DIRECTIONS, ST. MARYS ENTRANCE

213

Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 S. and Brunswick Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 B., to a position where Amelia Island Lighthouse bears 252° true (WSW. W. mag.), distant 9.8 miles. On this bearing Fernandina Lighted Whistle Buoy 1 F (Fl. W.) is in range with the lighthouse. Then head for the buoy and lighthouse on range and steer 252° true (WSW. % W. mag.) for 2 miles. This position gives the whistle buoy dead ahead and 12 mile distant and in range with the lighthouse. In clear weather, in daytime, the lighthouse and a nearby standpipe are reported to be visible about 9 miles. In thick weather, if not certain of position, keep in a depth of not less than 7 fathoms (12.8 m).

From southward.-From a position about 0.2 mile southeast of St. Johns Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 St. J. a 5° true (N. 11⁄2 E. mag.) course made good for 19 miles will pass 1/2 mile east of Fernandina Lighted Whistle Buoy 1 F., to a position where the buoy and Amelia Island Lighthouse are in range, bearing 252° true (WSW. 3% W. mag.), and the buoy 1/2 mile distant. On this course Sea Buoy 6 A. off Nassau Sound entrance will be left about 2.9 miles to westward. Entrance to Fernandina. From a position 1⁄2 mile from Fernandina Lighted Whistle Buoy 1 F., with the buoy and Amelia Island Lighthouse in range and bearing 252° true (WSW. % W. mag.), make good a course of 286° true (WNW. 5% W. mag.) for 4.4 miles, to a position 1/2 mile northwest of Fernandina Lighted Bell Buoy 3 F (Fl. G.), passing 0.3 mile north of the buoy.

Then make good a course of 211° true (SSW. 34 W. mag.) for 1% miles, passing close eastward of Fernandina Jetty Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 (Fl. W.), off the east end of the north jetty, and midway between that buoy and Bar Buoy 5.

Come onto Tiger Island range and steer 2602° true (W. % S. mag.) between the jetties, following this range past the north end of Amelia Island passing about 100 yards south of buoys 4, 6, and 8. Round the northwest end of Amelia Island at a distance of about 300 yards.

Pass about midway between beacon No. 2 and the west shore of Amelia Island, steer 168° true (S. by E. 1% E. mag.) for the elevated watertank in Fernandina, and then follow the wharves at a distance of about 100 yards.

COAST FROM CUMBERLAND SOUND TO ST. JOHNS RIVER

(Charts 1243, 453, and 577)

This stretch of the coast is formed by the shores of Amelia Island, Talbot and Little Talbot Islands, and Fort George Island.

Amelia Island lies very nearly north and south, having a length of 1134 miles and a width varying from 1 to 211⁄2 miles. It is low and flat or gently undulating, is heavily wooded along the coast line, but the western parts are marshy. The island is separated from the mainland by a broad stretch of marsh, through which flow the Amelia and South Amelia Rivers, connecting Cumberland Sound on the north with Nassau Sound on the south.

Seen from seaward, Amelia Island presents no prominent natural features to distinguish it from other land in the vicinity. It shows a long line of dark woods, rather irregular in outline, with numerous trees rising conspicuously above the general level. In front of these

woods is a range of sand hills partly covered with coarse grass and scrub, and in front of these a broad stretch of white sand beach. About 2 miles from its northern end the white tower of Amelia Island Lighthouse, rising from a grove of large trees, forms a conspicuous landmark.

Nassau Sound is 10 miles southward of Amelia Island Lighthouse and 6 miles northward of St. Johns River. The entrance, which is marked by Sea Buoy 6 A, is obstructed by shifting shoals which extend about 1/4 miles seaward and form a shallow bar. An unmarked channel between the two low sandy islands about 0.6 mile south of the south end of Amelia Island, is the best place to enter. The channel lies due east and west and had a controlling depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) in 1934.

Tides. The mean range of tides in Nassau Sound is 5.4 feet (1.6 m). South Amelia River, which enters the sound from northward, connects with Kingsley Creek and through the latter has communication with Amelia River and Cumberland Sound. The Intracoastal Waterway follows this route. The depth through this passage was reported to be 7 feet (2.1 m) on October 15, 1935. The mean rise and fall of tides is about 512 feet (1.7 m).

Nassau River enters Nassau Sound from the northwestward. A draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) can be carried up Nassau River at low tide for some 14 miles to the closed highway bridge. Small launches and tugboats navigate to the head of Nassau River, across Boggy Swamp, and up Mills and Thomas Creeks without difficulty at high tide. There are occasional sunken logs which are a menace to navigation. A highway bridge and the Seaboard Air Line Railway bridge, both closed, cross the river. There is a vertical clearance of 12 feet (3.7 m) at mean low water at the railroad bridge.

Nassauville is a small settlement on the north bank of Nassau River about 7 miles above the entrance. Small boats coming alongside the docks at Nassauville should exercise caution as the current forms an eddy with quite a pronounced whirlpool effect between the Wilder dock and the oyster cannery dock. There is a depth of 13 feet (4.0 m) at the Wilder dock.

Alligator Creek connects South Amelia River with Nassau River. A draft of 8 feet (2.4 m) can be carried through this creek at low tide but the channel is very tortuous and leads through a tidal flat between oyster bars which bare at low tide.

Pumpkin Hill Creek enters Nassau River from the east about 1 mile above Nassauville. There is a controlling depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) up Pumpkin Hill Creek to Edwards Creek, and 3 feet (0.9 m) for an additional 2 miles where the creek soon widens into numerous loops and tidal flats and bares at low water.

Edwards Creek connects Pumpkin Hill Creek with Nassau River. There is a controlling depth of 1 foot (0.3 m) at low tide. Samples Creek connects Edwards Creek with Mink Creek. The controlling depth through these creeks into Nassau River is 12 foot (0.2 m) at mean low water.

Sawpit Creek, which enters the sound from westward, connects with Gunnison Cut and Sister Creek, forming the inside route to St. Johns River. For detailed description of this passage, see Intracoastal Waterway Pilot, New York to Key West.

ST. JOHNS RIVER AND JACKSONVILLE

215

Simpson Creek connects Nassau Sound with Fort George Inlet. It can be navigated the entire distance at high tide by launches drawing less than 3 feet (0.9 m).

Little Talbot Island is a strip of low flat land about 4 miles in length and averaging about 3/4 mile in width. It lies nearly in a north-andsouth direction and is wooded along the outer coast but is marshy to the westward. By this strip of marsh, through which several creeks flow, it is separated from Talbot Island. This island is 44 miles in length by 11/2 miles in width. It is partly wooded and partly marshy and is separated from the mainland by connecting streams, Sawpit Creek and Gunnison Cut. This last connects with Fort George River and Sister Creek, forming the Intracoastal Waterway passage from Nassau Sound to St. Johns River, through which there is a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) at low water. Seen from seaward, Little Talbot Island shows a strip of dark woods with many conspicuous sand hills near the beach. Its south end runs off in a low point of bare sand bordering on Fort George Inlet.

Fort George Inlet is a narrow body of water separating Little Talbot and Talbot Islands from Fort George Island. The inlet changes rapidly, due to shifting sands at its entrance. It is unimportant and should never be used without local knowledge.

Fort George Island is immediately to the southward of Fort George Inlet. Its eastern shore, forming the coast line, shows a broad stretch of white sand beach, backed by a range of high sand hills. Near the north end of the island there is a conspicuous hill, called Mount Cornelia. It is 63 feet (19.2 m) high and thickly wooded. On clear days it may be seen from a distance of 12 to 15 miles, affording an excellent landmark for the entrance to St. Johns River. Fort George Island is separated from the mainland by a stretch of marsh, through which flows Sister Creek. There is a drawbridge across the mouth of Sister Creek. When approaching this bridge with a fair current, special care should be exercised, on account of the strong currents that occur here at times.

12. ST. JOHNS RIVER AND JACKSONVILLE

ST. JOHNS RIVER ENTRANCE TO JACKSONVILLE

(Chart 577)

St. Johns River, the largest and most important river of eastern Florida, is about 244 miles in length. It rises near the Atlantic coast, in about latitude 28°10' N., flows in a northerly direction nearly parallel to the coast, and empties into the sea immediately north of St. Johns River Lighthouse, in latitude 30°24′ N. The river is the approach to the city of Jacksonville and a large number of towns and villages. The part of the river above Jacksonville is described under a separate heading.

The entrance of the river is between two converging jetties which extend out across the bar. The channel is under improvement to maintain a 30-foot (9.1 m) channel from the sea to Jacksonville, 300 feet wide on the straight reaches and widened at the turns and through the jetties to as much as 600 feet. In October 1935 the full center-line depth was available. There is constant dredging to

maintain the project to full dimensions. The channel is well marked by range lights and buoys. With these aids it is not difficult for a stranger of 20-foot (6.1 m) draft to navigate the river; all sailing vessels employ a towboat for crossing the bar and in the river as far as Jacksonville.

Mayport is a village on the south bank, 3 miles inside the entrance between the jetties. It has communication by rail, small craft, telephone, and telegraph with Jacksonville. The railroad wharf has burned, and there is now no commercial wharf of any size to which vessels can make fast. The United States engineers maintain a small wharf, not strongly constructed, to which mooring is forbidden without permission. At this wharf, fresh water may be obtained, but this water has sufficient sulphur content to require treatment with boiler compound before use. The depth of water at this wharf is 12 feet (3.6 m). Some supplies and gasoline can be obtained; also pilots for the Intracoastal Waterway.

Pilot Town is a village on the north bank opposite Mayport.

Prominent features.-Mount Cornelia, 63 feet (19.2 m) high and thickly wooded, is about 2 miles northward of the entrance. About 334 miles south of the entrance are the buildings of Atlantic Beach, and 3 miles southward of this beach is Jacksonville Beach, both summer resorts.

St. Johns River Lighthouse, lat. 30°23′36′′ N., long. 81°25'34" W., on the south side of the entrance, is a red brick, conical tower. The light has been discontinued.

St. Johns Lightship, lat. 30°23′ N., long. 81°18′ W., is located in a depth of 57 feet (17.4 m) on the prolongation of St. Johns Bar Cut Range line, St. Johns River Lighthouse bearing 271° true (W. % N. mag.), distant 61⁄2 miles. The ship has a yellow hull, "St. Johns on sides, two masts with a red cylindrical grating at each masthead, and shows a group flashing white light on one of the masts (3 flashes 2 seconds each, 2 eclipses 3 seconds each, 1 eclipse 8 seconds, every 20 seconds). The fog signal is an air tyfon sounding a 5-second blast every 30 seconds, silent 25 seconds. If the tyfon is disabled, a hand bell will sound groups of 3 strokes every 20 seconds.

A radiobeacon is operated on the lightship. When the fog signal is sounding, a group, a short and a long dash, 1 second and 5 seconds, is transmitted at end of minute period, coincident with the fog signal blast, for distance finding.

Pilots will come out to a vessel making a signal. The bar pilots keep a lookout for approaching vessels at the pilot station on the south side of the St. Johns River just inside the jetties. Up-river pilots can be obtained at Jacksonville. Pilots for the Intracoastal Waterway may be obtained at Mayport or Jacksonville. Bar pilotage is compulsory for certain vessels.

Pilotage. Following are extracts from the rules and regulations:

1. The master of any vessel entering the port of Jacksonville who does not accept the services of a pilot shall be compelled to pay the full legal rates of pilotage.

7. Any pilot detained on board of any vessel by the master or quarantine officer shall receive for each and every day's services the sum of $5 per day over and above his pilotage.

The rates for pilotage from the sea to Jacksonville or vice versa are as follows:

Moving, docking, shifting or taking from dock, per vessel, $10.

Two-thirds (2/3) pilotage rate will be charged per vessel seeking, making harbor for repairs or bunkers. Detention of pilots aboard vessels, $5 per day.

Delivering orders to vessels outside, $50.

Pilots carried away, when taking steamers to sea in bad weather or at night, $5 per day during absence and expenses back to Jacksonville, Fla.

Anchorages.-Vessels waiting outside the bar generally anchor, if the wind and sea are not too heavy, in the vicinity of St. Johns Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 St. J.; or they can anchor, in about 6 fathoms (10.9 m), about 3 miles northeastward of St. Johns River Lighthouse, with the end of the north jetty bearing about south.

The best and usual anchorage inside the mouth of the river is abreast Mayport, where a basin 800 feet wide with a least depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) has been dredged on the west side of the channel. Anchorage is not permitted in the river at Jacksonville between Hogan Creek and the Florida East Coast Railway bridge, except for small craft on the south side of the river; large vessels can anchor below Hogan Creek. A good anchorage at Jacksonville for yachts is above the railroad bridge off Winter (Lancaster) Point.

Tides. For tides at Mayport see the tide tables for the Atlantic Ocean, published annually in advance by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, in which the tides are predicted for every day of the current year. At the entrance between the jetties of St. Johns River the time of high and low water occurs about 20 minutes earlier than at Mayport. Proceeding up St. Johns River, the tide is later than at Mayport, the differences being approximately as follows: Fulton, 25 minutes; Dame Point, 50 minutes; Phoenix Park, 1 hour 10 minutes; Jacksonville (Hogan Street), 1 hour 45 minutes.

The approximate mean rise and fall of the time is as follows: Entrance between jetties, 5 feet (1.5 m); Mayport 412 feet (1.4 m); Fulton, 3 feet (0.9 m); Dame Point, 212 feet (0.8 m); Phoenix Park, 112 feet (0.5 m); and Jacksonville (Hogan Street), 1 foot (0.3 m). Currents.-There are strong tidal currents in St. Johns River as far up as Jacksonville. The currents at the entrance between the jetties require special attention. With northerly winds there is a strong southerly set on the flood at the end of the north jetty, and the conditions here are often dangerous, especially in heavy weather; in the event of a vessel becoming unmanageable, either by taking the