large lumber mills and other manufactories at which vessels load, and the commerce using the canals also passes through the branch. The inside route through the canals is described in United States Coast Pilot, section D, Cape Henry to Key West; and Inside Route Pilot, New York to Key West. The depths below the Norfolk & Western Railway bridge are given on page 113; above here there is a depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.) to the entrance to the Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal.

The channel for its whole length of 1011⁄2 miles is marked by buoys and is not difficult to navigate as far as the entrance to Deep Creek with the aid of the chart. Above this, to the lock of the Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal, some local knowledge is needed to follow the channel.

Bridges, Southern Branch.-The whistle signal for all bridges across Southern Branch is three long blasts.

Belt Line Railroad bridge, 134 miles above the entrance, has a center pier draw, each opening 110 feet wide, with a headroom of 15 feet at high water when closed.

Norfolk and Portsmouth highway bridge is located 1/4 mile south of the Belt Line bridge, has a lift span with clearance of 15 feet at mean high water when closed and clearance of 148 feet when raised.

Virginian Railway bridge, 234 miles above the entrance, has a center pier draw, each opening 110 feet wide, with a headroom of about 7 feet at high water when closed.

Norfolk & Western Railroad bridge, 5 miles above the entrance, has a single lift opening 125 feet wide, and a headroom of 7 feet at high water when closed.

The railroad bridge across Southern Branch, 34 mile above the mouth of Deep Creek, has a center pier draw, each opening 80 feet wide, with a headroom of 72 feet at high water when closed.

The highway bridge 34 mile farther up has a center pier draw, each opening 80 feet wide, with a headroom of about 6 feet at high water when closed.

The Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal route is owned and maintained by the Government and is free of tolls. This canal connects the Southern Branch of Elizabeth River with North Landing River, and is entered about 1011⁄2 miles from Norfolk. The canal is 74 miles long and had a controlling depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.) in 1929. It is crossed by four drawbridges. The depth of water in the canal is lowered by northerly winds and raised by southerly winds; severe storms may cause a difference of 2 feet (0.6 m.) or more below or above the normal.

Deep Creek, which empties into Southern Branch about 6 miles above Norfolk, is 211⁄2 miles long to the entrance of the Dismal Swamp Canal. The creek has been improved by dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet (3 m.) deep from the Southern Branch to the canal. On the south side at the entrance of the creek there is a signboard directing the way to the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Dismal Swamp Cañal, owned by the Government, connects Deep Creek with the Pasquotank River. The northern lock of the canal is about 812 miles above Norfolk. This canal is about 19 miles long, 60 feet wide, and had a controlling depth of 7 feet (2.1 m.) in 1929.

89926°-309

There are turnouts at distances of about 3 miles where vessels may pass each other; the two locks are 250 feet long and 39 feet wide.

Directions, Chesapeake Bay entrance to Newport News and Norfolk [Abbreviations for lights; F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red. Color white unless otherwise indicated]

From 2.3 miles 77° true (E. % N. mag.) from
Cape Henry Lighthouse.

1. To 1⁄2 mile southwest of Thimble Shoal
Lighthouse (Occ. W., 2 secs.), passing
through Thimble Shoal Channel,
lighted on both sides.

2. To 1.8 miles east of Old Point Comfort Lighthouse (F. R., W. sector); head for lighthouse, passing 4 mile northward of Willoughby Spit gas and bell buoy No. 15.

3. To 1⁄2 mile southeast of Old Point Comfort Lighthouse midway between it and gas buoy No. 17, Thimble Shoal Light astern.

If bound for quarantine proceed to Anchorage A, west of Old Point Comfort, as shown on Chart 400.

4. To 0.2 mile northwest of Gas and Bell Buoy No. 3., Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse (F., Fl., 20 secs.) ahead.

Anchorage can now be made in
Hampton Roads as desired.

287

Directions, Chesapeake Bay entrance to Newport News and Norfolk-Continued

Vessels approaching from northward.-Deep-draft vessels pass 1/4 mile eastward and southward of Tail of the Horseshoe Gas and Bell Buoy, then steer 265° true (W. mag.) for 4 miles to Thimble Shoal Channel entrance buoys.

With a smooth sea a draft of 19 feet (5.8 m.) can be carried between the Horseshoe and Tail of the Horseshoe by steering 178° true (S. % W. mag.) from the southern entrance of York Spit Channel to 34 mile southward of the gas and bell channel buoy west of Tail of the Horseshoe; then when Old Point Comfort Lighthouse bears 266° true (W. 1 N. mag.) it may be steered for on that course, passing close southward of two red buoys marking the channel, and north of Willoughby Bank Gas and Bell Buoy, to a junction with course 3 in the preceeding table.

Nansemond River (Chart 529), on the southwest side of Hampton Roads, between Pig Point and Barrel Point, and 2 miles southwestward of Newport News Middleground Lighthouse, is the approach to the city of Suffolk, 18 miles above the mouth. At Pig Point a long partly ruined wharf leads out to a depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.). The river has some trade in small produce boats and a few barges and schooners and considerable trade in vessels loaded with fertilizer. There are several wharves below Suffolk from which farm produce is shipped. The channel has been improved by dredging and in 1927 had a controlling depth of 9.7 feet (2.9 m.) from the mouth to bridge at Suffolk and 7 feet (2.1 m.) from there to the head of navigation, a further distance of 1⁄2 mile. Small boats can go several miles above Suffolk.

From the entrance to the mouth of Western Branch, 6 miles below Suffolk, the river is wide, but the channel is crooked and leads between extensive shoals which are nearly bare in places at low water. Above this point the river is narrow and crooked, but the midchannel is clear to Suffolk. The channel is marked by buoys and

several lights as far as Western Branch. There is a dike on the eastern side of the channel opposite the mouth of Western Branch; the northern end is submerged at extreme high water and unmarked. Strangers up to 6 feet (1.8 m.) draft should have no trouble in following the channel to Suffolk with the aid of the chart. Those of deeper draft are advised to take a pilot. One can usually be obtained near the mouth of the river or at Norfolk or Newport News.

A highway bridge crosses the lower part of Nansemond River. It has a single bascule span with a width of 94 feet and a high-water clearance when closed of 16 feet.

Bennett Creek, on the south side of Nansemond River, 234 miles above Nansemond River lighthouse, has a depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m.) on the bar at the entrance and 6 feet (1.8 m.) inside for 5 miles above the entrance to the A. C. L. bridge. It is frequented by produce and pleasure boats, the deepest draft being 4 feet (1.2 m.). A staked channel carries 3 feet (0.9 m.) over the bar into the creek. To enter, leave the stakes on the port hand.

Western Branch, on the west side of Nansemond River, 6 miles below Suffolk, has a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m.) as far as the village of Reids Ferry, and is said to have a depth of 5 feet (1.5 m.) at high water for 5 miles above the mouth and is used by a few small produce and wood boats.

Suffolk, a city at the head of navigation for vessels on Nansemond River, is an important railroad center. Gasoline and provisions are obtainable, and there is water on the wharves. A drawbridge having a draw opening 38 feet wide crosses the river at the upper end of the wharves, and there is little traffic above.

Tides. The mean range of tides is 2.6 feet at the entrance and 3.4 feet at Suffolk.

JAMES RIVER

[Charts 529, 530, and 531]

emptying into the western end of Hampton Roads at Newport News, is the approach to the cities of Richmond and Petersburg and the towns of Smithfield and City Point. It is navigable to the city of Richmond, 89 miles above Newport News. The river has a large trade in coal, oil, farm and wood products, and general merchandise carried in barges, schooners, and the regular steamers. The deepest draft vessel using the river draws 1812 feet (5.6 m.), but the majority draw 16 feet (4.8 m.) or less.

The channel has been improved by dredging, so that on June 30, 1929, there was a least depth from the mouth to City Point of 21 feet (6.4 m.), and from there to Richmond a least depth of 18 feet (5.5 m.).

There are numerous wharves along the main channel of James River, many of them with a store and post office but no settlement near them. They are used as shipping and receiving points for farm and wood products and supplies for the surrounding country. Regular steamers between Norfolk and Richmond make stops at most of them, and there is regular freight service to New York.

The small creeks tributary to James River are usually shoal at the entrances with deeper water inside for long distances. Most of them

are frequented by small produce boats and by barges and small sail vessels carrying wood and lumber. Local knowledge is generally necessary to keep in the best water.

The James River is crossed by a highway bridge from the north end of Newport News to Fishing Point. It has a vertical lift span in the eastern section with a horizontal clearance of 250 feet, and a vertical clearance of 145 feet when raised and 50 feet when closed. At night it is lighted by red lights when the span is down and by green lights when raised. An airway beacon (flashing white) is located on the northeastern tower of the lift span. Another navigable span is located at the western side of the channel. It is fixed and has a vertical clearance of 25 feet.

Chuckatuck Creek, 4 miles southwestward of Newport News, has a depth of 32 feet (1 m.) across the bar at the entrance and deeper water inside to the village of Crittenden, just above the entrance. There is a depth of 3 feet (0.9 m.) to the village of Chuckatuck, 5 miles above the entrance. There is a shipyard and railway at Crittenden capable of hauling out any of the boats navigating the creek. The channel in the approach leads northward and westward of the light (fixed white) in the entrance of Ragged Island Creek, then southward of the light (fixed red) in the entrance of Chuckatuck Creek.

Chuckatuck Creek is crossed by a highway bridge near its lower end; width between fenders 80 feet, high-water clearance 20 feet when span is closed.

Ragged Island Creek, just northward of Chuckatuck Creek, is shoal and little used. Small boats can go to near the head at high water only.

White Shoal, a middle ground 5 miles northwestward of Newport News, is marked by White Shoal Lighthouse (flashing white), white hexagonal house on piles. There are channels on either side.

Pagan Creek, on the southwest side of James River, southwestward of White Shoal Lighthouse, has been improved by dredging a channel 10 feet (3 m.) deep and 80 feet wide to the town of Smithfield, 5 miles above the entrance, but is subject to some shoaling. The deepest draft entering is 10 feet (3 m.) at high water, and usual draft not over 8 feet (2.4 m.). There is a black bell buoy on the southwest side of the main channel of James River, in line with the entrance cut of Pagan Creek. The channel is also marked by buoys and several lights. Navigation by vessels is rendered difficult on account of the narrow channel and the sharp turns, and strangers should take a pilot; one can be obtained at Newport News or Battery Park. The mean range of tides is 2.5 feet.

Jones Creek, on the south side of Pagan Creek, just inside the entrance, has a depth of 3 feet (0.9 m.) across the flats at the entrance and deeper water inside for 31⁄2 miles. It is crossed by two drawbridges, having a least width of 23 feet; the first is near the mouth and the second 21⁄2 miles above.

Battery Park is a post village on the south side of Pagan Creek, just inside the entrance. There are marine railways here, the largest capable of hauling out boats of 50 tons, 60 feet length, and 8 feet (2.4 m.) draft.