DIRECTIONS, DISMAL SWAMP CANAL ROUTE

83

with Anson Point astern, leaving Brickhouse Point Light about 1/4 mile on the starboard hand and Miller Point Light about 1/4 mile on the port hand, and Bluff Point Buoy No. 1 about 1/4 mile on the port hand, to a position with Poquoson Point Light abeam, distant about 1/4 mile.

It is reported by masters of commercial vessels navigating the sounds that, if bound for Alligator River or westward, 9-foot (2.7 m) or less draft can cross the shoal in smooth weather at the entrance to Pasquotank River on a course of 169° true (S. 34 E. mag.), heading to pass about 100 yards westward of Alligator River Lighted Bell Buoy No. 1 marking the entrance to the dredged channel to Alligator River, distant 124 miles.

The safer route is as follows. From a position about 1/4 mile southwestward of Poquoson Point Light steer 110° true (SE. by E. 3⁄43⁄4 E. mag.) for 414 miles, giving the shore a berth of not less than 11⁄2 mile, and pass about 1/2 mile north of Wade Point Light, to a position about 1.4 miles eastward of Wade Point Light. Then steer 18712° true (S. by W. mag.) for about 11 miles across Albemarle Sound to a position about 100 yards westward of Alligator River Lighted Bell Buoy No. 1 marking the entrance to the dredged channel to Alligator River.

The Intracoastal Waterway southward passes up Alligator River, see page 91.

5. INLAND WATERS OF NORTH CAROLINA

The inland waters of North Carolina are a chain of navigable sounds and their tributary rivers lying inside the line of long, low, and narrow islands which form the seacoast of Virginia and North Carolina. A considerable amount of commercial intracoastwise and pleasure traffic passes through these waterways. Waterborne freight in some quantity moves between the cities on or bordering the sounds and the seaport of Norfolk.

These sounds and the connecting waterways are an important link in the Intracoastal Waterway which is now rapidly assuming greater importance and extends along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

Connection between the inland waters of North Carolina and Chesapeake Bay on the northward is afforded by means of the routes of the Intracoastal Waterway, and to Beaufort Inlet and the southern coastal cities through the Adams Creek Canal, a section of the Intracoastal Waterway, or through Core Sound.

The more important cities are Elizabeth City, on the Pasquotank River, a branch of Albemarle Sound, Edenton on Albemarle Sound, Washington on the Pamlico River, and New Bern on the Neuse River.

ALBEMARLE SOUND

(Chart 1228)

Albemarle Sound is 46 miles long and has a width ranging from 11 miles near its eastern end to 3 miles about 9 miles from its western end. This sound has a good navigable depth for any vessel that can enter through the canals, and with its numerous tributaries forms the approach to a number of towns and landings, from and to which

several steamers, barges, and a number of small sailing vessels are engaged in the carrying trade. There are depths of 10 to 18 feet (3.0 to 5.5 m) along the tracks from North and Pasquotank Rivers to Croatan Sound and less water farther eastward. In heavy weather the passage is uncomfortable and even dangerous for open boats. Fish stakes and nets, extending long distances from the shore, are often found on the shoals, especially at the northern entrance of Croatan Sound. The shores of the sound are low and generally wooded; there are no prominent natural features.

The eastern end of the sound, which is separated from the Atlantic by the narrow beach about 15 miles northward of Bodie Island Lighthouse, is connected northward with Currituck Sound and southward with Croatan and Roanoke Sounds, and by the latter sounds with Pamlico Sound. The water in the sound westward of Laurel Point Light is usually fresh or slightly brackish.

The more important towns on the tributaries of Albemarle Sound are Elizabeth City, on the Pasquotank River; Hertford, on the Perquimans River; Edenton, on Edenton Bay; Winton, on the Chowan River; Plymouth and Jamesville, on the Roanoke River; Columbia, on the Scuppernong River; and there are also numerous landings. Supplies can be obtained at these towns, and there are marine railways at Elizabeth City. The rise and fall of the water level depends on the direction of the winds.

A railroad trestle crosses Albemarle Sound about 5 miles from its western end. There is one draw opening for vessels, 12 miles from the north shore, which is a lift bridge with a clear opening 140 feet (42.7 m) wide and is marked by a bell struck by hand during thick or foggy weather. There are also girder spans about 1/2 mile apart in the trestle, under which launches without masts can pass. It is reported that the lights on the draw span are low-powered and are difficult to make out in hazy weather.

North River (charts 1228, 3252) is on the north side of Albemarle Sound and extends northward about 1212 miles to the junction with the Coinjock Canal. The river has a general depth of 9 feet (2.7 m). The dredged channel of the Intracoastal Waterway (Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal route), which passes down North River, has a controlling depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) and is marked by lights, buoys, and a lighted range across the bar at the south entrance to the river. The river is more particularly described in connection with the waterways from Norfolk to Albemarle Sound.

Pasquotank River is on the north side of Albemarle Sound and is marked at its entrance by Wade Point Lighthouse, which lies 4 miles westward of North River entrance. The deeper entrance is eastward of Wade Point Lighthouse; but with a smooth sea it has been reported that vessels of 9 feet (2.7 m) draft can cross the shoal westward of the lighthouse, on a course of 349° true (N. % W. mag.), heading for a point about 1/4 mile southwestward of Poquoson Point Light. The Pasquotank River and Elizabeth City are more particularly described in connection with the waterways from Norfolk to Albemarle Sound. (See page 80.)

Flatty Creek, 3 miles westward of Wade Point, is 1 mile wide at its mouth but is shoal and only used by fishermen. There are 2 feet (0.6 m) of water over the bar and 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) inside.

Little River is on the north side of Albemarle Sound 10 miles westward of Wade Point Lighthouse. The channel is about 1/4 mile wide between the shoals at the entrance and is buoyed. The river has a general northwesterly trend to the village of Nixonton, which is on the east bank 7 miles above the entrance. Gasoline in limited quantities can be obtained here. About 72 feet (2.3 m) is the deepest draft that can be taken up to the village. There is a small dock but only very shallow draft boats can lie alongside. Spits, with little water over them and generally steep-to, make out some distance in places from the shores and especially off the points. The channel in the upper reaches of the river is well marked by the ends of the rows of fish stakes which make out from the shore.

Directions.-Pass 100 yards eastward of Stevenson Point Flats Entrance Buoy No. 1 (black spar) at the entrance, steer 282° true (WNW. 12 W. mag.), and pass close westward of Mill Point Flats Buoy No. 2. Then keep near the middle of the river, exercising care to carry the best water between the shoals southwestward of Long Point, until abreast the point on the east bank just above Trueblood Point, and then favor the eastern bank to Nixonton.

Approaching from westward pass 1/2 mile southward of Reed Point Light and steer 52° true (NE. by E. mag.) until up with Stevenson Flats Buoy (horizontally striped) lying southward of the entrance. Pass 200 yards eastward of this buoy and steer about 344° true (N. by W. mag.) with the black buoy at the entrance on the port bow. Then follow the directions in the preceding paragraph. Perquimans River is on the north side of Albemarle Sound, its entrance lying 3 miles northwestward of Reeds Point Light. For a distance of 10 miles to the town of Hertford the river is from 3/4 to 111⁄2 miles wide and has a navigable depth of 9 to 11 feet (2.7 to 3.3 m). The river then becomes narrow and crooked but is navigable for vessels of 8 feet (2.4 m) draft for about 8 miles above Hertford to a point near Goodwins Creek. Small boats run to Stony Landing, about 12 mile below Goodwins Creek. There is an overhead wire crossing about 5 miles above Hertford, where the vertical clearance is limited to about 65 feet (19.8 m).

Hertford, population 1,914 in 1930, lies on the south side of the Perquimans River about 10 miles above the mouth. The town ships. some lumber by railroad and barges. Gasoline, fresh water, and some supplies can be obtained. There is railroad connection and a paved highway leads to Edenton and Elizabeth City. A highway bridge (swing draw), with horizontal clearances of 52 feet (15.8 m) through the north opening, and 58 feet (17.7 m) through the south opening, crosses the mouth of the narrow part of the river at Hertford. The wharves of the town are above the bridge and are in poor condition. Vessels can lie alongside the bulkhead on the south side of the river immediately above the highway bridge in 10 feet (3.0 m) of water. Fresh water is available here. A towboat can be obtained at Hertford. The Norfolk Southern Railroad crosses the river over a drawbridge 1 mile above town.

Directions.-Pass about 12 mile southwest of Reeds Point Light and steer 303° true (NW. 12 W. mag.) for 414 miles to a position 700 yards northeast of Harvey Point Flats Beacon (reflector). Or, if approaching from westward, pass 1/4 mile south and east of Perqui

mans Bluff Flats Buoy (horizontal striped buoy) lying south of Harvey Point and steer 352° true (N. 14 W. mag.) for 12 miles to a position 700 yards northeast of Harvey Point Flats Beacon. With Grassy Point a litle on the port bow, steer 299° true (NW. by W. mag.) for 22 miles to a position 150 yards northeast from Blount Point Spit Buoy No. 3. Then steer 285° true (WNW. / W. mag.) for 134 miles to a point 200 yards southwest of Grassy Point Light.

If bound to anchorage off Ferry Point, steer 311° true (NW. 14 N. mag.) for about 514 miles, with Ferry Point a little on the starboard bow. On this heading Ferry Point shows as a wooded head on the northeast side of the river. Anchor 300 yards southwest of Ferry Point in about 9 feet (2.7 m) of water. There is no room for anchorage in the river above this point.

If bound up river or to Hertford, local knowledge is required to carry the best water. It should not be attempted by strangers. The entrance to the narrow part of the river at Hertford is through a dredged channel 200 feet wide and 9 feet (2.7 m) deep, which has a 301 true (NW. 34 W. mag.) direction, the middle of the channel lying 200 yards from the point on the west side below the bridge. In December 1934 four white mooring buoys maintained by the Major and Loomis Lumber Co. marked the east spoil bank of the cut. When on the line of the face of the bulkhead below the bridge, the course should be changed for the draw. Go through either side of the draw. There are submerged stumps on both sides of the dredged channel. Hertford Shoal Beacon (black slatted daymark on pile) marks the edge of shoal on the west side.

Yeopim River is 511⁄2 miles westward of Perquimans River. It is shoal and unimportant. There are 4 feet (1.2 m) of water over the bar between Batts Island and Drummond Point. Some logging is done along the south shore.

Edenton Bay is a small bay on the northern side near the western end of Albemarle Sound, about 2 miles westward of the railroad trestle which crosses the sound. The entrance and channel are marked by buoys and range lights. The Edenton Harbor channel had a controlling depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) according to an examination made in February 1933. The large water tank just westward of the rear range light is the most prominent object seen from the sound. A brick chimney near the front range and a water tank on the east side of the bay are also prominent.

Edenton is a town at the head of the bay about 111⁄2 miles above the entrance; it has railroad communication with Norfolk and the South, and small steamers trade to points in the sound and its tributaries. Some lumber is shipped by railroad and in barges. A towboat is stationed here. Supplies, ice, gasoline, coal, and water can be obtained. The river water is fresh and suitable for boilers. The wharf on which the front light is located is the city wharf and has 12 feet (3.7 m) of water alongside. Vessels can go to the wharves just westward of the range and also to the old railroad wharf at the northwest end of the harbor. The railroad wharf now in use is at the northeast end of the harbor and is reached through a channel about 100 feet wide.

The inner anchorage, which is small and has a depth of 9 feet (2.7 m), is close eastward of the range line and about 250 yards

southward of Johnson Creek Buoy No. 6. The larger anchorage is on the west side of the range line and about midway between Edenton Bay Lighted Bell Buoy No. 2 and Johnson Point Shoal Buoy No. 4.

A vehicle ferry runs from Edenton to Mackay Creek across the sound.

Pembroke Creek enters from the westward into Edenton Harbor. A fish commission hatchery is located about 1/2 mile from its mouth, to which 5 feet (1.5 m) can be carried. The creek is navigable for 3 miles to Wildcat Bridge. There is a small marine railway at the fish hatchery capable of handling vessels up to 10 tons.

Directions. From the lift draw in the trestle crossing Albemarle Sound steer 333° true (NNW. mag.) for nearly 3 miles, with Edenton Bay Lighted Bell Buoy No. 2 at the entrance of Edenton Bay on the starboard bow. When the Edenton Harbor range lights, which show just eastward of a prominent water tank, and between the tank and a large sheet-metal warehouse, are in line, bearing 14° true (N. by E. 34 E. mag.), steer for them and be guided by the range and buoys until up to the wharves. At night these range lights are difficult to make out on account of confusion caused by automobile lights in town. The range is hard to see in hazy weather.

Chowan River empties into the western end of Albemarle Sound from northward and with its tributaries is one of the largest rivers in North Carolina. For a distance of 17 miles above its mouth the river has an average width of about 11⁄2 miles. In this part of the river large areas of tree stumps, many of which are under water, are generally found on the shoals; Stumpy Reach is the name applied to the worst place between Colerain Landing and the mouth of Bennetts Creek, a distance of 6 miles, where stumps occur on shoals with depths of about 12 feet (3.6 m) or less. Above this the river is much narrower but has a good channel with a depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) for 50 miles above its mouth. Regular water transportation is maintained between Edenton, Winton, and Tunis at the Atlantic Coast Line crossing 211⁄2 miles below Winton. The controlling depth in Chowan River is 11 feet (3.4 m) near Bull Pond Point.

A highway bridge has been built across the river about 2 miles above the mouth. The draw span is about in the middle of the river and has a horizontal clearance of 80 feet; the vertical clearance at high water, when the highway bridge is closed, is reported to be 7 feet (2.1 m).

Colerain Landing is on the west bank 12 miles above the entrance. The village of Colerain is on the hill 11⁄2 mile inland. There is a depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) at the oil wharf and 10 feet (3.0 m) at the large T-shaped wharf used by river boats. Supplies and gasoline can be obtained at Colerain.

Tunis is a landing on the south bank east of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad crossing, about 35 miles above the mouth of the river. A row of broken piling and stakes extends out into the river from the ruined dock just south of the railroad dock. In coming into the railroad dock at Tunis, head for the draw of the railroad bridge until the dock is almost abeam, then steer for the dock. There is a