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INLAND WATER ROUTES

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have usable dimensions of 118 feet length, 22 feet width, and 62 feet of water over the sills. The locks of the Champlain Canal are the same design as those in the Erie Canal. The distance from Albany to Montreal via this route is 309 statute miles. The Canadian Government requires permits or let-passes from pleasure boats entering Canadian waterways, which may be obtained at their canal statistical offices at St. Johns and Prescot. American vessels when leaving Canada should report at the custom office.

Charts of the Erie Canal, Champlain Canal, Lake Champlain, and Great Lakes are published by the United States Lake Survey Office, Detroit, Mich., and sections of the New York State canals by the Superintendent of Public Works, Albany, N. Y.

Ice.-Navigation in the upper Hudson River and the New York State Canal System is usually obstructed by ice from the middle of December to the latter part of March.

LAKES TO GULF WATERWAY

The Lakes to Gulf Waterway by way of the Illinois Waterway System and the Mississippi River affords passage for vessels from Chicago on Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of 1,630 statute miles.

The Illinois Waterway System permits a draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) to be taken from Chicago to the Mississippi River. The limiting clearance under fixed bridges between Chicago and Grafton, Ill., is 132 feet (4.1 m) at high water.

Charts of the Illinois Waterway System may be obtained from the district engineer, first district, United States Engineer Office, 333 North Michigan Avenue, room 1325, Chicago, Ill.

The Mississippi River. This section of the waterway follows the natural and improved channels of the Mississippi River.

Grafton to Cairo.-The project depth is 9 feet (2.7 m) throughout, but this has not been attained between Grafton and St. Louis during very low waters. Between Grafton and the mouth of the Missouri River a channel depth of at least 6 feet (1.8 m) can usually be depended upon, though during periods of very low water the controlling depths may be as little as 5 feet (1.5 m). Except for some delays during periods of very low water, navigation is relatively easy. The least vertical clearance of 44.6 feet (13.6 m), extreme high water, is at Merchants Bridge, St. Louis, Mo.

Cairo to Baton Rouge. The project depth of the channel is 9 feet (2.7 m). This dimension is greatly exceeded during medium and high stages, and at low stages except across underwater sand bars where channel dredging is necessary. Year-round navigation is easy except during periods of exceptionally low water, when some difficulty is experienced with large tows. The controlling vertical clearance in 56 feet (17 m) above the highest water on record at the fixed bridge at Vicksburg, Miss.

Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico. This section of the waterway is a ship channel navigated by large ocean-going vessels. Naviga tion is safe and easy at all seasons. The river current is sluggish for low water flows but during times of high water reaches 6 miles per hour. The effect of tide is felt as far north as Baton Rouge.

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On the completion of the bridge now being constructed 2 miles above New Orleans the controlling vertical clearance will be 135 feet (41.1 m) above ordinary high water.

Charts of the Mississippi River may be obtained from the office of the Mississippi River Commission, Box 665, Vicksburg, Miss.

Ice.-Navigation of the Illinois Waterway System is stopped by ice from about December 1 to March 1, and in the section of the Mississippi River between Grafton and Cairo usually between December 15 and February 15.

OTHER RIVER CHANNELS TRIBUTARY TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Upper Mississippi River.-A 9-foot (2.7 m) project depth has been adopted for the channel improvement of the Upper Mississippi from Grafton to St. Paul and Minneapolis. At present a channel with a controlling depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) is available to Minneapolis.

Charts and information relative to improvements and navigation may be obtained from the Mississippi River Commission, Box 665, Vicksburg, Miss.

Missouri River.-A 6-foot (1.8 m) project has been adopted for the Missouri River from its outlet into the Mississippi River 15 miles above St. Louis to Sioux City. The section between the mouth and Kansas City is now open to navigation.

Charts and information relative to improvements and navigation may be obtained from the United States Engineer Offices, 232 Manufacturers Exchange Building, Kansas City, Mo., and City National Bank Building, Omaha, Nebr.

Ohio River. A 9-foot (2.7 m) project on the Ohio River has been completed and an excellent channel to Pittsburg, and beyond, is available.

Charts and information relative to improvements and navigation may be obtained from the United States Engineer Office, Custom House, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Red, Arkansas, and Ouachita Rivers.-These rivers flow into the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Cairo. The Red and Arkansas Rivers have not been improved to any great extent, but will accommodate light-draft river boats. The Ouachita River has been canalized to Camden, Ark., and provides a depth of 62 feet (2.0 m).

Charts and information relative to improvements and navigation may be obtained from the United States Engineer Offices, P. O. Drawer 667, Vicksburg, Miss., and P. O. Box 97, Memphis, Tenn. Intracoastal Waterway.-Connection with the Intracoastal Waterway is made at New Orleans, La.

Ice.-Navigation in the upper reaches of the Mississippi River and in the Missouri and Ohio Rivers is obstructed by ice in the winter

months.

MISCELLANEOUS

Bridge regulations.-Regulations for the lighting of bridges over navigable waters, also for lights on sheer booms, piers, dams, and similar obstructions to navigation are prescribed by the Department

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of Commerce. A copy of these regulations (see Publications, page 303) will be sent free of charge to any shipmaster, pilot, or bridge owner on application to the Commissioner of Lighthouses, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.

The following regulations have been prescribed by the War Department to govern the operation of drawbridges which are now or may hereafter be constructed across all navigable waterways of the United States discharging their waters into the Atlantic Ocean south of and including Back River, Va., and the Gulf of Mexico, excepting the Mississippi River and its tributaries:

1. The corporations or persons owning or controlling a drawbridge shall provide the same with the necessary tenders and the proper mechanical appliances for the safe, prompt, and efficient opening of the draw for the passage of vessels.

2. If the weather conditions are good and sound signals can be heard when a vessel approaches the drawbridge and desires to pass through the draw, three distinct blasts of a whistle, horn, or megaphone shall be sounded from the vessel when within reasonable hearing distance of the bridge. When the draw of the bridge can be opened immediately, the draw tender shall reply by three distinct blasts of a whistle, horn, or megaphone or by three loud and distinct strokes of a bell. When the draw of the bridge cannot be opened immediately, or when the bridge is open and is to be closed immediately, the draw tender shall reply by two long distinct blasts of a whistle, horn, or megaphone or by two loud and distinct strokes of a bell.

3. When weather conditions prevent hearing the sound signals when a vessel approaches a drawbridge and desires to pass through the draw, signals shall be made from the vessel by swinging in circles at arm's length a lighted lantern at night and a flag by day. When the draw of the bridge can be opened immediately, the draw tender shall reply by raising and lowering in a vertical plane a number of times a lighted lantern by night and a flag by day. When the draw of the bridge cannot be opened immediately or when the bridge is open and is to be closed immediatley; the draw tender shall reply by swinging to and fro horizontally a number of times a lighted lantern at night and a flag by day. 4. When a vessel wishes to pass two or more bridges close together, or crossing a section of the waterway less than 500 feet in length, signals as prescribed above shall be given from the vessel for opening the first bridge, followed at an interval of about five seconds by the same signals for the second bridge, and so on, thus giving at intervals of about five seconds separate signals for each bridge the vessel desires to pass.

5. When two or more vessels are approaching a bridge at nearly the same time from the same or opposite directions with the draw opened or closed, each of these vessels shall signal independently for the opening of the draw, and the draw tender shall reply as prescribed and in turn to the signal of each vessel.

6. Where the bridges are less than 500 feet apart the signals to govern the movements of the approaching vessel shall be given from the bridge nearest the vessel. If that bridge can be opened immediately the bridge tender shall await the reply signals from the other bridges and then give the signal circumstances require. If the nearest bridge cannot be opened immediately, the prescribed signal shall be given the approaching vessel at once, to be followed as soon as possible by the signal from that bridge that the draws are about to open.

7. The draw shall be opened with the least possible delay upon receiving the prescribed signal: Provided, That the draw span shall not be opened when a train is approaching so closely that it cannot safely be stopped before reaching the bridge, or when a passenger or mail train is approaching within sight or hearing of the operator of the draw span.

8. When a bridge tender is about to close a draw, he shall sound two distinct blasts of a whistle, horn, or megaphone, or two loud and distinct strokes of a bell.

9. Trains, wagons, and other vehicles shall not be stopped on a drawbridge for the purpose of delaying its opening, nor shall water craft or vessels be so manipulated as to hinder or delay the operation of a draw span, but all passage

over, through, or under a drawbridge shall be prompt, to prevent delay to either land or water traffic.

10. These regulations shall be enforced on and after January 1, 1930, and shall supersede the general bridge regulations approved October 12, 1925.

Fishweirs. Regulations prescribe that fishing structures and appliances in navigable waters of the United States shall be lighted for the safety of navigation, as follows:

The lights shall be displayed between sunset and sunrise. They shall be placed at each end of the structure excepting where the inner end terminates in such situation that there is no practicable navigation between it and the highwater line of the adjacent coast, in which case no inner light shall be displayed. The outer light shall be white and the inner light shall be red. The size, capacity, and manner of maintenance of the lights shall be such as may be specified in the War Department permit authorizing the erection of the structure or appliance.

When several structures or appliances are placed on one line with no navigable passage between them, they will be considered, for lighting purposes, as one structure.

Lighthouse tenders, when working on buoys in channels or other frequented waters, may display a red flag (international signal code flag B) and a black ball at the fore as a warning to other vessels to slow down in passing. Passing vessels will facilitate the work of the Lighthouse Service by a proper observance of the signals.

Special signals for vessels employed in hydrographic surveying. The following signals have been prescribed for vessels of the United States engaged in hydrographic surveying: By day a surveying vessel of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, under way and employed in hydrographic surveying, may carry in a vertical line, one over the other not less than 6 feet apart where they can best be seen, three shapes not less than 2 feet in diameter of which the highest and lowest shall be globular in shape and green in color and the middle one diamond in shape and white.

(a) Vessels of the Coast and Geodetic Survey shall carry the above-prescribed marks while actually engaged in hydrographic surveying and under way, including drag work. Launches and other boats shall carry the prescribed marks when necessary.

(b) It must be distinctly understood that these special signals serve only to indicate the nature of the work upon which the vessel is engaged and in no way give the surveying vessel the right-of-way over other vessels or obviate the necessity for a strict observance of the rules for preventing collisions of vessels.

(c) By night a surveying vessel of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, under way and employed in hydrographic surveying, shall carry the regular lights prescribed by The Rules of the Road.

(d) A vessel of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, when at anchor in a fairway on surveying operations, shall display from the mast during the daytime two black balls in a vertical line and 6 feet apart. At night two red lights shall be displayed in the same manner. In the case of a small vessel the distance between the balls and between the lights may be reduced to 3 feet if necessary.

(e) Such vessels, when at anchor in a fairway on surveying operations, shall have at hand and show, if necessary, in order to attract attention, a flare-up light in addition to the lights which are, by this regulation, required to be carried.

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The wire drags used by the Coast and Geodetic Survey in sweeping for dangers to navigation may be crossed by vessels without danger of fouling at any point except between the towing launches and the large buoys near them, where the towline approaches the surface of the water. Steamers passing over the drag are requested to change course so as to cross it approximately at right angles, as a diagonal course may cause the propeller to foul the supporting buoys and attached wires.

2. GENERAL SAILING DIRECTIONS, OUTSIDE COAST

Vessels may use the following tabulated directions, which give tracks for high-powered steamers plying between New York and the Florida Straits and Dry Tortugas. Directions are also given for entering the Straits of Florida from Providence Channels.

When bound southward the vessels attempt to avoid the full northerly set of the Gulf Stream and therefor either run eastward or westward of the current. When northbound the current of the Gulf Stream is utilized.

Caution. The courses as tabulated should be used in conjunction with the general information given concerning the currents, depth, and cautions.

NEW YORK TO STRAITS OF FLORIDA

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