. A depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) can be carried to the bridge and 7 feet (2.1 m) to the entrance channel into the Escambia and Simpson Rivers and a depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) can be carried through a narrow winding channel into Simpson River. The entrance to Mulatto Bayou is blocked by the railroad trestle.

North of Devil Point there are shoals and submerged obstructions along the western shore and this shore should not be approached closer than half a mile. There are submerged timbers awash at very low water, about 7 mile northwestward of Devil Point Light in line with the west end of the bridge. Along the direct course from the bridge draw to the mouth of the Escambia River, there is a 5-foot (1.5 m) spot on the north side about half a mile above the draw and a piling, awash at low water, on the south side about 3/4 mile above the draw; these can best be avoided by proceeding north beyond the bridge for half a mile or further. About the north end of Escambia Bay, snags, drift, and other debris will be encountered. Mulat and Escambia are small settlements on the east and west shores, respectively, of the bay, just above the bridge.

Escambia River empties into the bay through several mouths, the southern of which had a controlling depth of 512 feet (1.7 m) in 1935. About 11⁄2 miles inside the entrance there is a swing span highway bridge, with a horizontal clearance of 75 feet. There are depths of 7 feet (2.1 m) and 5 feet (1.5 m) for distances of 9 miles and 31 miles, respectively, above the mouth of the river, the latter being the head of navigation. This river is known as the Conecuh

River in Alabama, the State line being 56 miles above the mouth. There is some commerce in cypress logs.

East Bay is an eastward extension of Pensacola Bay, with which it is connected by a passage 34 mile wide between shoals. It varies in depth from 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m), but there are several small shoals of less than 5 feet (1.5 m) scattered over the bay. The channel through the bay is well marked; directions are given on page 176.

There is a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) into East Bay River but care is necessary to avoid spots with 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m). Depths decrease rapidly inside the entrance and only very small boats can go up the river.

Blackwater River empties into Blackwater Bay, the northern arm of East Bay. A channel 9 feet (2.7 m) deep and 100 feet wide has been dredged through Blackwater Bay and River to the town of Milton, 4 miles above the mouth. In February 1936 the controlling depth through this channel was 9 feet (2.7 m). The channel through Blackwater Bay is very narrow and vessels drawing close to the maximum draft must keep to the ranges.

There are numerous wrecks, submerged piling, and other obstructions close inshore along the Blackwater River and Wright and Marquis Basins are filled with such obstructions.

Milton (population 1,466 by 1930 census) has railroad and improved State highway connections to all parts of the State. A railroad bridge and a highway bridge, both with a draw-opening of about 80 feet, cross the river here, and there is a marine railway where small boats can be hauled out and repaired. Bagdad is a small town about 111⁄2 miles down the river. Gasoline, fresh water, and provisions can be obtained at both Milton and Bagdad.

Storm warnings (day only) are displayed at Bagdad.

Directions, East Bay, Blackwater Bay and River. The channel from Pensacola Bay to Milton is well marked by buoys, beacons, lights, and lighted ranges.

Garson Point Buoy 1 and Redfish Point Buoy 2.-There are depths of 12 feet (3.7 m) or more between these buoys, the deeper water being just north of buoy 2; 18 feet (5.5 m) can be carried this far.

White Point Buoy 3.-Pass well outside this buoy.

White Point Light.-Pass just to westward of and pick up East Bay Channel Lighted Range to the northward. If the range cannot be picked up, it may be advisable to pass 1/2 mile to 34 mile eastward of the light and then round somewhat to the eastward until approaching Middle Beacon and bring the range lights on when north of the beacon. This course will avoid 5-foot (1.5 m) spots to either side of the range about half a mile north of the light.

East Bay Channel Lighted Range.-Follow lighted range ahead passing west of Middle Beacon and of Escribano Point Beacon. Backwater Bay Channel Lighted Range.-Follow lighted range astern, being careful to stay in the narrow channel.

Bay Point Light.-Pass 100 yards west of the light and favor the west shore to avoid a shoal in midriver which can be easily seen. Shield Point Light.-Pass to eastward.

Above Shield Point haul slowly over to the north side of the river and enter the narrow channel. About a mile north of Shield

Point, pass to the west of the island which here divides the channel, but keep close along the island to avoid shoals on the opposite side of the river. If going to Bagdad, take the next branch to the west which will lead to the wharves at Bagdad. If going to Milton, continue in the main channel, keeping about in midstream, to the wharves above the drawbridges.

Santa Rosa Sound is described on page 170.

Big Lagoon is a body of water about 5 miles long and from 14 to 1 mile wide, extending westward from Pensacola Bay at the entrance. There is a channel 9 feet (2.7 m) deep through this lagoon connecting Pensacola and Perdido Bays. Two piles barely awash are about 800 yards west of Langley Point, in latitude 30°19′03′′ N., longitude 87°22'05" W.

Big Lagoon is separated from the Gulf by a narrow strip of sand beach so low in places that the sea washes over it during tropical

storms.

Pensacola (population 31,579 by the 1930 census) is an important commercial city 72 miles above the entrance of Pensacola Bay. It is a seaport terminus for the Louisville-Nashville Railroad and the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway both of which lines have facilities for handling coastwise and foreign trade. The principal articles of coastwise trade are petroleum products, chemicals, and naval stores, and of foreign trade are coal, lumber, naval stores, and chemicals.

From the deep water of the bay there are three approach channels, with a controlling depth of 30 feet (9.1 m), leading to the principal piers and wharfs at Pensacola. The most easterly of these leads to the Muscogee coaling wharf and is marked by a lighted range and by a lighted buoy at the entrance. From the most westerly, a depth of 26 feet (7.9 m) can be carried to the oil dock on the west side of town and about 18 feet (5.5 m) to the drydock yard just east of the oil dock. About 15 feet (4.6 m) can be carried to the remaining piers and wharfs.

An inner harbor channel with 30 feet (9.1 m) or more parallels the pierhead line from off the Frisco Lines' piers to off the L. & H. wharves at Tarragona St.

About 10 feet (3.0 m) can be carried into Bayou Chico.

The main slip at the naval air station has a general depth of about 25 feet (7.6 m) but in 1935 only about 19 feet (5.8 m) could be taken alongside.

Terminal Facilities.-There are 13 piers and wharfs at Pensacola having a total linear frontage of nearly 29,000 feet with depths alongside ranging from 10 to 30 feet (3.0 to 9.1 m). Six of these are used for loading lumber, general cargoes, and naval stores, two for coal, one for oil, and two for fishing vessels. With the exception of the two fishing wharves, they all have rail connections; four have transit sheds, and most cargo is handled directly from or to cars or sheds.

The seven principal piers and wharves are owned by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. and the Frisco Lines. Both lines have some mechanical facilities for handling lumber and general cargo, and extensive facilities for handling coal. The Palafox Street Wharf, just west of the L. & N. R. R. Co. wharves, is owned and operated by the city. It is used chiefly for harbor tugs, coastwise vessels, and fishing smacks.