farther distance of about 7 miles to Hanovertown. The channel between White House and Bassett Ferry has been improved by dredging to a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m.) and width of 80 feet.

There are no towns on Pamunkey River, but there are many landings, from which considerable wood products and grain are shipped in schooners and barges, the deepest draft being 15 feet (4.5 m.). There are post offices and railroad stations at Sweethall and Lester Manor, and a railroad station at White House.

From West Point to Sweethall Landing, 1412 miles above, the river is easy of navigation with the aid of the chart. Above this point navigation is difficult without local knowledge. Pilots can be obtained at West Point, Lester Manor, and White House, and towboats at West Point. Artesian water can be obtained at several of the landings, and the river water is fresh above Cumberland Landing. There are several narrow cut-offs with sufficient depth for small boats, but local knowledge is usually necessary.

Freshets occur at irregular intervals in Pamunkey River, being more severe during March and April. The mean range of tides during low stages of the river is 2.9 feet (0.9 m.) at West Point and 1.7 feet (0.5 m.) at New Castle.

The railroad bridge at White House has a draw opening 55 feet wide and a headroom of 8 feet at high water when closed. The bridge at New Castle has a draw opening 40 feet wide and a headroom of about 13 feet at ordinary stage of the river, and sometimes not more than 7 feet during freshets. It is seldom opened.

Pilots.-Pilotage is compulsory as far as Yorktown for all vessels other than those exclusively engaged in the coastwise trade and those made exempt by United States statutes. Vessels required to take a pilot will get one at Chesapeake Bay entrance or Hampton Roads. Pilots for Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers can be obtained at West Point.

Towboats.-Sailing vessels seldom take a towboat, but usually carry a small motor boat to assist them. Towboats for York River can be obtained at Hampton Roads, and for Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers at West Point.

Repairs to small vessels can be made at West Point, but extensive repairs to machinery and to hulls of large vessels can best be made at Baltimore, Newport News, or Norfolk.

Ice sometimes interferes with navigation for short periods during severe winters, but in ordinary winters navigation is not interrupted below West Point.

Tides.-The mean range of tides is 2 feet at the entrance, 2.4 feet at Yorktown, and 2.9 feet at West Point.

a

Currents. The currents follow the general direction of the channel, except in its narrowest parts, where they have a tendency to set vessel on shoals. The velocity of the current and the times of slack water vary somewhat in York River, and to a considerable extent in the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers, due principally to freshets, but also to some extent to winds.

At York Spit Lighthouse. The slack waters and strengths of flood and ebb occur about 14 hours before the time of the corresponding slacks and strengths at Chesapeake Bay entrance. The slack water before flood occurs about 211⁄2 hours after the time of low

water at Old Point Comfort and the slack water before ebb occurs about 12 hours after the time of high water at Old Point Comfort. The velocities at strengths of flood or ebb average about 1 knot.

Between Tue Point and Yorktown.-The slack waters and strengths of flood and ebb occur about 1 hour before the times of the corresponding slacks and strengths at Old Point Comfort. The slack water before flood occurs about 234 hours after the time of low water at Old Point Comfort and the slack water before ebb occurs about 14 hours after the time of high water at Old Point Comfort. Off Tue Point the average velocity at strength of flood or ebb is about 1 knot. Off Yorktown the average velocity at strength of flood is about 114 knots and at strength of ebb 134 knots.

Off Claybank.-The slack waters and the strengths of flood and ebb occur at about the times of the corresponding slacks and strengths at Chesapeake Bay entrance. The slack water before flood occurs about 234 hours before the time of high water at Old Point Comfort and the slack water before ebb occurs about 234 hours after the time of high water at Old Point Comfort. Between Yorktown and West Point the average velocity at strength of flood is about 114 knots and at strength of ebb 111⁄2 knots.

In the Mattaponi River at West Point.-The slack waters and the strengths of flood and ebb current occur about 11⁄2 hour after the times of the corresponding slacks and strengths at Chesapeake Bay entrance. The slack water before flood occurs about 24 hours before the time of high water at Old Point Comfort and the slack water before ebb occurs about 234 hours before the time of low water at Old Point Comfort. At the bridge near West Point the average velocity of the strength of the flood current is about 11⁄44 knots and of the strength of the ebb current 111⁄2 knots.

In the Mattaponi River at Mattaponi.-The slack waters and the strengths of flood and ebb current occur about 12 hours after the corresponding slacks and strengths at Chesapeake Bay entrance. Slack water before flood occurs about 14 hours before the time of high water at Old Point Comfort and slack water before ebb occurs about 134 hours before the times of the low water at Old Point Comfort. Between West Point and Walkerton average velocities at strength of current range from 1 to 111⁄2 knots.

In the Pamunkey River at West Point. The slack waters and strengths of flood and ebb current occur about 12 hours after the corresponding slacks and strengths at Chesapeake Bay entrance. The slack waters before flood occurs about 14 hours before the time of high water at Old Point Comfort and the slack water before ebb occurs about 134 hours before the time of low water at Old Point Comfort. At the bridge, near West Point, the average velocity of strengths is about 134 knots and at strength of ebb about 2 knots.

In the Pamunkey River at White House railroad bridge. The slack waters and the strengths of flood and ebb current occurs about 3 hours after the time of the corresponding slacks and strengths slack waters and the strengths of flood and ebb current occur about 14 hour after the time of high water at Old Point Comfort and the slack water before ebb occurs about 11⁄2 hour before the time of low water at Old Point Comfort. Between West Point and Bassett Ferry the average velocity at strength of current is about 1 knot.

Directions, York River

[Abbreviations for lights: F., fixed; Fl., flashing; R., red. otherwise noted]

Color is white unless

MOBJACK BAY

[Chart 494]

having its entrance between York Spit and New Point Comfort, has several tributaries, the most important being East, North, Ware, and Severn Rivers. It is obstructed by extensive shoals, but has a depth of 22 feet (6.7 m.) in the entrance and 15 feet (4.5 m.) through the bay and for a considerable distance in the tributaries. The entrance is marked on the north side by New Point Comfort Lighthouse (flashing white), white tower, and on the south side by York Spit Lighthouse (fixed red), white house on piles, and these are the only prominent marks in the approach. Many of the shoals in the bay and tributaries are marked by buoys and lights. A daily steamer from Norfolk makes landings at four wharves on East River. A gasoline boat which runs to other landings on Mobjack Bay connects with this steamer. Fish foods in season and potatoes and general freight make up the bulk of cargo.

A good anchorage can be found in the bay, with shelter from all but southerly and southeasterly winds. Small craft find safe anchorage in the bight westward of New Point Comfort and in the rivers and creeks.

New Point Comfort, marked by a lighthouse, is low and sparsely wooded and has a wharf, depth 8 feet (2.4 m.), on its west end and at which steamers make landings during the fishing season. Gasoline is obtainable.

Bayside Wharf is a long wharf on the northeast side of Mobjack Bay, 134 miles northwestward of New Point Comfort Lighthouse. Gasoline is obtainable.

East River, emptying into Mobjack Bay from northward, has a narrow channel with a depth of 13 feet (3.9 m.) for 4 miles above the entrance and 4 feet (1.2 m.) for a farther distance of 2 miles to near the head. The entrance is marked by Pultz Bar light (fixed white), and Pond Point Shoal light (fixed white), and by buoys. Unmarked shoals extend for some distance off many of the points above the entrance, but mid-channel is clear if the points be given a good berth.

There are four wharves with post offices on East River: Philpots (Mobjack post office), on the west side; Diggs, on the east side, just inside the entrance; and Williams and Hicks Wharves, about 34 miles above the entrance. Gasoline and provisions can be obtained at Philpots and at Williams Wharf.

North River, emptying into the head of Mobjack Bay from northward, is wide, but has shoals making off for a long distance from many of the points. The channel is marked by lights and buoys. Auburn Wharf, on the north bank, 4 miles above the entrance, is the principal landing and has a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m.) at the end. There is a depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.) in the channel to abreast Auburn Wharf.

Ware River, emptying into the head of the bay from northwestward, has a depth of 15 feet (4.5 m.) to the mouth of Wilson Creek, 3 miles above the entrance, and 7 feet (2.1 m.) for a farther distance of 2 miles. Shoals, some of them marked by buoys, extend for a long distance off many of the points. The landings are Bailey Wharf, on the west side, and Browns Wharf, on the east side, distant 44

and 434 miles, respectively, above the entrance. Gasoline is obtainable at Bailey Wharf.

Severn River, emptying into Mobjack Bay from southwestward, has a depth of 15 feet (4.5 m.) to the junction of Northwest and Southwest Branches, and 8 feet (2.4 m.) for 114 miles in Southwest Branch and 134 miles in Northwest Branch. The most prominent shoals are marked by buoys. Severn Wharf is on the south side of Southwest Branch 1 miles above the fork. There is a store here, and gasoline is obtainable. A marine railway opposite this wharf can haul a vessel 60 feet long and 5 feet (1.5 m.) draft. There are wharves, used by local boats, on Northwest Branch about 1 and 2 miles above the entrance.

Monday Creek, forming a thoroughfare between Mobjack Bay and York River, has a depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m.) at high water and is extensively used by small local boats. It is difficult without local knowledge.

Pilots. There are no regular pilots for Mobjack Bay and tributaries, though a pilot can usually be obtained from boats at work near the entrance.

Tides.-The mean range of tides is about 2 feet.

Directions, Mobjack Bay

[Abbreviation for lights: F., fixed; R., red. Color white unless otherwise indicated]