Courses and distances, Hawk Channel, Miami to Key West-Continued [Abbreviations: F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red; dist., distant]

KEY WEST HARBOR

(Chart 584)

This harbor is large and commodious and one of the best anchorages for large vessels south of Chesapeake Bay. It lies northward of a broken line of the Florida Reefs in latitude 24°33′ N. and longitude 81°49′30" W. The harbor proper lies in front of the city of Key West, protected on the eastern side by the island and on the other sides by submerged reefs and sand flats. It has a length of 2 miles and a width of about 1/4 mile. Southwest of the harbor proper there is a large anchorage area protected by the reef. The harbor is entered through breaks in the reef, there being five main channels with depths of 13 to 30 feet (4.0 to 9.1 m) and several minor channels. There are no bridges across the ship channels at this port.

Northwest Passage Unused Lighthouse (Old Tower) is a white dwelling on brown pile foundation, standing in 4 feet (1.2 m) of water, at the northwesterly entrance to Northwest Channel. The light is discontinued.

Smith Shoal Lighthouse on Smith Shoal, off the northwest entrance to Northwest Channel, is a black tank house on a white, hexagonal, pyramidal, skeleton tower on piles. The light is flashing white, 47 feet (14.3 m) above the water, and visible 12 miles.

Channels.-There are several channels or approaches to the harbor, leading between the reefs and coral banks which surround it; they have been examined by means of a wire drag, and the dangers are shown on the chart. These channels are easy to follow in a sailing vessel in the daytime with a fair wind, but it is not safe for a stranger to attempt to beat into the harbor. Main Ship Channel and Northwest Channel are principally used and, in conjunction, furnish a direct route across the reef for vessels drawing up to 19 feet (5.8 m).

Southeast Channel is marked by buoys and at night by the easterly edge of a red sector in Key West Light; it leads over lumpy bottom with 14 to 18 feet (4.3 to 5.5 m) over the coral heads, and it is not recommended for vessels of over 13 feet (4.0 m) draft. The course through the channel is 321° true (NW. % N. mag.) for Key West Lighthouse.

Main Ship Channel has an improved depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) for a width of 300 feet and is well marked by buoys and lights. This channel is used by the deeper-draft vessels and by strangers.

Southwest Channel is convenient for vessels approaching from southwestward; it has a navigable depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) if closely followed and is marked by several buoys. Vessels of 16-foot (4.9 m) draft can make one course nearly to the anchorage by heading for Key West Lighthouse, bearing 55° true (NE. 5% E. mag.) in the daytime, and by standing on the edge of a red sector of that light at night, and this is about the deepest draft of the vessels using the channel. Strangers should not attempt it at night.

West Channel is a passage leading westward from Key West between the outer reefs and the keys. The channel is deep and is fairly well marked by buoys and lights. It is used by small boats bound toward the Dry Tortugas,

Northwest Channel has been improved. The jetties on either side at the entrance are from 14 to 1/2 mile off the channel, and the outer portion of the east jetty is exposed. In June 1935 the controlling depth was 20.3 feet (6.2 m) for a width of 150 feet. This channel affords a passage from Key West Harbor to the Gulf of Mexico and is well marked. The mean range of the tide at the north entrance is about 22 feet (0.8 m), and high and low waters occur about two hours later than at Key West.

Calda Channel extends northward from Man-of-War Harbor and forms a passage with a controlling depth of about 7 feet (2.1 m) to the Gulf of Mexico. The channel is narrow but well marked by a light and beacons.

Prominent features. When standing along about 6 miles southward of the Florida Keys, the Casa Marina Hotel shows prominently about 1 mile east of Whitehead Point. As the entrances from the southward are approached, the city, Key West Lighthouse, and the cupola of the Colonial Hotel will be seen near the western end of Key West Island, and Fort Taylor will show prominently a little westward of the island. The naval radio towers are conspicuous north of the fort, the north tower being distinctively painted. Sand Key Lighthouse will be seen about 7 miles southwestward of Key West Lighthouse.

Sand Key and Key West Lighthouses are described on page 281.

Eastern Triangle Light (flashing red), a black tank house on a red, triangular, pyramidal, skeleton structure, on piles, is midway between the entrance buoys of the Main Ship Channel and Key West Lighthouse and can be readily distinguished from outside the reefs.

Anchorage. The best anchorage is in the inner or Man-of-War Harbor, where the depth is 32 to 42 fathoms (6.5 to 8.2 m); this anchorage is northward of the city between coral banks, which prevent a heavy sea. Vessels can anchor anywhere off the city northward of Fort Taylor, or in the entrance to the Northwest Channel abreast of the city in 32 to 5 fathoms (6.5 to 9.1 m), taking care, however, not to get too close to the reefs, which in some places rise abruptly at the edge of the channels. The outer anchorage, about 1 mile from Fort Taylor, with the fort bearing between 36° true (NE. by N. mag.) and 328° true (NW. by N. mag.), has depths of 412 to 6 fathoms (8.2 to 11.9 m) and is somewhat exposed but is safe for vessels with good ground tackle.

Small-craft anchorages. Small craft generally anchor in the cove on the north side of the city southward of the railroad wharf. The former submarine basin is now being used as a public yacht basin and furnishes good berths for small craft. Gasoline can be delivered direct to vessels in the basin.

Pilots. The pilots no longer cruise outside but can always be had by making signal while outside the reefs or on radio notification. A lookout is kept in either the La Concha Hotel or City Hall towers. The pilots will take vessels in at night. Pilots for Hawk Channel can also be had at Key West.

Special service by pilot boat.-Vessels frequently find it convenient to make use of a special service performed by the pilot boat at Key West. If requested by radio or telegraph from another port, the pilot boat will meet vessels at the bar buoy, main channel, and deliver orders or provisions or take off sick men bound for the marine hos

pital at Key West. A flat rate of $60, day or night, is charged for this service.

Pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels and for other vessels except when the master or one of the mates are licensed by the Federal Government. Pilotage is optional for coastwise vessels drawing 6 feet (1.8 m) of water or less. Vessels carrying United States mails pay half pilotage only. The following are extracts from the rules and regulations:

1. The master of any vessel entering the port of Key West who does not accept the services of a pilot shall be compelled to pay the full legal rates of pilotage, provided the vessel be spoken outside the following limits:

If she be entering by main ship channel she must be spoken outside the western head buoy or no. 1. If by Hawk Channel, she must be spoken east of midchannel buoy, intersecting Southeast Channel and Hawk Channel, Key West Light bearing NW. 14 N.

If entering by Southwest Channel or Sand Key, she shall be spoken southwest of a line of no. 7 black buoy and no. 8 red buoy in Southwest Channel. If entering Northwest Channel, she must be spoken outside of no. 1 or bar buoy. If entering by Southeast Channel, she must be spoken outside of no. 4 red buoy, Sand Key bearing SW. by W. 4 W.

Should a vessel entering the port of Key West without being spoken by a licensed pilot outside the foregoing limits, the first pilot speaking her thereafter shall be entitled to full outward pilotage.

8. 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.

9. All fees and rates of pilotage on vessels entering or leaving this port shall be due 24 hours previous to clearing from customhouse and are recoverable before any justice of the peace or other courts having competent jurisdiction in this county.

Rates for moving, docking, shifting, or taking from docks are as follows:

14 feet draft or less-.

Over 14 feet draft_.

$10

20

Tides. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 114 feet (0.4 m). Daily predictions of the times and heights of high and low waters will be found in the Tide Tables, Atlantic Ocean.

Currents. The tidal currents in Key West Harbor and Northwest Channel set fair with the channels, and the times of maximum current at these places are nearly simultaneous, the strength of the flood (north flowing) occurring about 22 hours before high water, and the ebb about 2 hours before low water, at Key West. Slack water occurs about 11⁄2 hour and 2 hours, respectively, after high and low water at Key West. The average velocity at strength of both flood and ebb is about 1 knot between Whitehead Spit and Kingfish Shoals, 12 knots in Man-of-War Harbor and its entrance, and 12 knots in Northwest Channel abreast of Middle Ground. These normal conditions are greatly modified by winds.

Winds. The prevailing winds are easterly, the strongest north in winter and easterly during the hurricane months. See also the meteorological tables in the appendix.