12. To position where buoy No. 7B is on range with Bowlers Rock Light and the mouth of Totuskey River bears 60° true.

13. To position 0.2 mile southeastward of buoy No. 7C, Lowry Point Light (F.) on range with the point 1 mile westward.

14. To 0.6 mile eastward of Jones Point _ _ _ 15. To abreast the wharves at Tappahannock, heading between the draw span of the river bridge and the ends of the wharves.

Anchorage can be had in 13 to 17 feet (3.9 to 5.2 m.) anywhere in the channel between the wharf and the red buoy 1 mile east-southeastward.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER TO GREAT WICOMICO RIVER

[Charts 534 and 1223]

The western shore of Chesapeake Bay between Rappahannock River and Great Wicomico River is generally low and presents no prominent features. It is indented by numerous creeks and by Great

Wicomico River. The creeks have numerous small villages and landings, but no large towns. Fish factories are located on most of them, and they are frequented by fish steamers of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 m.) draft and by many smaller craft engaged in the oystering and fishing industry. Steamers from Baltimore make regular trips to the principal landings between Great Wicomico River and Dymer Creek.

The outer limit of fish traps between Smith Point Lighthouse and Rappahannock Spit bell buoy is shown on the charts. The outer limit is marked by a line of black and white horizontally striped buoys. Inside this limit fish traps are numerous in season, but are prohibited along the regular navigable channels and at a greater distance from shore in the tributaries than one-third their width between shores. On account of the fish traps, strangers should not attempt to enter at night.

The mean range of the tide in all the tributaries is about 1.1 feet. Fleets Bay, just northward of the entrance to Rappahannock River, forms the approach to Little Bay and Tabbs, Dymer, and Indian Creeks.

Little Bay and Antipoison Creek, emptying into Fleets Bay from southward, have a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m.) in a narrow channel for 22 miles above the entrance. A prominent shoal in Little Bay is marked by a buoy. The creeks are frequented only by small local boats. There is an ice plant on the north shore of Antipoison Creek. Tabbs Creek has a depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.) in the entrance and 7 feet (2.1 m.) to near the head. It is unmarked and frequented only by small craft.

Dymer Creek has been improved by dredging a channel to a depth of 17 feet (5.1 m.) and width of 200 feet in the approach through Fleets Bay, and has a natural channel 15 feet (4.5 m.) deep for 1 mile above the mouth and 8 feet (2.4 m.) to near the head. The dredged channel is marked by a red buoy and a light on the north side, and the entrance to the creek by a light on each side. Fish steamers drawing 12 feet (3.6 m.) are the deepest draft entering.

Ocran, a village on the south side of Dymer Creek 5% mile above the entrance, is the principal landing, and a fish factory here is the most prominent mark in the vicinity. Gasoline, provisions, and water are obtainable, and coal in limited quantities from the fish factory. There is a railway in the creek capable of hauling out boats of 40 feet length and 4 feet (1.2 m.) draft.

Directions, Dymer Creek.-From 3 miles off the entrance steer 236° true (SW. by W. 1⁄2 W. mag.) to pass 100 yards north of buoy No. 3, change course to 300° true (NW. 34 W. mag.) when the two lights at Dymer Creek entrance are in range, and pass about 60 yards south of the fixed light in Fleets Bay. When 400 yards beyond this light steer 317° true (NW. 34 N. mag.) to pass between the two lights at the entrance of the creek, and then follow a mid-channel course in the creek.

Indian Creek has a depth of 10 feet (3 m.) to Kilmarnock Landing and 6 feet (1.8 m.) to near the head. The principal landings are Byrdton, on the northeast side 1 mile above the entrance, and Kilmarnock Landing, on the southwest side 211⁄2 miles above the entrance; the latter is at the foot of a road leading to the village of

Kilmarnock. There are fish factories at Kilmarnock Landing, where gasoline, provisions, and water are obtainable. There are two lights on the north side at the entrance between the shoals, and a small private beacon, lighted during the fishing season, to mark the end of the shoal on the northeast side west of Henrys Creek.

Directions. Keep southward of the shoals with depths less than 18 feet (5.5 m.) lying eastward of Cotton Patch Bar Light (fixed white), entrance to Indian Creek, and when the light is on range with Old Toms Light (fixed red), steer 305° true (NW. 3 W. mag.) to pass 50 yards south of them; when beyond Old Toms Light bring it astern on course 300° true (NW. 34 W. mag.) and run to midchannel off Longs Creek; beyond this point a mid-channel course may be followed.

Dividing Creek has its entrance between shoals 714 miles 343° true (N. by W. mag.) from Windmill Point Lighthouse. It has a depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.) to Hardings and Harveys Wharves, 134 miles above Hughletts Point at the entrance, and 6 feet (1.8 m.) for a farther distance of 3/4 mile. The channel is marked by lights and buoys from the entrance between the shoals up to Prentice Creek and by bush stakes on the ends of the prominent shoals above that point. Prominent white fish factories are located on the point on the south side of Prentice Creek, 1/4 mile above its entrance, and on the north side of the north point of Prentice Creek, and are visible from outside. There is a beacon on the south side at the entrance of Prentice Creek. Gasoline, provisions, water, and coal in limited quantities are obtainable.

Directions. A channel clear of fish traps can be navigated with Windmill Point Light astern on course 344° true (N. / W. mag.) to a position 0.2 mile east-northeastward of Dividing Creek Light (fixed white), then steer 278° true (WNW. 34 W. mag.), passing 250 yards north of the light to 0.2 mile south of Hughletts Point Flats Light (fixed red); then 299° true (NW. % W. mag.) to close northward of Jarvis Point Shoal Light (fixed white); and 329° true (NNW. 14 W. mag.) to mid-channel between Hughletts Point and the point north of Prentice Creek. Beyond this a mid-channel course leads to the wharves above.

GREAT WICOMICO RIVER

[Chart 534]

6 miles southwestward of Smith Point Lighthouse, is a good and convenient harbor and is extensively used by small vessels. It is also frequented by fish steamers, the regular passenger steamers, and schooners and barges carrying wood products. The draft of vessels entering it does not ordinarily exceed 12 feet (3.6 m.). It has a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m.) for 534 miles above Great Wicomico River Lighthouse, 10 feet (3 m.) for 21⁄2 miles farther to abreast Sampson Wharf, and is navigable for small craft for a farther distance of 211⁄2 miles.

The channel is marked by lights and buoys to Rogues Point, 44 miles above Wicomico River Lighthouse. The principal landings

on the main channel of Great Wicomico River are Mila, Blackwells, and Tipers Wharves. The principal marks for the entrance are Great Wicomico River Lighthouse (white house on piles) and a group of buildings, a church spire, and an iron stack at Fleeton, on Fleets Point. The shoals outside the entrance are generally covered by fish stakes, the limits of the fish traps being shown on chart 1223.

Ingrams Bay and Mill Creek, west-southwestward of Great Wicomico River Lighthouse, have a depth of 12 feet (3.6 m.) for 3 miles above the lighthouse and 8 feet (2.4 m.) for a farther distance of 1 mile. The channel is narrow and unmarked and strangers should not enter without a pilot.

Cockrells Creek, on the north side, just inside the entrance of the river, has numerous fish factories and is the center of a large trade by water. Fleeton, Fairport, and Reedville are villages on the creek, and there are several other landings. All kinds of supplies are obtainable, and there is a railway for hauling out boats of 85 feet length, 7 feet (2.1 m.) draft, and 85 tons.

Some ship chandlery can be obtained at Reedville, as well as water, gasoline, Diesel oil, and coal in limited quantities; there are depths of 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.5 m.) at the wharves. Fleet Point Light (fixed red) is the principal guide to the entrance.

The other tributaries of Great Wicomico River are used by small local boats but are unmarked and of little interest to general navigation.

Anchorage.-Vessels entering Great Wicomico River for shelter usually anchor off and in the mouth of Cockrells Creek in 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6.1 m.). Motor boats usually anchor in the creek. Cockrells Creek is also considerably used as a secure harbor from ice.

Ice does not close the river to navigation except in severe winters, and then only for short periods.

Tides. The mean range of tides is 1.1 feet at the entrance of Great Wicomico River.

Directions, Great Wicomico River.-Fish traps will usually be found on the shoals near and off the entrance to Great Wicomico River, and strangers entering at night should follow the deepest water and proceed with caution.

Entrance between the fish traps can be made on a 287° true (WNW. mag.) course, passing 300 yards north-northeastward of Dammeron Marsh Shoal buoy No. 3, 350 yards southward of the lighthouse and 150 yards southward of Fleet Point buoy. If bound to Reedsville, continue beyond the buoy until the end of the wharf above Fleeton bears 33° true (NE. 11⁄2 N. mag.) when it may be steered for; beyond this point a mid-channel course between the wharves will lead in the best water.

If bound above Cockrells Creek, steer 326° true (NNW. 2 W. mag.) for Sandy Point light (fixed white), round it at a distance of 200 yards, and then steer 306° true (NW. 14 W. mag.) for Haynes Point light (fixed red); round this point at a distance of 100 yards, and steer 330° true (NNW. 1 W. mag.) to the eastward of Rogue Point light (fixed white). Beyond this point the chart is the guide.

POTOMAC RIVER

[Charts 77, 78, 557, 558, 559, and 560]

on the western side of Chesapeake Bay, 66 miles above the entrance and 84 miles below Baltimore, forms the boundary between the States of Maryland and Virginia, and is the approach to the cities of Alexandria and Washington and many villages and landings. It is navigable by vessels to Washington 95 miles above the entrance and by small unmasted vessels for about 3 miles above to Little Falls. The vessels using the Potomac River are occasional coasting and foreign vessels bound to Alexandria and Washington, the regular steamers from Washington, Baltimore, and Norfolk to the landings, and a large number of small craft engaged in oystering and fishing. Smith Point, on the south side of the entrance to Potomac River, is low and inconspicuous. Off it the water is shallow, there being depths of 11 feet (3.3 m.) 2 miles off shore. There is also Smith Point Shoal, with a least depth of 18 feet (5.5 m.), marked on its east side by Smith Point Lighthouse (flashing white, every 10 seconds), white tower and dwelling on a brown pier. A red sector, from 3° to 156° true, covers the shoal water off the point. The fog signal is a diaphone, blast 3 seconds, silent 12 seconds. A bell will be struck in case the diaphone is disabled. For information regarding the radiobeacon see page 16.

Little Wicomico River, entering the south side of Potomac River 8 mile northwestward of Smith Point, is nearly dry at low water at the entrance, and not more than 3 feet (0.9 m.) can be taken across the bar under the most favorable conditions of high water and a smooth sea. The entrance is also subject to change. The depths in the river are said to range from 6 to 15 feet (1.8 to 4.5 m.). There is no traffic to and from the river, shipments being made by way of Great Wicomico River. Sunnybank is a post office on the south side of the river, 1 mile above the entrance.

Hack Creek, Cubitt Creek, Hull Creek, Presley Creek, and Cod Creek, on the south side of Potomac River between Little Wicomico and Coan Rivers, are not used. The entrances are often dry at low water.

Coan River is on the south side of Potomac River, 14 miles above Smith Point Lighthouse and 61⁄2 miles 251° true (WSW. W. mag.) from Point Lookout Lighthouse. Steamers drawing 9 feet (2.7 m.) or a little over make regular trips to the landings. The entrance is marked by aids, some of which are lighted, and is easy of access.. Above the entrance, pile beacons with slatted day marks or bush stakes are maintained by the steamboat company in a depth of about 6 feet (1.8 m.) on the principal shoals as far as the landings, but some difficulty may be experienced in taking a greater draft than 8 feet (2.4 m.) to Coan and Bundicks. The mean range of tides is 1.4 feet.

The landings are Lewisetta, Cowarts, Walnut Point, Lake, Coan, and Bundicks, and these landings are post offices. The bight on the south side of Walnut Point is used as an anchorage by small craft. There are stores at the landings, and artesian water and gasoline can be had at some of them.