stranger to attempt to beat into the harbor. Main Ship Channel and Northwest Channel are principally used and, in conjunction, furnish a direct route across the reef for vessels drawing up to 18 to 19 feet (5.5 to 5.8 m).

Southeast Channel is marked by buoys and at night by the easterly edge of a red sector in Key West Lighthouse; it leads over lumpy bottom with 14 to 18 feet (4.3 to 5.5 m) over the coral heads, and it is not recommended for vessels of over 13 feet (4.0 m) draft. The course through the channel is 321° true (NW. 3% N. mag.) for Key West Lighthouse.

Main Ship Channel has an improved depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) for a width of 300 feet and is well marked by buoys and lights. This channel is used by the deeper-draft vessels and by strangers.

Southwest Channel is convenient for vessels approaching from southwestward; it has a navigable depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) if closely followed, and is marked by several buoys. Vessels of 16-foot (4.9 m) draft can make one course nearly to the anchorage by heading for Key West Lighthouse, bearing 55° true (NE. 5% E. mag.) in the daytime, and by standing on the edge of a red sector of that light at night, and this is about the deepest draft of the vessels using the channel. Strangers should not attempt it at night.

West Channel is a passage leading westward from Key West between the outer reefs and the keys. The channel is deep and is fairly well marked by buoys and lights. It is used by small boats bound toward Dry Tortugas.

Northwest Channel has been improved. The jetties on either side at the entrance are from 14 to 1/2 mile off the channel and the outer portion of the east jetty is exposed. In June 1935 the controlling depth was 20 feet (6.1 m) for a width of 150 feet. This channel affords a passage from Key West Harbor to the Gulf of Mexico and is well marked. The mean range of the tide at the north entrance is about 22 feet (0.8 m) and high and low waters occur about 2 hours later than at Key West.

Calda Channel extends northward from Man-of-War Harbor and forms a passage with a controlling depth of about 7 feet (2.1 m) to the Gulf of Mexico. The channel is narrow but well marked by beacons and Calda Channel Light at the north end.

Prominent features.-When standing along about 6 miles southward of the Florida Keys, the Casa Marina Hotel shows prominently about 1 mile east of Whitehead Point. As the entrances from the southward are approached, the city, Key West Lighthouse, and the cupola of the Colonial Hotel will be seen near the western end of Key West Island, and Fort Taylor will show prominently a little westward of the island. The naval radio towers are conspicuous north of the fort, the north tower being distinctively painted. Sand Key Lighthouse will be seen about 7 miles southwestward of Key West lighthouse.

Eastern Triangle Light (flashing red), a black tankhouse on a red, triangular, pyramidal, skeleton structure, on piles, is midway between the entrance buoys of the Main Ship Channel and Key West Lighthouse, and can be readily distinguished from outside the reefs.

Key West (population 12,831 by the 1930 census), on Key West Island, near the western end of the Florida Keys, is the only city

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of any size on the west and north shores of the Straits of Florida. It was the terminus of the Florida East Coast Railroad, and has steamship communication with New York, Habana, Tampa, New Orleans, and Galveston. A number of steamers and small sailing vessels enter and clear from this port, over half of which are from or for foreign ports.

The city was once of considerable commercial importance but this has fallen off in late years. The commerce consists of canned goods, fish, fruits, crude and refined oils, and general merchandise. The greatest draft of vessels coming to the port is 261⁄2 feet (8.1 m) and the average draft is 14 feet (4.3 m).

The city is lately developing into a winter resort. There are several winter hotels and one hotel is open throughout the year.

Terminal facilities.-The depth at the piers and wharves ranges from 10 to 26 feet (3.0 to 7.9 m), according to the locality. The five railroad piers, with an approximate berthing space of 5,500 feet, are used for general freight and passengers, and transferring and storage of oils. Prior to the hurricane of September 1935 there was an ocean car ferry to Habana; this car ferry terminus has been transferred from Key West to Hollywood Harbor (Port Everglades), Fla. Three other privately owned facilities are used for general freight and have a berthing space of about 2,000 feet. In addition, there are three Government-owned piers with a berthing space of about 2,000 feet. There are facilities for the storage of oils and general cargo and three piers have transfer sheds.

There is a 15-foot (4.6 m) spot about 10 feet off the middle of the outer face of the lighthouse wharf. There is a depth of 131⁄2 feet (4.1 m) at the middle of the outer face.

Anchorage. The best anchorage is in the inner or Man-of-War Harbor, where the depth is 312 to 42 fathoms (6.5 to 8.2 m); this anchorage is northward of the city between coral banks, which prevent a heavy sea. Vessels can anchor anywhere off the city northward of Fort Taylor, or in the entrance to the Northwest Channel abreast of the city in 312 to 5 fathoms (6.5 to 9.1 m), taking care, however, not to get too close to the reefs, which in some places rise abruptly at the edge of the channels. The outer anchorage, about 1 mile from Fort Taylor, with the fort bearing between 36° true (NE. by N. mag.) and 328° true (NW. by N. mag.), has depths of 411⁄2 to 6 fathoms (8.2 to 11.9 m) and is somewhat exposed but is safe for vessels with good ground tackle.

Small craft generally anchor in the cove on the north side of the city southward of the railroad wharf.

Pilotage is compulsory for vessels in foreign trade and for other vessels except when there is a pilot on board licensed by the Federal Government. Pilotage is optional for vessels drawing 6 feet of water or less, if such vessels have a coastwise license. Vessels carrying United States mails pay half pilotage only. Pilots can always be had by making signal from outside the reefs; they will take vessels in at night. The pilot boats are fast motorboats which can reach vessels in 20 minutes from shore. The usual procedure is to radio ahead for a pilot. Pilots for Hawk Channel can also be had at Key West. Pilot rates are as follows:

Vessels drawing 14 feet or less are charged $10 for shifting or changing anchorage and those drawing over 14 feet are charged $20 for such service.

Towboats.-Key West is the regular station for a large salvage tug and several smaller tugs are also available.

The Harbormaster has direct supervision of the port. He has charge of anchoring and mooring all vessels and collects all port dues. Quarantine.—A Federal Quarantine Station is located at Key West. Vessels are boarded off Fort Taylor. The quarantine anchorage is in Man-of-War Harbor northward of Fleming Key.

Customs and Immigration.-Both of these Federal Services have offices in Key West.

Supplies.-There are excellent facilities for securing fuel oil, gasoline, etc. Only a small quantity of coal is available. Key West has no local source of fresh water other than rain water, a considerable quantity of which is available from storage and is supplied to vessels through pipe lines. Well water is also supplied by the railroad; it is soft and good for boiler purposes. The usual charge for water is $10 per 1,000 gallons. Provisions of various kinds and some ship chandler's stores are obtainable.

Being less than an hour's run off the main route for ships passing about the south end of Florida, Key West is a convenient call for fuel and provisions.

Arrangements can be made for the pilot boat to deliver supplies and provisions to vessels in the Gulf Stream. Such services can include delivering orders or taking off sick seamen for the marine hospital at Key West.

Repairs and Salvage Facilities.-There is a marine railway 160 feet long, with a lifting capacity of about 1,000 tons. Vessels of 8 feet (2.4 m) draft forward and 16 feet (4.9 m) aft can be hauled out. Repairs to the hull of wooden vessels can be made and there is a machine shop where ordinary repairs can be made. Boiler and blacksmith work can be done but there is no foundry.

Key West is the regular station of one of a chain of salvage tugs. General equipment as needed for heavy salvage work is available.

Storm warnings (day and night) are displayed at the Weather Bureau signal mast at the Navy Yard. Small craft warnings are displayed on the building of the William Curry Sons Co. and the Lumley-Roberts Co. Storm warnings are also displayed at American Shoals Lighthouse.

A United States Marine Hospital is located at Key West; there are also two smaller hospitals.

Communications.-Prior to the hurricane of September 1935, the Florida East Coast Railroad connected with Miami and points north and maintained a car ferry service to Habana; there was also a highway connecting with Miami, with two ferry sections along the route. Sections of the railroad and the highway were destroyed during the

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hurricane. Highway communication, in conjunction with ferry service, will no doubt soon be resumed but no information is available (1935) regarding the repair of the railroad.

There are telephone, telegraph, and cable connections and a radio telephone and telegraph station (NAR) controlled by the United States Navy but available for general public service. Meacham Airport, a commercial field located 212 miles east of the city has daytime facilities for servicing aircraft. There is seasonal air service to Miami. At the south end of the submarine base, there is a ramp for seaplanes; it is for Government use only except in emergency or by permission.

Small Boat Facilities.-The principal anchorage for small boats is in the cove on the north side of the city southward of the railroad wharf. Depths up to 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) can be taken to the boat landings here. There is a marine service station and marine ways capable of hauling boats up to about 70 feet long and 6 feet (1.8 m) draft.

The former submarine base, just inside Fort Taylor, is now being used as a public yacht basin and furnishes good berths for small craft. Truck delivery of gasoline can be secured.

There is good anchorage for small boats drawing less than 3 feet (0.9 m) in the basin between the railroad and the highway fills on the north side of the island, about a mile east of the town. The draw in the railroad bridge has a 27-foot clear opening and 7 feet (2.1 m) headroom at low water.

A meteorological table for Key West is given in the appendix.

The Port Series, volume No. 8, gives further detailed information regarding the port of Key West. (See p. 4.)

Tides. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 114 feet (0.4 m). Daily predictions of the times and heights of high and low waters will be found in the Tide Tables, Atlantic Ocean.

Currents. The tidal currents in Key West Harbor and Northwest Channel set fair with the channels, and the times of maximum current at these places are nearly simultaneous, the strength of the flood (north flowing) occurring about 22 hours before high water, and the ebb about 2 hours before low water, at Key West. Slack water occurs about one-half hour and 2 hours, respectively, after high and low water at Key West. The average velocity at strength of both flood and ebb is about 1 knot between Whitehead Spit and Kingfish Shoals, 112 knots in Man-of-War Harbor and its entrance, and 11⁄2 knots in Northwest Channel abreast of Middle Ground. These normal conditions are greatly modified by winds.

Winds. The prevailing winds are easterly, the strongest north in winter and easterly during the hurricane months. See also the meteorological tables in the appendix.

DIRECTIONS, KEY WEST HARBOR

The approaches to Key West Harbor have been examined by means of a wire drag, and the dangers are shown on the chart.

Key West Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy (flashing white) is moored in 91 feet (27.7 m) on the Main Ship Channel range, 414 miles eastward of Sand Key Lighthouse and 5 miles, 176° true, from Key West Main Ship Channel Front Range Light. Main Entrance

Buoys 1 and 2 mark the 24-foot (7.3 m) spots at the sides of the channel, about one-fourth mile northward of the entrance buoy.

Key West Main Ship Channel Range marks the axis of the channel up to Eastern Triangle Light. The front light (fixed red) of the range is mounted on a white skeleton structure, solid day mark on the inshore end of the causeway leading to Fort Taylor; the rear light (fixed red) of the range is mounted on a white iron mast near the southeast corner of a concrete and iron shed, white stripe down roof and side of shed.

Main Ship Channel.-Courses and Distances for the Main Ship Channel are given below. Courses and Distances leading to the entrance to this channel are given in United States Coast Pilot, Section D.

Northwest Channel.-Northwest Channel has been examined by means of a wire drag, and the dangers are shown on the chart. The following courses led in a least depth of about 20 feet (6.1 m) in 1935,