coastal Waterway. From seaward the coast shows a line of sand hills partly covered with grass and scrub palmetto. At several places real estate developments have sprung up and the buildings show prominently from seaward. Access to the mainland from these developments is secured by bridges across the Banana and Indian Rivers. Behind all is the background of heavy woods on the mainland.

The coast between Cape Canaveral and Fort Pierce Inlet has broken ground in places, which extends off a greatest distance of about 10 miles at Bethel Shoal, least depth 28 feet (8.5 m).

Bethel Shoal Lighted Whistle Buoy 10 (flashing white light) is moored in lat. 27°44′ N., long. 80°10′ E., in 48 feet (14.6 m) off the east side of Bethel Shoal, and about 11 miles from shore. From it Bethel Creek Coast Guard Station (house of refuge) lies 247° true (WSW. mag.), distant 11 miles. A nun buoy is moored close by. It lies 47 miles southward of Cape Canaveral and the same distance northward of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.

A

Indian River Shoal lies about 8 miles north of Fort Pierce Inlet. recent survey shows a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) 3% miles 357° true from Indian River Inlet Coast Guard Station. There is a depth of 4 fathoms (7.3 m) about 234 miles 3612° true from the above Coast Guard station.

The Bight, southwest of Cape Canaveral, is frequently used by moderate-draft vessels seeking shelter in heavy northerly weather. It furnishes excellent shelter for all winds from southwest, around through northwest to north-northeast. If the wind hauls more to eastward the swell is somewhat broken by the shoals, but the anchorage is likely to be uncomfortable. No directions are necessary, other than to use an up-to-date chart.

The wreck of the Mohican lies 37% miles 173° true from Cape Canaveral Light. One mast of the wrecked vessel has fallen, the other is likely to fall at any time. A buoy marks the wreck.

There is a wharf about 2 miles southwest from the lighthouse, and a bathing and dancing pavilion located nearby. There is good highway connection from this region to the town of Cocoa, on the mainland.

Sebastian Inlet.-An artificial channel has been dredged through the outside beach, leading into the Indian River in latitude 27°51'30" N. It is 37 miles south of Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and is abreast the mouth of Sebastian Creek, which empties into the Indian River from the west side. At the entrance two jetties have been built, the north one extending eastward 400 feet from shore; the south jetty extends 300 feet from shore. A steel bulkhead has been constructed leading in a west-northwest direction for a distance of about 1,500 yards from the south side of the inlet into the Indian River. According to surveys of the United States Engineers made in 1934 the controlling depth in the inlet was 512 feet (1.7 m) but a draft of only 212 feet (0.8 m) could be carried to the channel of the Intracoastal Waterway in the Indian River. This inlet should not be used by strangers, on account of strong tidal currents. It is only used by small local fishing boats, most of which make their headquarters at the town of Sebastian.

Indian River Inlet is reported to be entirely closed.

FORT PIERCE INLET

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Fort Pierce Inlet is located 3312 miles northward of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and 61 miles southward of Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. The entrance is improved by two parallel jetties extending out into the Atlantic Ocean about 1,800 feet from the shore line. In 1935 the controlling depth at the entrance was 23 feet (7.0 m), with a depth of 21 feet (6.4 m) in the channel between the inlet and the town and in the turning basin adjacent to the terminal slips at the Port of Fort Pierce.

Fort Pierce Inlet Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 (flashing red) is located in 30 feet (9.1 m) on the outer range, 1 mile off the end of the jetties. Just southward of the town of Fort Pierce is a lighted aerial beacon (lat. 27°24′38′′ N., long. 80°19'33" W.), showing a revolving white light, visible well to seaward. The city also maintained a fixed red light on the top of a water tank which is located 1/2 mile southwestward of the town. This light is also visible well to seaward and is a good navigational mark in clear weather.

A large two-storied, rose-colored casino on the beach marks the inner end of the south jetty.

The entrance is rough in southeasterly weather with an ebb tide. Tides. The mean range of tide at the jetties is about 211⁄2 feet (0.8 m) and at the city dock about 34 foot (0.2 m).

Currents. The tidal currents in the inlet have a velocity at strength of about 3 knots.

It has been reported that a strong current, about 5 knots, runs through the cut parallel with the channel, but at the turn in the channel extreme caution should be used, as the current sets across the channel, flood tide to the south and ebb tide to the north. Across Indian River the currents run parallel with the channel, which parallels the causeway fill. At the western end of this fill cross currents are sometimes encountered, especially where the channel crosses the Intracoastal Waterway. The northwestern corner of this intersection is marked by a red nun buoy. Currents in this section are mostly controlled by the winds.

Directions. The dredged channel is marked by range lights and buoys, is narrow, and the currents are strong. Care must be exercised in entering. The water outside the channel is shallow. The entrance channel into the shore line is 240 feet wide. At about the shore line and through the cut the channel is 180 feet wide. The point where the channel narrows to 180 feet is marked on the northern side by a red nun buoy. After passing through the entrance the channel narrows to 100 feet and makes a turn to the left of 17° and leads across Indian River to the Fort Pierce Turning Basin and terminals.

With Fort Pierce Inlet Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 close aboard close Fort Pierce Inlet Entrance range ahead (front light Fl. R., rear light Occ. R.; both daymarks, white with a black vertical stripe, on skeleton structures) and steer 259° true (WSW. % W. mag.) for 1.6 miles to a position northward of Fort Pierce Entrance Buoy 3 (black can) marking the turn in the channel. Close Fort Pierce Inner range astern (front light Fl. W., rear light Occ. W.; both daymarks, white, square with black round center, on skeleton towers) and steer 242° true (SW. by W. % W. mag.) to the turning basin off the docks.

The inner end of this range line is marked by Fort Pierce Inlet Center Light (F. R.) on the top of the warehouse on range with two fixed red lights, one above the other, on a pole, and maintained by the Fort Pierce Harbor Commission.

The end of the inner channel at the turning basin is marked by two lights, one on either side of the channel. The turning basin is 900 feet long (north and south) and 775 feet wide (east and west). The municipal piers are at the western edge of the turning basin. Under certain weather conditions there is a fairly strong current which sets across the ends of the piers, but this depends mostly on wind conditions.

Fort Pierce, population 4,803 in 1930, the county seat of St. Lucie County, is on the west shore of the Indian River opposite Fort Pierce Inlet. There are good hotel accommodations and railroad, highway, telephone, and telegraph_connections. The city ships citrus fruits, vegetables, and lumber. It is a distributing point for supplies to the surrounding country. The Intracoastal Waterway passes through the Indian River east of the city.

Quarantine.-Vessels are boarded by the quarantine officer at the

docks.

Pilots are available and will meet vessels off the bar on previous notice.

Pilotage. The pilot rates for Fort Pierce Inlet are as follows:

Terminal facilities.-A terminal for sea-going vessels has been constructed at Fort Pierce. It consists of a turning basin and slips, which provide a berthing space of about 1,500 feet. There are depths of 22 feet (6.7 m) in the slip on the north side of the municipal pier and at the pier of the Indian River Refrigeration Terminal Co. The turning basin has a depth of 22 feet (6.7 m). The two piers are both about 320 feet in length. The southern or municipal pier is open on the north and east sides only. Small vessels may dock on the east side and larger vessels on the north side. The northern pier is open on both north and south side. Vessels also dock across the end of this pier, which is 178 feet in width. When so moored the north and south sides of this pier are blocked to entering vessels.

There is a wharf immediately south of the bridge across the Indian River to which a depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) can be carried. Approach from the channel of the Intracoastal Waterway must be made from a point about 500 yards south of the bridge as spoil banks, with a controlling depth of about 2 feet (0.6 m) over them, parallel the channel immediately eastward of this dock.

Supplies. Gasoline, Diesel oil, oil, fresh water, provisions, and supplies are available. The fuel oil is controlled by the municipal authorities and amounts to 10,000 barrels. Oil is received and delivered by an 8-inch line and no adapters are available at present. There is gasoline-boat service to boats at the docks.

Repairs. There is a marine railway and machine shop about mile northward of the terminals, Vessels of 712-foot (2.3 m) draft,

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75 feet in length, and about 150 tons can be hauled out. Local knowledge is necessary to carry the best water to the railway.

A small marine railway is located in Moores Creek about 1/4 mile south of the bridge. This creek affords a haven for small boats. A draft of about 312 feet (1.1 m) can be carried into the creek. To approach the entrance come well to the south of it and then come west with the smokestacks of the power plant in range ahead.

Communications.-Fort Pierce is served by the Florida East Coast

Railway.

There are regular freight-boat connections to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.

Aviation fields.—Fort Pierce Airport is located 211⁄2 miles south of the city. The airport is county-owned. There are three landing strips, 2,170 by 335 feet, 2,600 by 600 feet, and 1,800 by 400 feet, respectively. There are day facilities for serving aircraft.

Storm warnings are displayed in Fort Pierce in daytime only. United States Public Health Service.-There is a relief station of the United State Public Health Service at Fort Pierce.

FORT PIERCE INLET TO LAKE WORTH INLET

From Fort Pierce Inlet to Lake Worth Inlet the coast trends generally south-southeastward for 421⁄2 miles and is broken by St. Lucie and Jupiter Inlets. This section of the coast is formed by a low, narrow strip of sand, covered with vegetation, and separated from the mainland by the shallow waters of the Indian River and by the Intracoastal Waterway connection between the Indian River and Lake Worth. From seaward the coast shows a line of sand hills partly covered with grass and scrub palmetto. Behind all is the background of heavy woods on the mainland. The buildings of the various real-estate developments along this section of the coast show prominently from seaward. Access to these developments is secured by bridges across the Indian River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

For a distance of 13 miles southward of Fort Pierce Inlet broken ground with 3 to 4 fathoms (5.5 to 7.3 m) over it extends from 211⁄2 to 6 miles offshore.

Capron Shoal has a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m) about 31⁄2 miles southeastward of Fort Pierce Inlet. Capron Shoal Buoy 10A is placed in 24 feet (7.3 m) 300 yards northeastward of the 18-foot spot.

St. Lucie Shoal, with 16 to 24 feet (4.8 to 7.3 m) over it, is the principal danger. It lies from 3 to 6 miles offshore, and 22 to 26 miles northward of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. The northern end of the shoal is marked by St. Lucie Shoal Lighted Whistle Buoy 12 placed in 51 feet (15.5 m) of water. There is a red nun station buoy 100° true, 200 yards from the lighted buoy. St. Lucie Shoal Buoy 14, a red nun buoy, has been placed in 24 feet (7.3 m), 200 yards eastward of the 16-foot spot near the southern end of the shoal.

In addition to the shoal spot marked by the lighted whistle buoy, another with 18 feet (5.5 m) over it has been reported 334 miles, 11° true, from the buoy. In 1926 a vessel reported grounding on a 24-foot (7.3 m) sand patch, about 74 miles, 11° true, from the buoy. Of these last two reports neither has been verified.

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A shoal, on which the least depth found is 534 fathoms (10.4 m), lies 3 miles from shore off St. Lucie Inlet, 13 miles northward of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. A depth of 62 fathoms (11.9 m) has been found on the shoal, which extends 3 miles from shore about 3 miles northward of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.

These shoals should be avoided by deep-draft vessels; the 15-fathom (27.4 m) curve is a safe guide.

St. Lucie Inlet.-This inlet forms the mouth of St. Lucie River and the south end of Indian River. It lies 131⁄2 miles north of Jupiter Lighthouse and 20 miles south of Fort Pierce Inlet. A construction project now under way aims to deepen this inlet sufficiently for the use of moderate-draft coastwise vessels. When completed, this project provides for wharves along the north shore of the entrance to Manatee Creek. In June 1928 a portion of the north jetty had been built offshore for a distance of 3,325 feet.

The proposed improvements have not been completed, and the limiting depth in the entrance remains about 5 feet (1.5 m). An aviation beacon established near Stuart, west of St. Lucie Inlet, shows a revolving white flash seaward. This should not be confused with Jupiter Light by vessels approaching from the north and east. The mean range of tide at the jetties is about 212 feet (0.8 m). St. Lucie River enters the sea through St. Lucie Inlet and connects with the St. Lucie Drainage Canal, and thence through Lake Okeechobee with a series of waterways extending to the Gulf coast. The route through to the Gulf is now open with a controlling depth of about 32 feet (1.1 m) in Lake Okeechobee.

There are no restrictions as to the passage of small craft, but large plants desiring to enter the lake must notify the district engineer at Jacksonville in order that the bypass at the lock at Lake Okeechobee may be made available.

There is an overhead cable crossing at the bridges at Stuart, vertical clearance 94 feet (28.7 m) at mean low water. The Florida East Coast Railway bridge at Stuart is a single-leaf bascule draw, horizontal clearance 50 feet, vertical clearance when closed 9 feet (2.7 m) at mean low water. The highway bridge immediately above the railway bridge has a horizontal clearance of 80 feet and a vertical clearance of 15 feet (4.6 m) at mean low water when closed. The draw is a double-leaf bascule.

The St. Lucie River also has several branches of some commercial importance. These branches, with the main river, form an important center for yachting and fishing in the winter months.

South Branch St. Lucie River is crossed by a double-leaf bascule draw highway bridge at Palm City, 8.5 miles above the mouth of the river. The bridge has a horizontal clearance of 59 feet and a vertical clearance when closed of 13.2 feet (4.0 m). The route to Lake Okeechobee passes up the South Branch.

St. Lucie Canal is now a much-traveled thoroughfare, being a part of the cross-Florida waterway. The locks have recently been lengthened to 250 feet and the sills lowered to give a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) over them. Five bridges cross the canal. The controlling vertical clearance for the cross-Florida route is at the Florida East Coast Railway vertical lift bridge at Mayaca. There is a clearance of 63.4 feet (19.3 m) at mean low water when the bridge is open.