Atlantic Coast Pilot - Boston to New York -1878

VK UNITED STATES COAST SURVEY q.:z; \\ .A~S 1~71!. CARLILE P. PATTERSON v SC.&~. SURVEY SUPERINTENDENT LIBRARY ANO . ARCIIIV'S No.........f!..h.9 .. ........... Sht.f ..... ,, ........·.................. . ATLANTIC COAST PILOT BOSTON BAY TO NEW YORK . .. .UBRARY f.10 l fi;:Pe~• C~tn~t~•·,.. . •··... - ·•·•.•.. .. N:O.A.A. of. - ' \" - . - ~-..- ,,, - ' • • <'• •C • .- •• o' • '

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Database Modernization Program ERRATA NOTICE One or more conditions ofthe original document may affect the quality ofthe image, such as: Discolored pages Faded or light ink Binding intrudes into the text This document has been imaged through the NOAA Climate Database Modernization Program. To view the original document, please contact the NOAA Central Library in Silver Spring, MD at (301) 713-2607 xl24 or [email protected]. LASON Imaging Subcontractor 12200 Kiln Court Beltsville, MD 20704-1387 March 28, 2002

U. S. COAST SURVEY OFFICE, w.ASHINGTON, D. c., Oci. 1, 1878. This volume of the Coast Pilot em?races the coast from Boston to New York, including Nan- tucket, Vineyard and Long Island sounds, and the Hudson River to Troy. The system adopted in this work includes :- I. A genera.I description of the coast line and of the shores of the several harbors and thoroughfares. II. A detailed description of all dangers and obstructions to navigation on the coast and in the harbo~ with directions for avoiding them. III. Sailing directions for roasting, and for approaching and entering the harbors. IV. Geographical poEitions of all light-houses and lighted beacons. V. Practical information in regard to fog-signals, tides, tidal currents, ice formations and the variation of' the compass. VI. Views of' the coast and of the entranoes to the more important harbors. VII. Charts of the coast on a uniform scale. VIII• .Appendix I, relating to currents at the entrance to the Gulf of' Maine. IX. .Appendix II, Pilot Laws for the harbor of New York. X. For marginal references the styles of lettering in use upon the charts of the Coost Survey, (being upright for names, &c., applfoable to hnd, and inclined when applicable to water,) and also systematic size.s and weights in printed names to indicate the relative importance of coast features. This volume, as well as the prooeding one for the Gulf of Maine, has been compifod by John Serrice llradford, .Assistant, Coost Survey. It includes the results of previous detailed surveys by the Coast Survey a.nd those which his own continuous observation and verification (by visit- ing every looality al<>ng the ooast and personally t.esting all sailing lines, bearings and, courses given) have developed. The views of the coast and approaches to the several harbors were drawn by Mr. John R. Barker. The facts in re)atfon to ice a.Te given from an able report by Lieutenant Chas• .A.. Bradbury, U. S. Navy, Assistant, Coast Survey, who made a rn.reful personal examination of this subject during the very oold winter of. 1874 and 1875. The compiler, who h.a$ been ably assisted by Mr• .John W. Parsons, has exercised every care to avoid ·~; 'but, as a.bsolnt.e aooumcy in a work of this class is scarcely possible, (particularly in a · 1irst edition,) it is ea.t'JJeeltily hoped that navigators will note all errors or omissions which they may disoGve:r, or &llY ~ ·tnatter they think should be inserted, and forward & notice of the same to the Superin~ of the Coast Survey, Washington, D. C.

NOTE. All bearings and courses are magnetic. All distances are in nautical miles. Except where otherwise stated, all depths arc at mean low water. All can or nun buoys marked thus* are replaced during the winter mouths by spar buoys.

'+• 3 ..... ~.~' 7!· :..~-'· ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. :FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK. BOSTON BAY. BOSTON BAY is one of the subdivisions of Massachusetts Bay,-being situated at its west.em end,-and is included between Nahant Head and Strawberry Point. Betw~n these limits it is eleven miles wide, and makes into the land for a distance of four miles. The principal harbor in this bay is BOSTON HARBOR, Pituated at its western end, nnd including the subordinate ports of Neponset, Weymouth, IDngham, Cambridge, and Charles- town. Nahant Head, the northernmost point of Boston Bay, is in Nahant Head. La.tltude .••••••• __ ••• _••••••• _____ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4so Sii' 'T\" :tr. Longitude ••••• -- -- ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••'TO\" 113' 111111 W., and Strawberry Point, its southernmost point, is in Strawberry Point. La.tltu4e .•• ___ •• -- •• ·-- ••••• -- ••• _•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Uo u• 8\" H. Loncttucle ••• -- •••••••••••••••••••••••••• _••••••••••• _•••••••••• 70° 411' 119\" w. The entnmce to Boston Harbor is between Deer Island on the north, and Point ·Allerton on the south, between which two points it is three miles and three-quarters wide. The geographical position of the entrance to the Mu.in Ship Chrumel is L&tltuda •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• u 0 19' 18\" :tr. Longltude -···-·-··-·························-·······-··········'T0°1io' O\"W., from whieh position the distance in a emdght line to the city of Boston is six miles and three-quarters. The space between Point Allerton and Deer Island is full of Wands, through and among which lead the Channels In several chann\"ls into Boston Harbor. Of these there are six in common use, viz: The Broad Sound Chan- Boston Harbor. nels, called, reepeetively, the North and So•.ith Channels; Hypocrite Channel; Black Rook Chann1'1; Main Ship Channel; and Back or Western Wa.y,-the Hypocrite Channel and the Back Way being used only by vessels bound out. The Main Ship Channel will be the fiI\"St descrHwd. MADr SHIP CJLUiNEL. The entrance to this channel is between Light-house Islo.nd on the north, and Point Allerton on the south, and is a mile and an eighth wide; which width it holds for a little over a mile and a quarter, when it contracts at the Narrows to a little more than a qnarter of a mile. The coul'8e is fil'llt about W. for a mile and an eighth; then MW. through the Narrows, between Narrows Light-house (on Spit Bar) and George's Island, (on which Fort Warren is built;) then HW. by N. between Lovell'a IHland and Gallup'• Island for three-quarters of a mile, until up with Nix's Mate Beacon; then NW. toward Deer Island, joining the Broad Sonnd Channel•; then 'W. i :tr. through President's Roads, pa88ing to the southward of Deer Island and to the uorthward of Long Island and the Spectacle Islande; and then between J!IW. t N. and :aw. by W. up to the city, passing between Governor's hland on the north and Cutle I@land on the south. The whole distance by this channel from the entrance to the anehorage off &he city is seven and a he.If nautical miles. On appruaehing Boston Main Entrance from the northward or eastward, the first prominent object met with will be the Ou• Brewster, a bat-e rocky island-the e&Bternmost of the group lying on the northern side of the Main Ship Che.nnel. Th<1 Outer Brewster ia am...,. of black rock presenting a very ragged appearance, and destitute of all vegetation. It lies :B. and W., is about a third of a mile long, sixty feet high at its highest part, and its Outer Brewab1r. ehorea are bold-to; but there are outlying reefs to the eastward of it. There is a solitary hoU&e on the nt1rthern aide. About three huntlrecl yards to the weetw&rd of Outer Brewster lies Middle Brewster, separated from lllddle Brewater. the former by a narrow and da:ogeroUB pauage called l'lJ1llg Place, which is fnll of shoah! and unfit for st~gen. Middle Brewmer lies l!. and W., is a third of a mile long and about fift:y feet high. It is a mlU.'8 of bare rock, destitute of vegetation, but pl\"eBenting a BOmewhat less rugged appearance tha.n that of the Outer Brewster. A <1pit or r1'ef' tnaba out ill a aw. direetion from ita weetem. end, and a similar bar eztends in a n. directfon from the Great Brewst.,.., nearly meeting the former, and leaving a very shallow pauag.., a hundred and fifty yards wide and full of ahoals, between the two.ban. lt ia only av&i.li11ble at high woter, and then only by those well aeqnainted with the dangwe.

. 2 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Shat or En When nearly up with the Outer Brewster, and bound in by the Ma.in Ship Channel, there will be seen 1o Rocks. the southward of that island and to the eastward of Bost-On Light-house a group of bare rocky islets stretd1ing in an E. and W. direction. These are the Shag, or Egg Rocks. They lie on the northern side of the entrance to the Main Ship Channel, half a mile to tlte southward of the Brewsters, and the same distance to the eastwlLl\"d of Boston Light-house. The rocks are from twenty to twenty-five feet above high water, extending in an E. and W. direction for a third of a. mile, (six hundred and fifty yards,) and are pretty bold-to. Li9ht-house Thre.e hundred yards W. of the western end of the Egg Rocks, and on the northern side of the entrance, Island. will he seen a low rocky islet of irregular shape, upon which stands a large light·tower with its a.coom- panying dwelling-house and bell-tower. This is Light-house Island, (sometimes called L1We Br~nnlier laland,) and the tower iB ca11ed ' Boston Light-house. It is a circular tower of rough stone, eighty feet high, with a black lantern on Boston top, from which is shown a revolving white light of the second order of Fresnel from a height of one Li9ht-houae. hundred and eleven feet above the sea. The flashes are at interva:Js of half a minute, and the lighi is visible in ordinary weather sevent<ien tniles. Connected with the light-house is an air-trumpet for foggy weather, giving blasts s1Jven seconds long at intervals of forty-three secouds. The bearings and distances of tllli! light-house are as follows: From Miles. Grea.t BreWtlt.er, (highest :POl.nt,) S &:£. -- - - ••• - - _••• - • -- •• - - - - • -- - -- - --- - -- -- • - - - •• - -· - - ••• nearly t Centre Ofllliddle Brewster, S. by w. t W·--·--···----·------------·-----·----·----·---·-----·· t Ea.stern Poln1; of Outer :Brewst.er, SW. t W .• -----·--·-·---------··---· .•••••••••••••••••••••••• l t Point Allerton, N. t W•.• ·-·-----···----·---···--·------·-------·------·---·-··········-·----· lt llartin's Ledge, (red nun-buoy.) SW. by W. ! W--·----·----·------·-------------·-·--·····--·- 1! 'Whistling buoy on Northeast Grave, SW.fll·--·--------------···---··-----··----··---·--·-···· 2! Boston Ledge, (red nun-buoy,) W. t B------··-----·----·----······--·-·----···---··--------·-- l t Bell-buoy on Ha.rdlng'a Ledge, NW. l W•.••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••• 2f Minot's Ledge Lf8ht-oouae, NW. i W•.•.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••...•••••• 6! Its geographical position is La.tl.tude •••••• ··---·---·-· •••••••••••••••• ---- ··----·----··-----12'> 191 3911 N. Lougitude • -- -- • ·- -- -· --- -- • ---- ••• - ·- ·- -- ·- - -- - ·- ---- -· ---- ____.,oo G31 lUI\" w. Great Brewster. About eight hundred ys.rds N NW. of Light-house Island (with which it is connected by a long bar or sand-spit, ha.re at low water) lies a very pecnliat•-looking island about a hundred feet high, and pr...ienting a precipitous face f.o seaward. This is the Great Brewster. It.a very remarkable sha.pe renders it a landmark not t-O be mistaken, but this shape can be more readily e::i<plained by a reference to the view of the Main Entrance. This island lies nearly NE. and SW., and is three-eighths of a. mile long. Its northern point is high and steep, and the land gradually rises toward the south- ward-attaining its greatest height about h&lf-way between the nonhern and southern points. It then descends regularly almost to a level with the water, and again riBes with an equal regularity to the souiliem point, which is nearly as high as the northern end. Thewbole of this aea-fac& is a precipitous water-worn cllll'. The summit is smooth and grusy but bare of trees. Point Allerton, on the southern aide of the Milin Entrance, prese~ts an appearance exactly similar to the Great Brewster, (except that the northern end of the point is the lower,) and its high\"\"t point io about midway between its northern and eouthern ends. They appear all if they had once been joined together and afterwards eepara.ted by some violent convulsion of nature. . From the southwestern end of the Great Brewster a long dry Bll.tld-spit or bar extends to the westward for three-quvters of a mile to the Narrows. This is called Spit Bar or Brewster Bar. Point Allerton. Poin• Allerton, on the southern ill.de of the entl'lmce to th.. Main Ship Channel, is a very conspicuous headland. It is a bare hill one hundred and :6f\\een feet high, presenting a st.eep, water·worn clilf·like face to the eastward. Its northf'rn point being separated ii-om the main hill by low land (as in the case of the Great Brewster) gives a very peculiar appeanmce to the head. (See view of Main :Entrance.) The aummit of Point Allerton ia grassy but bare of trees, and the eea-fil.ce is protected by a wall of granite. There i11 a life-boat station in the valley between the northern point and the high clilf to the southward, and a hut of refuge on the beach, three hundred and twenty-five yards from the baae of the hill-whence a road leads to Hllll and Jf&ZLtaabt. Point Allerton is the northern end of Nantm!ket Beach-a atrip of Slllld-beach two mUes and thre<o- Nantastet Beach. quart.ers long, extending in a llf NW. and S U. diJ'l!Ction, and 11epara.ting the large ehoal bay, e&lled H1ngham Bay, ti-om the ocean. There are several hills on this beach, all of them hllre of tr-; and another life-boat station three-quart.en of a mile below the but of refuge, at the base of a nry prominent hill called 11tira.'WberrY mu. At Point Allerton the BOuthern shores of the Main Entrance tnrn 1lbruptly to the westward- A. narrow strip of beoob, known as Stony Beach, half a mile long R.Dd furty yards w:lde, conneet. the western end of the bill with the high land of Hull and Nantasket. This land is funned by two or three regnJ&l\"ly sloping hills, from one hundred to one bun· Nantulult Hiiis. d:t..d. and twenty-five feet high, called Nantaakn Hilla. They are oov~ only with grass. On the hightl4lt there is an ancient earth-work of eolllliderable size, and the remains of a redoubt may be discerned on the aummit of the other. The lower hills present perpendicular cliff-like facee Qll their northern aidea, and it is proposed to protect --wanth- by a. granite sneh as that which pretecta Point Allerton. \" The villageA of Hull and Nantasket are built on the BOnthW<'!Stern side8 of tMse hills. Fnim. sea.ward Hulf and Nan- parts of th~ may be &een, but ~r entering the harbor the bills hide all but one or iwo of the hi&heat tuket. ateeplee until w the W811tward of the cllffa ~ 11-Pproaching Nantaket Gut, when the villagell will appea.r 0 vver the low .hilld. . On the northern side of th.. clumnd, to the wstward of G:reat .BreW.ter, liae Spit or llr!!wster Bar; ani OIL tho~·

BOSTON HARBOR. 3 exl:Nlmity of this bar will be seen an iron screw-pile light-house, called Narrows Light-house~ It shows a Narrows Light- tl:&:ed red light of the fifth order of Fresnel from a height of forty-six feet above the sea, and ia visible ten house. miles. The light-house is painted brown. Its geographical position iB Latitude. - • - ·- •• ·- •••••••••••• -- •••••• ···- --·. ·- --·-. ·--- ••••• _.420 191 21\" N. Longitude . -- -·. ·- •••••• --- ••• ·--· •••••• --- - •• ·- - ·-· --- • -- •• -- __ 70° 1111' 1011 W. Spit Bar, about three hundred ynrds E. of Narrows Light-house, sends oft' an arm in a iroutheasterly False SpH and direction fur an eighth of a mile, on the end of which is built a granite beacon surmounted by an irun spindle Beacon. and cage, all painted red.. This arm is False Spit, and the beacon is l<'alse Spit Bea.con. In coming up the Main Ship Channel, when abreast of this beacon bani up to the northwestward to pass through the Narrows. This course leaves Narrows Light-house to the eastward, and a low island, entirely occupied by a granite fort, to the westward. Thisisland is George's Island, and the fort is Fort Warren. The il!land lies If. by W. and S. by E., is three hundred and fifty yards wide and a little over six hundred long. It is altogether occupied by the fort, which is a George's Island. casemated granite work, surmounted by traverses of earth, and faced by earth-work water-batteries. The citadel or central 110use of the fort, which appears above the parapet when approaching it closely, is a mile and three-eighths Bll. t ll. from Long Island Light-house; a mile and three-quaTters w. t B. from Hoston Light-house; a little over two miles NW. w-.by t w. from•Point Allerton; and a mile and three-eighths lfW. f If. froru Nantasket Hill. Boston is six miles (by the channel) above Fort Warren. The Black Rock Channel here opens to the northell.l!t.ward, between Narrows Light-house and Lovell's Lovell's Island. I~lo.nd. This island Hes on the eastern side of the Narrows, a quarter of a mile to the northwestward of Narrows Light-house and the same distance to the northeastward of Fort Warren. It is very irregular in shape, and not over thirty or forty feet high in its highest part, which is near the centre. Its length is a little over half a mile, and its width varies from two hundred and fifty yards (at its southern end) to five hundred, (near the middle.) Lovell\"s Island lies NW. and SE., &nd is bold-to on its southwestern side; but its eastern and northern shores aTC obstructed by long ledges and extensive fiats. There are two or three houses on the southwestern shore, near the northern end of the island. The scheme of the Harbor Commissioners contemplated the cutting away of a portion of the western face of Lovell\"s Island, where it is widest, for the purpose of straightening and widening the channel at this point; and this work hM been done by the U. S. Engineers,-it being intended to obtain a depth of twenty-three foot at mean low water throughout a width of two hundred yards. On the western side of the channel, and dil\"ectly opposite Lovell's Island, is Gallup's Island, narrow Gallup's Island. and bars of trees, and with a somewhat precipitous face on its northern side. It Ji.,.. nearly E. and W., is over eight hundred yards long, Rud not quite three hundred wide near its western end, where it U. widest. Its eastern end is a low, narrow sand point. The ellff' and sea-fuce of this island are protected from the action of the water by a granite sea-wa.11 nearly a mile long, bnilt under the direction of the State Harbor Commi8\"ioners, and completed in 1871. Thero is a group of houses and a wharf on the southern side of the island, but they are not visible from thA Narrows. From tlie western end of Gallup's liland shoal water extends in a northerly direction for three-eighths Nix's llate of a mile. On this U. built a large Llack beacon, called Nix's Mate Beacon, which will be seeu a little open Beacon. to the westward when passing between Lovell\"s and Gallup's islands. It is a pyramidal granite baa.coll, painted black, having eight i.ides, and stands upon a lm-ge square granite base,-marking the centre of Nix'a lllate Sl:ioal and the jw1ction of the :Main with the Broad Sound ChRllllels. When nearly up with Nix's :Mate Deacon the course is lfW. for another square granite pyramid, painted Deer Island Point .red- This is on the northern side of the Broad Sound Channels, and is called Deer Island Point ~n. Beacen. It is built on the extreme southern point of Deer Island, which is covered at one-third flood. The large island a little open to tht> eastward, which shows as a bare, green, smoothly-sloping hill, Deer Island. somewhat broken at its westem end by water-worn cliffs, is Deer !~land. The wharf at Point Shirley and (!(}me Of the houses OD thRt point are just Visible to the westward of the cllifs, and a part of the city .AlmshOuae just over them. Deer Island lies N NW. and S SE., is nearly a mile long, and at its widest part one-third of a mile wide. Both Pnds of the island are low, and there are no trees except a few planted for ornamental purpm>es. The Houses of Correctlon and Boapita.111 occupy the western slopes of the hill, near the northern end of the island. A channel eighty yards wide separates the northern end of Dl'er Island from Pomt BhJrley,-a low, sandy point of the mainland. This channel is called Sh1r!ey Gut, and is M>metirues used by steamers plying between Boston and Nahant. On coming abreast of Nix's Mate, Deer Island Beacon will come in range with a low island about two miles and a half olf, and having aeveral large spree.ding trees upon it. This is Apple IBland. It is circular Apple Island. in shape, of tnoclerate height, and about an eighih of a mile in diameter; lies midway between Point Shirley and Governor's Island, and ii! BIUTOunded by fiats. The range of this iBland and Deer Island Beacon is one of the Main Ship Channel marb. After }laNillg Nb~',. Mate the channel tums to the westward between Deer Island Beacon on the nortli, and a high preeipit- oua head, with a light-house on it,, on the eouth. This head, which shows a steep water-worn clift\" to the northward and eastward, is called Long Ial&D4 Point, or .t.oDg l8lal:l4 Bead, and ht the northernmost point of L6Qg hland, which 1it111 on the southern side of the :Main Channel, and is about a mile and a half long, Long Island. and fr.em one hundred and fifty to six hundred yards wide. It eztends in a JfB. and sw.'directlon, with an undulating BUri'ace, and is bare of trees except some ornamental groups in the neighborhood of the hotel Rnd light-house. _ From. the middle of the channel, after passing ~m's Maile, this i&land will appear as a round hill about eighty feet high, with perpendieulai.- faciee,-in otb.er words, only LOii.ir Jal&D4 Bead will show, the J\"el!t of the island being hidden by it. OD the summit apl'\"f' the light-lwuse aod.k~r's dwelling, and the tops of the hotel buildings show over the hill• lotlt hlaad •e.The ligbt-hooae on the Head ia an iro.n tower, painted white, twenty-seven feet high, and ..hows a bed .lftht-llouse. ~ light of fuurth ~ of Freenel :frmn a height of one hundre11 and twenty-one feet above the sea, VJlll&le·~ JIU~ The geogra.ph~ position or this li~houae is

4 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Latitude.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• tio 191 4611 B. Longitude •••••••••••••••••••••• ~---·· •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 100 6T1 2311 W. Long Island Light-house bears from Miles. 'Boston Sta.te·houae, SE. by E. i E.•••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• - •• • 5 Fort nldependence, ESB...................................................................... 2t spect&Cle Island, (summit of northern Island,) B. i B. •••• •••••• .••••• •••• ••.• •••• •••••• •••• •••• 1 f Bunker, mil Monument, SE. t B. • . • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • •• • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5 f Deer Jala.nd. Point '.Bea.con, S. by W. t W.••••.••.•••••.•••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• nearly t Seen from the southward and eastward, Long Island presents quite e. different. appearance from that jWlt described. Ita fall length and undulating surface is then seen, and will be described in its proper place, On p888ing the head a granite aea-wall will be seen facing it. It is of great strength, and is twenty-one hundred feet in length. Passing Long Island Head, the channel continues to the westward through what is called President's 1!.oa.d.s ; a.nd to the southward of the course will appear two island!! of moderate height, with perpendicular facee, and lying N. Spectacle and B. of each other. Theee are Spectacle Island!!, or The S:Pecta.cles, as they are commonly called. They Islands. lie close together, and at low we.ter e.re joined by a dry sand-bar, The northern island liee nearly E. and W., is seven lmndred yards long and sixty-five feet high, with cli1f-like faces, worn by the action of the water, A group of houses is built near the southern end, where there is a low sand point. The southern island is nearly \"'JUD.re, being four hundred a.nd fifty ya.rds ln diameter. It is sixty-five foot high at its highest point, and, like the northern island, its faces are precipitous except on the southern sidt>, where the shore is low and sandy. The Spectacles lie on the eastern side of the entrance to Back or Western Way. There is a passage between these islands and Long Island, often used by coastel1', but it is lllll!afe for at.rangers. The water is shoal except on their northern side. When past the Spectacles, on the way through President's Roads, a large island, presenting a precip- Thompson's itoJIB face to the northward, and having a group of large houses on its summit, will open to the westward Island. of them. This is Thompson's Island, which lies off the entrance to Neponset River, and on the western side of the entrance to Back or We!!tern Way. The island lies B NE. and WSW., and is a mile l<>ng. The group of buildings visible on its highest point, surrounded by ornamental grounds, are occupied by a Farm School. They stand near the middle of the island, where the land rises to a height of seventy-five feet. It is this group of buildiugB that is seen from the Main Channel, showing between the Spectacles. Nearly all the reet of the island is low land, and it is surrounded by flats and shoals. On its southern side it is nearly joined to the main land by a long, narrow sand-spit of curious shape, which extends oif in a s. by E. i E. direction for five hundred yards, its southern end being within seventy-five yards of the ~ninsula 1>f Sque.ntum. The School on Thompson's Isl.and bears :&om Mlles. Boston Bta.te-llOU116, SE. i B••• ·-·· •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••• •••••••••• ·-·· •••••• ne&rly 3 l Dorcheiiier Point, BB. by 8. t 8••••••••• ············-· •••••••• ···-·· ··-· •••••••• -··- ••• •••• •••• 1-lt Fort Independence, B. t W....... .••.•• .•..•• .•••..•••••••••• .••• •••••••••••. .•.••• •..• •... •..• l i Bpeata.cle laland, (Summit of nortAarn l&la:lld,) W BW. •••••• •••••• •••• •••••••• •••••• •••• •••• •••• 1 When fairly past the Spectacles the channel turns to the northwestward and pas30ll between G..vernor's Island on the north and Castle Island on the south. Castle Island, easily recognized by Fort IndepencleJ1oe, which is built upon it, is a small, low island, Castle Island. lying about half a mile to the eastward of Dorchester Point and about a mile NW. of the Specto.clea. The fort, which occupies the whole of the island, is a regular work, bnilt of granite, e.nd surmounted by sod travel\"RAB. There is a passage between Castle Island. and DQrchester Point, but it is not aafe for straugen. The shores of the island are protected from the action of the sea hy a strong sea-wall. The centre of Fort Independence bears from Miles.~ Fort Wlnt.brcp, (GoTirnor'a Wand,) S. bl\" W. t w. •• .•.• .• ••• ••• .. •• •• ••• ••••• •• ••• •.•.. . .••• •• i Deer Ialaud Koapit.al, ..,,• by ,.•••••••••••••••••••••••• - •••••••••••••••••••••• - • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 t *\"........................................................Long Is1aDd Light-house, WNW, .... 2t Beeton Bta.\"9-houae, BE. ! l!. • • • • • •• • •• • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 i :atmker Blll ll!onument, SE. by B. •• • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • • . • 3 i Dorcbester Potnt, (extreme southern ead.,) E. by N. -i B. ••• • •• •• ••• • • • •• •• •• • ••• • • • • •••• • •• • •• •• i Governor'a Governor's Island lies on the northern aide of the channel, a little over half a mile from Castle Island. It Island. is of irregular shape, e.Lout half a mile long, a.nd about seventy foot high at its highest point. The hill a.tits western end is e«>vered with earth-works, known as Fort; 'Wbdhrop. The sontheastem part of the island ill much lower, and bas a few small water batteries near the shore. FJat.B extend from it in an E S:B. direction for one mile, and 11:te bare at low water; but an excellent channel, in which there is not leli!6 than three 1\\a.tboma at low water, lea.da between it. and Apple Island.. Fort Winthrop bears from HUes. Apple Iala.Dd, w. by 8. i s............. -- ........•. ······ .....•......••..........•.•... -~---. .. i Bout.bern end or Deer lala.n4, w llW. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . •• • • • • • . • • • • 2 t Loll.c Island. IJ&'Jl'-.homle, ....... i w•..•••••• ······-··· ·-·-·· •••• ···-·· ••••••.• ·····- •••••• •••.• 2 t a~. (northern. llllaa4,) 111 BW.. ••• • •••••• •••••• ••••• •• ••• •• •••• ••• ••• •••• •• •••• ••• ••• ••• • l I :Bodon ~llOUe, IL by 8. t 8••••••••••••••••••• ·•·· ···-········ •••••• •••••••• •••• •••• •••••• !ili BllBker Kill ~ D .......•.•••.•....••••••.•.•••.•....•..•....•••..••••• ~--· •... .•.••• 2J



BOSTON HARBOR. President's Roads, a wide a.nd good anchorage, fonning the :IU44le Ra.rboT Of Boston, is contained Pre.ldent'a between Go.vernor's Island }'lats and Apple Island Flats on the north, Deer Ialand on the ea.st, Long Island Roads. and the Spectacles on the south, and Castle and Governor's islands on the west. It is, within thel!e limits, a mile and three-quarters long and nearly three-qnarters ofa mile wide. To the westward of Governor's and Castle islands lies the Imler Ba.rbor, which includes all that portion which lies a.breast of the town up to Cha.rlestown wharves. Dorchester Point, a large, high, a.nd well-settled peninsula, forms the southeastern extremity of Boston. Dorchester Point. It lies JC. a.nd W., and is nearly a. mile long from the eastern end of South Boston to the water. Hon@efl are thickly clustered over the whole surfuee of the peniDBula, and upon the highest point is a very conspicuous building wiili a cupola. This is the Blind Asylmn, and is one of the marks for coming in by the Hypocrite Cha.nnel. On the southern side of Dorchester Point are the a.pproa.ches to Neponset River, Thompson's Island forming the eastern side of the entrance. On the west, low marsh lands join the peninsula to the mainland at Dorchester. On the north and northwest, Sonth Boston is separated from Boston proper by a narrow but deep channel, called Fort Blll CJ:lallnel, which leads into South Bay. The City of Brnnon is bnil' upon a peninsula which extends from the mainland in a NZ. direction, and City of Boston. is two miles and a half long. This peninsula lies between Fort Point Channel and Charles River, the city being washed on three sides. Immediately opposite to the northeastern extremity of Boston, and on the northern side of the Inner Harbor, lies East l!OBtOD.; built on Noddles Island. This island was originally composed of salt meadow, ercept at its northeast.,rn end, Noddles Island. where the land is higher; but large portions of it have been reclaimed and built upon. The island Hes on the eastern side of the harbor, and is separated from Charlestown by the Mystic River, and from the city of Chelsea by a na.rrow and shallow stream, called Chelaea. River. Bridges connect it with the mainland to the m>rthward. Between Charlestown and East Boston is the confluence of the Charles and Mystic Bivera. The former runs to the east- ward between Cambridge, East cambrldge, and Charlestown on the north, and Boston on the south. Its channel is very intricate and narrow, and ia crossed by several bridges. The Mystic takes its rise at Medford, three miles and a half above its mouth, and flows through a very crooked ch&nnel, bat with a general direction about BE. to the eastern extremity of Charlestown. Here iL is crossed by a bridge, called Ohelaea Bridge, connecting Chw:lestown with Chelsea. .At the bridge the Mystic runs 'about SSW. and joins the Charles at its junction with the Inner Harbor. The United States Navy Yard occupies neal'ly all of the eastern Bhore-line of Charlestown. It is very Charlestown conspicuons on aecoant of its large ship-houses, fuundries, smoke-stacks, and large granite buildings. Navy-Yard. The Inner Harbor is irregnlar in shape, and has extensive flats, but a deep channel. It is about two miles long, and at its widest part, just oft\" South Boston, is a mile in width ; while at its narrowest, between Inner Harbor of Boston and East Boston, it is only a qua.rter of a mile wide. Extensive flata fill the larg<! bight between Boston. Dorchester Point and the eastern extremity of Boston proper, and are called Dorcbellter Plata. Th€l!le flats it is proposed to reclaim and build upon,-extending the wharf-line to the edge of ~ <:hannel ; and when this is done the Inner Harbor will in no place have a greater width than half a mile. DANGERB IN :r.£AIN SHIP CHANNEL, BOSTON HARBOR. I. o.-mg-fr- tu NorlJ&-.:r.-In approaching the Main Ship Channel from the northward, great care should be taken, especially in thick weather, t.o avoid The Graves. These are very dangerous, bare rocks, lying in a N. by E. and S. by W. direction, and unired The Grana. into one ledge at low water-forming a group six hundred ya.Ms long. Four hun- dred and fifty yards NE. i N. from the bare ledges is a small but very dangerous rock, hare at low water, called the Northeast Ledge of The Graves, or simply the Northoost Grave. This rock is marked by a large whistling-buoy, sounded by the motion of the sea. It is placed in ten fathoms of water three hundroo yards NE. of the rock, and serves to mark both the Northeast Grave and the bare led2es of The Graves proper. This buoy can be heard at the distance of four miles. The foliowin~ bearings and distances of these dangerous obstructions will be found useful in avoiding them, or ID going int.o Bost.on Harbor in thick weather, after hearing the sound of the buoy; The Graves proper bear from • • J.fllea. Egg Bock Light-house, B. J &---------------------------------------- 4 t Hot.el on llah&nt Read. S. by E. l &---------------------------------- 3 ! Grover's Cllif,. SE. by E. i E.---•------------------------------------- 4 l Deer Ia1aucl Boepital.* E--------------------------------------------- 4t Long :Island Light-house, E. by N. l 1'--------------------------------- 4t Outer· Brewster, llE. by N. i N·--------------------------------------- 1! Boatoa .Light-house, NB. by Ii------------------------------------------\"':: t The whistling-buoy off the Northeast Gra'Ve bears fron:{ . lilgglf.ook Light-llowle, S. by E. t •·----------------------------------- 4 LBOolu!lJ'llJDJIls~Jahuod uLaig&ht,-hlo'lufEse. i. eE..l.!NIb\"W.y__.l_lb._y_f_l•_i_·. -_f-__-N_-.__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-___-__-__-__-__-__- 247.!!:f Kinot'• ~- Llsht-b.owl •I.AraeM bnlldtnsTlllibl«.

6 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. . Martin's Ledge. Passing The Graves, the next danger met with, if bound for Main Ship Channel, is Martin's Ledge, which lies on the northCBBtc:rn side of the approach, and is marked by a red nun-buoy of the second clnss (No. 2) placed in six fathoms just t;o the eastward of it. The ledge lies E. from the Outer Brewster, distant nearly three-quarters of a mile; has si:A.i:een feet at mean low water and fourteen at low spring tides. The buoy bears S. from the whistling-buoy off the Northeast Grave, a little over a mile and a half; NE.! N. from Boston Ledge, three-quarters of a. mile; and NE. t N. from Point Allerton buoy, two miles distant. When up with :friartin's Ledge another red nun-buoy will be seen on the north- Boston Ledge. western sido of the channel. This is on Boston Ledge, which has fourteen feet at lowest tides, and lies SW. i S. from Martin's Ledge, three-quarters of a mile; SE. by B. t S. from the eastern end of Outer Brewster, two-thirds of a mile; and E. by N. from Boston Light-house, nearly one mile and a quarter distant. The buoy is of the sec,-ond class, marked. No. 4, and is pl.aoed in six fathoms on the southeastern side of the ledge. Thieves' Ledge. Thieves' Ledge, or The Thieve.s, as it is generally called, is not in the way of vessels bound in from the northward unless beating to windward, when they may approach it in standing to the southward. It has nowhere less than four and a half fathoms at lowest tides, and is not buoyed. Its bearings and distances are as follows: from P'oint Allerton, E. by N. l N., two miles and a quarter; from Bosten Light-house, E. by s. t s., two miles and three-eighths; from Harding's Ledge Spindle, NE. by N. ! N., one mile and a quarter; and from Minot's Ledge Harding's Light-house, NW. by N., four miles and three-quarters distant. Harding's Ledge, or The Hardings, is an extensive ledge, composed of a number Ledge. of bare rocks surrounded by shoal water, and lying a mile and a half from the shore and w the eastward of Point Allerton. It is so far t;o the southward that it is not even seen by vessels coming from the northward bound in with a fair wind; but, if st.anding w the southward of Point ~4.llerton, they must beware of it. The sho[l.l ground of this ledge extends over a surface three-eighths of a mile lon3 in a NE. and SW. direction, and a quarter of a mile wide in~ NW. and SE. direction. A wrought-iron beacon, thirty-one and a half feet high, marks the dry part of the ledge. It is surmounted by a day-mark consisting of a cast-iron ring or wheel four feet in diamet.er, set horizon- tally, with twelve wooden pendants, five feet in length, attached to the rim. The whole is painted black. Bearings and distances are as follows : Miles. Point Allerton Dar buoy, NW. by W·----------------------------------- 1 i Boston Light-pouse, NW·--------------------------------------------- 2f 1'4artin's Ledge, N. -------------------------------------------------- 2i Graves whistling-buoy, N. l E·---------------------------------------- 4 t Davis' Ledge ,buoy, SE. ! E------------------------------------------- 4 Minot's Ledge Light-house, SE. t E------------------------------------ 4! A bell-buoy, painted black, and carrying a five hundred pound bell, is anchored in seven and a half fathoms, about three hundred and fifty yards ENE. from the spindle; and from it Eoston Light- house bears NW. t W., distant .two miles and three-eighths. Narrows Light-house and Long Island Light-house in range lead clear of the Hardings, t;o the northeastward of them. After passing Boston Ledge there a.re no dangers met with until nearly abreast hint Allerton of Boston Light-house. Here, if beating in, do not approach the southern shore too Bar. closely, to avoid Point Allerton Bar, a looge with eight feet at mean low water, which makffi o:ff from the bare ledge of Point .Allerton in a N l'Ol. direction. Its northern end is nearly seven hundred yards from the point; and on this end, in three and a half fathoms. is placed a black nun-buoy of the second class (No. 1) as a guide\"to vessels .;:ntering Nantasket Roads. The dry ledge of Point Allerton extends o:ff four hundred yards from the shore, and its northern point is marked by a four-sidoo granite pyramid surmount.ed .by a blook oone. This is called Point Allerton Deacon. It is nearly three hundred yards inside of the black buoy -0n the bar, and bears from it SW. bys.ls. There :is no passage between them except at high water, and then only for light-dmught vessels. On the northern side of the channel, :Boston Light-house should ~ve a berth Ledgea 11ouM of to the northward of at least a quarter or a mile, to avoid. the sh'*8 on. its southern Ligltt-houn side-some of which are bare. A rock· with fifteen feet· at mean low water lies thNe hundred and fifty yards S. by E. from the lidit-home. ·. · /ala.ml. When abreast of Boston Light-house .tliere will be eeen a little .to the northward, flult'11 Bock. about six hundred yards oft; a red spar..buoy. This is ·on Nash's Rock, whicli has thirteen feet at low water and lies nearly in mid-ehannel. It bem-s from Boston Light-house aw. l w., three-eighths or a mile+ ·and from. Narrows Lipt-houae W. by l'I'., one mile distant. The buoy is marked No•. 6, and :is pfaeed in twenty feet water on the $0Uthern side of the

BOSTON HARBOR. 7 va:led,.,.e. There is ~ water on both sides of Nash's Rook; but vessels wishing to Dangers in Main to the northward of it must give the buoy a berth of three or four hundred yards Ship Channel-- t-0 the southward. Bo8ton Har6or. It is intended to remove Nash's Rock, by blasting, to a depth of twenty-one feet at mean low water. When past Nash's Rock, and standing to the westward through Nantasket Roads, a number of buoys will be seen ahead and on both hands. These numerous buoys must not be allowed to confuse the judgment, for only three of them belong to this channel. The black nun-buoy lyiug close in with the Nantasket shore, on the southern side, is on Toddy Rooks which lie six hundred yards N. from the Nantasket Cliffs, and have eleven feet close to the buoy. The nun-buoy painted red and black in horizontal stripes, which appears a little to the northward of the black buoy, and nearly in range with it when first seen, is on Hum!s Ledge, which h~ twelve feet at lowest tides, and lies three hundred yards N. from Toddy Rocks buoy. The buoy JS on the rock, and there is good water all around it; but vessels using the Main Channel do not go near it unless beating to windward. The two last-mentioned buoys are ])oth placed for the use of vessels intending to anchor in Nan- tasket Roads. The red nun-buoy* seen nearly ahead is on the southern end of the Cknturion. The black nun- buoy* ahead, and close to the red one, is on the northern end of the same shoal. Vessels using the Main Ship Channel pass to the northward of the black buoy; those DSing Back or W estcrn ·way pass to the southward of the red buoy. Centurion Centurion Rocks, which have twelve feet at lowest tides, lie three-eighths of a Rocks. mile BE. ! S. from Narrows Light-house, and W. by S. t S. from Boston Light-house, a mile and an eighth distant. They are on the southern side of the Main Channel, where it joiUB the Back Channel in N antasket Roads. On the northern end of the ledge is placed a black buoy* (No. 3) to mark the Main Channel. It is in seventeen feet just clear of the ledge. On the southern end is placed a red buoy* (:N'o. 2) to mark the Back Way. It is placed in fifteen feet close to the rock. Vessels bound up the Main Channel sometimes pass to the southward of th.is buoy, and, rounding it to the westward, steer up for Narrows Light-house, passing to the eastward of George's Island black buoy. The red buoy seen on the northern side of the channel, nearly in range with Nar- False Spit. rows Light-house, is on False Spit, (see page 3,) the southeastern extension of Spit Bar. The granite beacon, bearing a red spindle and cage on top, which appears just to the northward of the buoy, is False Spit Beacon, and is built on that part of the ledge which is dry at low water. The buoy is a little over one hundred yards SE.! s. from the beacon, is a Fpar, marked No. 8, and is placed S. of the ledge, in three and a half fathoms. The black bnoywhich lies nearly due S. ofNarrows Light-house, and a quarter of a George's mile to the westward of the buoy on the northern end of the Centurion, is on George's Island Roch. Island Rocks, which make off in an easterly direction from George's Island for about six hundred yards. Twelye feet at mean low water is found at this distance from the southeastern point of the island. The buoy is a nun* of the third class, marked No. 5, and is placed in three fathoms of water on the eastern end of the ledge. It lies about four hundred yards S. ! W. from Narrows Light-house. A channel with four fathoms exists between this buoy and the Centurion. It is used by sailing-vessels when the wind is scant for the eastern passage. The eastern shore of George's Island is all sh-Oal, and must receive a good berth in passing through the Narrows. [Kelly's Rook, which formerly lay nearly half a mile SE. by E. t E. from Narrows Light-hoUBe, and Tower Rook, two hundred yards SW. l S. from the same light, have been removed by the U. S. Engineers. They have now not less than twenty-three feet at mean low water, exrept on one or two spurs on Kelly's Rock, which .have hut twenty-()ne feet; hut these are being rapidly removed-Oeto- ber, 1875.] Aft.er passing Narrows Light-house there are no dangers in the channel until past Gallup's Island and approaching the northern. end of Lovell's Island, when a red nun-buoy* will be Sevttnty-four Bar. soo:1 lytng off the northeast.em. point of the latter. This buoy is on Seventy-four Bar, which ~es out from that point in a westerly direction for three hundred and fifty yards and is nearly all dry at lo'\\V water. The buoy is placed in seventeen feet on the western end of the shoal, and is marked No. 1O. From this buoy the pier on the northern side o{ the island bears B. t B., distant three hundred and filly yards. . From the no.rthwesrem part of Gallup's Island an ~ive shoal stretches away to the north~ 11. distance of. ~ht hundred ~· Much of this shoal is dry at low llix'tt Mate. w~ater,naunnd-!Ronto:irt.*el northe:ru pomt, neatly opposite atlosotbpeariend~bbuloaCyko, ntoStehveesnotuyt-hfwouerst Th\\r, aorfethp~labcueodya• ~o. 7) 8.n_d a large ston e beacon, ..ure ·bu?Y bis J.'lfDl .dIle·~~a.bd. eshonai bdeiofna.glo~ngb~y die ward beac.ion is makmg o:lf from the dry shoal on which the name of Nil's Mate or Nick'• Mate. It is a.

8 ATLANTIC CO.A.ST PILOT. Dangers in llain very extensive and dangerous shoal. Nix's Mat.e Beacon is a granite monument with Skip Channel-- square base, surmounted by an octagonal pyramid. It is painted black, and stands on B08tonHarbor. the dry shoal a little over one hundred and fifty yards S. from its northern end. Deer Island Point Beacon in range with Apple Island leads clear of this shoal. (See range:i for Main Ship Channel.) The following bearings and distances may be useful: From Nix's Mat.e Beacon MUes. Long Ialand Light-house bears W. ---------------------------&little over ! Pier on northern end of Lovell's Island bears E-------------------------- ! Narrows Light-house (just on with the southeastern point of Lovell's Island) bears SE. l E---------------------------------------------------- 1 t Western point of Gallup's Island bears S. ! E·-------------------------- ! Old Quarantine Hospital (on Rainsford's Island) bears SW. by S. ! S.______ l}- Deer Isls.n.d Point Beacon bears NW. by N._____________________________ i Rounding Nix's Mare the Broad Sound Channels are enre1·ed, and the course leads to the west- ward through President's Roads. The channel is clear to the Lower Middle-a distance of nearly two miles; but from Nix's 1\\fat.e Beacon a shoal bar makes to the northwestward about an eighth of a mile, and on the end of this is piaced a black spar-buoy (No. 9} in three fathoms of water. This spit is known as the Norlhwe.st Spit of Nds Mate. The southern end of Deer Island must not be approached too closely, for a long point, dry at low water, makes off from it in a S. by W. direction for a qnarter of a mile. On the end of this point is Deerl~/and built a four-sided granite pyramid, painted red. The shoal is known as Deer Island Pofnt, and the beacon as Deer Island Point Beacon. It is a guide to vessels coming Point. in by the Broad Sound Channels, and is also one of the Main Ship Channel ranges. (See ranges for clearing Nix's Mare, page 11.) From Deer Island Point Beacon Nix's Mare Monument· bears BE. by B., two-thirds of a mile; tLong Island Light-house SSW., a little over half a mile; the North Spectacle Island W. by S. S., a mile and a half; Fort Independence W. f N., two miles and a half; and .Apple Island NW., two miles dist.ant. Long Island Head is tolerably bold-to, and may be safely approached within two hundred and fifty yards. Passing through President's Roads on the W. i N. course, there will be seen on Lower lliddle. the northern side of the channel a large red nun-buoy, (in winter a spar with two prongs.) This lies on the Lower Middle, a very extensive shoal, lying E SE. and WNW., and a mile in length. Portions of it are bare at mean low water. The buoy is placed in seventeen feet on the eastern end of the bar, a 1ittle over half a mile N. from the North Spectacle, and is marked No. 6. It marks the dividing point of the channel~ which here separates,--one narrow but ~ channel, called the North Cluannel, passing along the northern side of the Lower Middle, between it and Governor's Island Point; and the other, called the _._,,.. BM_p Cli.annel, passing along the southern side of the Lower Middle, between it and Castle Island. The latter only should be used by strangers. The red nun-buoy on the Lower Middle bears from Miles. ItDeer Island Point Bea.con, W. j •·------------------------------------ Long Island Light-house, :NW. by W. f W·----------------------------- 1 ! C114t/e Roen. Passing the red buoy on the southeastern end of the Lower Middle, a black nun- buoy,*in range with Castle Island, is seen ahead. This is on Castle Rocks, which make off from the southeastern side of Castle Island in an easterly direction for nearly six hundred yards. The l~ is very shoal, three feet at low water heini!: found on~ hundred yards inside of !he buoy. There IS no passage to the westward of the buoy, the 'Bats extending elear to Dorchester Pomt. The buoy is marked No. 7, and is placed in eighteen feet at. low water. In beating, while to the northWard of it, do not approach Castle Island nearer than three hundred and fifty yards, or go inside ' of the buoy bearing SE. by s. t s. Near the northem end of the island is a wharf ext.ending out in a NE. direction, the end of which is in &ixteen feet at lo'W\" \"'9ter, and will serve as a. gtride to vessels beating through. They should keep out.side of the line from this wharf to the buoy. If using the lead, vessels must not stand to the westward after ~ th:ree and a quarter fathoms. On the northern side of the~' nearly opposite to Castle Rocks buoy, will 1:;two8~ Ledge. be seen a red nun-buoy.* This is on State Ledge, an o.bstruction formed ama.U . rocks lying on the southem side i>f the Lower Middle, half a mile W. 1'. from the eoutheastent buoy. One of theae rocks has only three filetat low.water, and is call Palmgm Book. The buoy is placed in sevenU!en feet U> the southward of. the .l«lge, and is marked No. 8. {The southern edge of this la:lge has been renioved t.o a depth of fourteen feet at mean lo-w wat.e.r.)

BOSTON HARBOR. 9 ·when paBt the red nun-buoy on State Ledge there will be seen ahead, also on Northwest End the northern side of the channel, another red nun-buoy.* This is on the northwest of_ the Lower end of the Lower Middle. Middle. The Lower Middle, as before stated, is a mile in length in an E SE. and W NW. direction and the North Channel unit.e! with tchlaess.,MmaainrkS~hiNp oC.h1a0n)niesl at its innor~tvhewnetsete.enmfeeentd~.ateAr,t this poin't the buoy (which is a nun of the third plaeed and bears from Castle Rocks buoy N., one-third of a mile; and from Governors Island Pomt B., the same distance. When abreast of this buoy another red nun-buoy* is visible. This buoy is on Governor's Island Point, (aa the shoal which extends off from the southeast- Governor's ern end of Governor's Island is called.) Its direction is SW. by S. ts., its length a Island Point. quarter of a mile, and it is dry at low water for half its length. The buoy is of the third class, marked No 12, and is placed in fourteen feet off the southwestern end of the shoal,_ and at the northern point of the junction of the North with the Main Ship Channel. Vessels usmg the North Channel will find the best water midway between this buoy and the buoy on the northwestern end of the Lower Middle. The North Channel, as before stated, runs along the northern side of the Lo~er Middle, whi~h forms its southern boundary. The northern boundary is formed by very extensive dry flats,_ qmte bold-to, and known as Governor's Island Flats. They extend off from the eastern shore of Governor's Island in an ESE. direction for one mile. Their eastern point GoWJrnor's is the southern point of entrance to Governor's Isl.and a-n.nei, which is at present Island Flat11. the deepest channel into :Boston, hut fit only for steamers. On the northern side of . this eastern point is placed a black spar-buoy (No. 1) in three and a half fathoms of water. This buoy is not, however, in the North Channel, but marks the southern side of the entrance to Govenmr's Island Channel. It should not be approached by vessels bound through the North Channel, as the flats extend a quarter of a mile to the southward of it. (See also Governor's Island Channel, page wJen abreast of the red buoy on Governor's Island Point, a black nun-buoy* will Upper lfiddlo. tbe seen bearing NW. W., and one-third of a mile off. This is on the western side of the Channel, and marks a \"four feet spot\" on what is known as the Upper Middle. The buoy is a nun of the first class, and is marked No. 9. The Upper Middle is not, strictly speaking, a middle-ground, but a bar. In fact, from Castle Island to a point one-third of a mile above Upper Middle buoy the shoal water extends farther and farther from shore, encroaching upon the channel, and forming part of what iS known as &tdh Bosi,on or Darehester Flat8. The Upper Middle is part of this. The bar extends nearly all the way across, and nineteen feet at mean low water is the \"best water that can be carried over it, except in a very · narrow cut made by the U. S. Engineers in the course of their improvcment.<i, in which there is twenty-t~ feet at mean low water. The U.S. Engineers are at present engaged in dredging a channel across it two hnndred yards wide and twenty-three feet deep, which will probably be finished before the publimtion of this work. When oompleted, an unobstructed passage, with three and three- quarters fathoms at lowest tides, will exist from Point Allerton to the anchorag€ off Boston. When abreast of the black buoy on the Upper Middle, there will be seen on the northern side of the channel, and to the westward of Governor's Island, a black spar- Gorernor'11 buoy, (No. 7.) This bnoy is placed on the western end of Governor's Island Shoal, Island Shoal making oft' from the western point of Governor's Island, and \\h~rly belongs to Govemo~s Island Channel, marking its point ofjunction with the · Ship Channel. A little over one hundred yards to the northwestward of the black buoy on Bird Island Governor's Island Shoal will be seen a red buoy, and about the same distance still Flats. farther to the northwestward a spindle. These are on Bird Island Flats. Bird Island is an island only at low water. It is covered at half-tide, and the spindle marks its southeast.em point. This point is -One-third of a mile NW. by W. from the w€Stern end of Governor's Island, and Detween them pa.sees the deep channel commonly known as Governor's Island Channel. T~e spindle is iron, has a ooge on top, and is painted red. The buoy is a spar, (No. 14,) and is placed m fourteen feet on the southern point of Bird Island Flats. It is seventy-five yards s. ! B. from the spindle, and vessels ufilng the Main Ship Channel pass to the southwestward of it. This buoy should receive a good berth from vessels Wling the Governor's Island Channel, unle!\"S of lighter draught than sixteen feet; as there is a. spot with sixteen and a half feet at mean low water one hundred yards to the southward of it. thOe nUtphe~souMthidwdelset,e{rfnrosimdewohficthhei chaunel, and nearly a mile above the black buoy Slato Ledge. t beaTe NW. w.,) will be seen a black on by w. t n~l~lill-byuomJi:,dw· (aNyob. eUtw.)eenTDhoisroisheosnteSr lPaoteinLteadngde,thwehiFcohrltieHs iolln the northe rn edge of South BOBtt:m, Flak, Channel. It is two-thirds of a mile from fLwoewrdg~leig.shi1iBht-d-odttyraueag,tht.a~aldo:iws p~laatosideedths-.eOn~tThheen~reo.ritshen~aostpearsns1aeJgfnJeIdJitqnoasfiodther eoDlfoe-dirtgcleerexisctn,eerspetFva/e;atni;htsei,egwnhhfweiceahtreoarfr,eawndadrteytrh.ienn C. P.-2 . .. . Slate only most

10 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. places at low spring tides, occupy the whole area in-shore of the Upper Middle-extending from Castle Island to the entrance t.o Fort Hill Channel. Shoal Spot N. of This small shoal is half a mile ESE. from the end of Long Wharf, and bears Slate Ledge from the State-house E. by S., and from Slate Ledge buoy N. l W. It is three-eightl1s Buoy. of a mile from the latter, and is not marked in any way. It is, however, the intention of the Harbor Commis.sioners to dredge this portion of the chanmil to a depth of twenty-three feet at mean low water-in doing which they will remove this shoal as well as Slate Ledge. South B08Wn Flats are to be fille,d up nearly to the e,dge of the channel, witli the exception tif a narrow channel leading along the northern side of the peninsula of South Boston. Shoal Spot• at Nearly in mid-channel, and about tWo hundred and fifty yards from the north- the junct'n of eastern point of Boston, is a shoal spot with fifteen feet at mean low water. Two Char/ea and hundred yards S. of this spot is another with seventeen feet at low tide. The former My•ticRirer•. bears NE.-! E. from Boston State-house; the latter, NE. by E. i E. Vessels passing up to the Navy Yard, or into Charles River, may avoid these shoals b;r keeping cl~ to the line of wharves on e!ther side, accor~ing as they are bound to Charles- town or mto Chari~ River. There are no dangers m the Charles River to the eastward of Charlestown Bridge; but beyond the bridge it will be necessary to take a pilot. In the Mystic River, below Chelsea Bridge, there is a very kmg shoal, forming a kind of middle- ground. It makes off from the southern side of the draw in the bridge in a S. by W. direction, and extends to the mouth of the river-a distance of three-quarters of a mile. A deep channel runs on it.s western side, along the Navy Yard piers, into a kind of pocket at the northern end of the yard; and there is also good water on it.s eastern side, along the line of the East Boston wharves. Fourteen feet at mean low water is the least that run be found on this shoal. There is no buoy on its southern end, but the bearings are as follows: Bunker Hill Monument NW. by W., and Boston State-ho1lsc SW.! W. It is about three hundred yards from either shore. Vessels bound to Chelsea keep close along the line of the East Boston wharves and hold the eastern side of the river aboard until up with the town. (See Sailing DirectioDB, page 11.) Above Chelsea Bridge the Mystic is a mass of flats with a narrow and crooke,d channel winding among them. It is crossed by three bridges between Charlestown and Medford, and it is impossible to give any sailing directioDB which would be intelligible. Vessels bound through the bridges must take a pilot. SAILING DIRECTIONS. I. Coming fr- 'the NorthUJard 't• ea'ter 'the .Main Channel.-The custom heretofore has been, when ooming from the northward, to pass to the southward of the Thieves Ledge. But there is no reason why the entrance should not be made to the northward of that ledge, which has five fathoms on it, and is only dangerous in rough weather. On the other hand, Harding's Ledge, which lies on the southern side of the usual entrance, is bare in some plaoos at low water. At night it is especially recommended to pass on the northern side of The Thieves. To enter by this passage the course from Cape Ann is SW, t W., (heading for Point Allerton.) On this oourse, when Boston Light-house bears W. i N., a mile and a quarter distant, in ten and a half fathoms water, steer W. t S. until it bears N. i W. and is a little abaft the beam. On this course there will be not less than five fathoms and a half. Now, if intending to anchor in Nantasket Roads, steer W. ! S., carrying not less than four fathoms, which will lead up with t.he re,d nun-buoy on the southern end of Centurion Rocks. When past this buoy, if the weather be fine, haul over towards Windmill Point, and anchor at pleasure in from three to eight fathoms,gravel and sand. But, wishing to make the usual anchorage in the Roads, when up with the red nun-buoy on the southern end of C~turion Rocks, (a.s before,) steer WSW., carrying not less than six fathoms, until Long Island Li:;ht-house opens well clear of the southwest.em point of George's Island and the depth is eight fathoms. Vessels should now haul np for the light, and anch<>x when Boston Light-house is well shut in behind George's Island, in from three to four fathoms, fine gray sand. V e19Sels of twent:y. foot draught or over must anchor farther to the southward than the above range. If bound into the Har00r: When Boston Light-house bears If~ l w .• {as before,) steer W. for the southern end of George's Island until Narrows Light-house hears l!rW. f llf., in range with Spit Beacon. This course carries not l~ than four fathoms, and leads up with the black nun-buoy on the northwestern end of the Qlpturion. Thence the-OOU1'8El is JrW;-§ W:. for Nix's Mate Beaoon,mrrying not less than four and a half fathoms, passing between Narrows Light-house and Fort Warl'eb, and when the eastern end of Gallup's Island is nearly abeam,{bearing SW. t W .,) steer WW. by llf. fer tile

BOSTON HARBOR. 11 southern end of Deer Island, having N antasket Hill exactly abiern, and carrying not Sailing Direc- le&<i than four and a half fathoms. When Ni:x's Mat.e Beacon bears W. i N., a quar- tions --Main ter of a mile off, steer NW. for Deer Island Point Beacon, which will be in range with Channel. the extreme southwestern point of Apple Island. This course continued, keeping the range, will carry not less than four and a half fathoms, and will pass close to the buoy on the north- eastern end of Nix's Mate, leaving it to the westward. Continue the course until Long Island Light- - house bears WSW., with six fathoms water, when steer W. ! N. into President's Roads, carrying nothing less than four fathoms. Here anchor anywhere clear of the sailing-lines; but the best anchor- age is to the southward of the line from Ni:x's Mate to Castle Island, in from six to eight fathoms, good holding-ground. But, if bound to Boston, continue the W. ! N. course, passing three-eighths of a mile to the northward of the Spectacles, until the House of Correction on the northern end of Deer Island bears NE. by E. l E., arid the highest part of the northern Spectacle SE. by S. ! S.; when the depth will tbe four and a half fathoms, and the COUI\"Se NW. N., (passing to the westward of State Ledge buoy and to the eastward of Castle Rocks buoy,) and carrying four and a half fathoms, until up with the black nun-buoy (No. 9) on Upper Middle. Now alter the course suftk.-i.ently to the northward to give this buoy a berth to the southwestward of seventy-five yards, and when abreast of it st.eer NW. £ N., having the westernmost pier-head in East Boston nearly ahead and the large brick buildings in the Navy Yard directly ahead, with Bunker Hill :Monument just open to the westward of them. On this course tht>.re is not leEB than nineteen feet. This range, (of Bunker Hill Monument just open to the westward of the brick btiildings in the Navy Yard,) if kept, will make the course good in spite of the tidal current; and when Boston St.a~house bears :NW. by W. ! W., NW. by W. should be steered, c:trrying four and a half fathoms, until it bears W. by N. ! N. Here vessels may anchor in four and a half fathoms off the southern part of the city, or run into the edge of the flats if of light draught, and anchor according to drallght. If flownd into ll!Euwtic BtN'n' and up to CheUea Wlaa........,: When the State-house bears W. by tN. ! N., (as before,) steer N. for about one-third of a mile, and then N. by W. W., keeping close to the East Boston wharves while passing them, and holding the e-astern bank of the river aboard until up with the town. On the course pa.st the East Boston wharves there is not less than nineteen feet at mean low water. Lf1-unil fo the Na1'tl :r-.i: Steer directly for the two large buildings on Navy Yard Point. Run close to the point, and haul up about NE. by N. along the shore, ~choring at pleasure. On this course there is not less than four and a quarter fathoms. If bound into cr-rie. .IU\"er: When Boston State-house. bears W. by N. -f N., steer N. by W. ! W., only keeping pretty close t.o the Boston wharves, and rounding the northeastern point of the peninsula int.o Charles River. On this course there is not less than twenty-one feet. If bound to Cambridge vessels must take a pilot. The above courses pass a mile and a half t.o the southeastward of the whistling-buoy on the Northeast Graves; nearly half a mile to the eastward of Martin's Ledge; three-quarters of a mile to the north- ward of Thieves Ledge; a third of a ·mile to the eastward of Boston Ledge; a third of a mile to the southward of Shag Rock; nearly half a mile to the northward of Point Allerton Bar; one hundred and twenty yards t.o the southward of Nash's Rock buoy; fifty yards to the northward of the black nun-buoy on the northwest.em end of Centurfon Rocks; two hundred yards t.o the eastward of George's Is~d Rocks; two hundred yards t.o the westward of Seventy-four Bar; fifty yards to the eastward of N1x•s Mate buoy; a quarter of a mile to the southward of the red nun-buoy on the eastern end of Lower Middle; .three hundred yards to the wstwa.rd of Castle Rocks; two hundred yards to the southwestward of State Ledge.; seventy-five yards to the southward of the red nun-buoy on the north- 'Waltern end of Lower Middle; one hundred yards to the southward of the red nun-buoy on Governor's IslarulPoint; from fifty to seventy•five yards to the eastward of the Upper Middle; nearly a qua;-ter of a mile to the northward. of Slate Ledge; and about a hundred and fifty yards to the southward of the Fourteen Feet Shoal. II. ~ .,,,.__ \"'- .,,,....., ae ~-If from sea., and the land off Point Allerton is ~ in with, bring Boston Light-house t.o bear W l!IW., three miles dist.ant, and Minot's Ledge Light-house SB. by 8., four miles; when the depth will be ten and a half fathoms, and the coUll3e W.

12 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Sailing Direc- by N. f N., carrying not less than five and a half fathoms. On this course Long tion•--•ain Island Head and Light-house will be a little open t,o the northward. Continue it Channel. until Bosron Light-house bears N. t W., with five and a half fathoms water, when, if bound roan anchorage in Nantasket Roads, steer W. t S., carrying four fathoms, until up with the red nun-buoy on the south~tern end of Centurion Rocks, when haul over towards the Nantasket shore. Or, steer WSW. from the Centurion buoy, carrying not less than six fathoms, until Long Island Light-house opens to the westward of George's Island, when the light may be steered for (about NW. l W.) until Boston Light-house iB shut in behind George's Island, and ~nchorage found in from three and a half to four and three-quarter fathoms. Jf ,,__, up .,,_ Hanor: When Bosron Light-house bears N. l W., (as before,) the course will be W., following the directions previously given for the Main Ship Channel. The above courses pass a quarter of a mile to the southward of Thieves Ledge, and three-quarters of a mile to the northward of Haxding's Ledge. DESCRll'T.ION OF APP:ROACHFS TO BOSTON ENTRANCE AS SEEN FROM THE SOUTHWARD. A marlni!r coming from the vicinity of Cape Cod, and bound to Boston, will notice, as a most conspicuous object on approaching the shore, a tall gray light-tower, apparently standing in the water at some distance from the Minot's Ledge land. This is Minot's Ledge Light-hoUBe, built on the outermost of the Oobaaaet Rocks, on what is called Light-house. the outer ll!lillot, a ledge bare at low water. The tower is of granite, with a bronze lantern on top. It is one hundred feet high, and shows a fixed white light, of the second oroer of Fresnel, from a height of ninety-two f...,t above the •ea, visible sixteen miles. The geographical position of this light-house is Latitude••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••oo 161 09'' N. Longitude •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• voo4111 M\" w. Its benringa and diataDces are as follows: From Miles. C&pe Ann, (Tha.tcher Jal.and,) SW. by S. t 8•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••. 23! Jll'&llant Be&d, BB. by s. ! s ..••.•..••••••••••••••••.•.••••.•••••.••.•.••••••••••••..•••••nearly lOi Wblstllng·buo:v on Jll'ortllea.St Gra.ves, BE. by s. ! s.. •• •• • •• •• • • ••• ••• •• •• • • •• • •• • •• • •. . •• • ••• •. •• 7 t Outer Brewater, SE. t S... •• ••• •• •• •• ••• ••• ••• • • • ••• • . • •• •• •• • •• •• • •• •• •• •• •• • . ••• • •• ••• • •• •• •• 61 Boston I.1cht·houae, S:E. i- E... • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • •• • • • • • • •• • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 t Point All11rto21, SE. by E .••••••••••••••••••• .'.. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • 6 Th111V911 Ledge, ·sE. ! S••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~. •••••••••••• •••••• •••• •• 41 Bell-buoy pn Bard1Jlg's I.edge, SE. t E.... ••• •• • • •• • • • . • •• • •• •• •• •• •• • • • •• • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• •• • • 4 t Strawberry Point, (ea.stern Bide of Cohaaaet btr&l1ce,) llE. by N. l Jll'..... •• • • •• •• ••• • • . • • ••• • •• •• 1 Sc:ttua.te Llght-tower, JI'. by W. t W. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 i- GUl'l1et Lichte, (entra.ncew Plymouth,) NBW.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 18 lta.ce Point Light-hoUJJe, (C&pe Cod,) HW. t W....... • •• • •• • • •• • • • •• . •• • • •• • • • • • • •• • . •• • •• • • •• • •• 26 t Ea.stern e:ictremity o1' Ca.pe Cocl, (abt>V. BJgbland I.1ght-llouae,) llTW. by w....... ···--· ............ 30 Cohll88et Rocks. From Minot's Ledg1l to the shore lie the Cohuaet Rocks, a ~ nwnber of BUnken and bare ledges, through and among whieh winds what is caJled the Clall.gWay P&11111&e. Strangera must never attempt to pass in-shore of the light·houee. Many of the ledges are not buoyed, and among those that are llO marked a stranger would certainly get confwied and run ashore. Strawberry Point, the most ea8terly point of Boston. Bay, lies one mile sw. by s. from Minot's Ledge Strawberry Light-house, and marks the 110uthem limits of the bay, 18 Nahant Head forms its northern end. It will Point. appear, on approaehing Minot's Ledge, u a low, grassy point, with groups of ho1111e11 here and there upon its surfa.ce, and among them a large hotel. Partly wooded hills will be seen behind the point and to the oneastward of it. The de<!p cove which opens on the western aide of the point, paesing to the westward of the light-house, ia OOll&uel Ba.rbOr. The southern ehoreti of tbia harbor are low, but there is high land back of them, which, showing over the low land, gives the appearance of a hill7 country. The western ahoree &l'e hilly aad partly wooded, and the town of Gollaneli is situated at the toot of theee bills. P88t!ing to the westward, the country will be found quite hilly and wooded. Sand hillocks are aleo eeen here and th- near the beaches. The ahore-line is mueh cnt up by coves a.nd indentatiOW!, and l!lllall lslets lie at intervals a.long the shore. Half a mile to the oortheaatwaro .of CohuMt Entrance is a strip of eaod-beseh about three huudl\"tld a.nd twent.r·five yvds fong, which ~ies what wae funnerly the entrance to a large cove of il'regul&- ;ihspe, i»w kaown ss 014 Harbor. The beaeh having formed acroas the entrimce makes of the former cove a pond. A little over a mile and a quarter W JJW. from Cohasset Entrance ie an oblong hill fifty feet high, bare of trees, and covered with grass, called G%eeD Bill. Two bare rocky ialeta, call...t the B1aolt BOsB, lie JIE. by'B. tram thi@ hill from a qua.rter to half a mile off. There is m> p.-ge between them and. the hill. A life.boat st&tion, eata.bli.sbed under the s.tHtpiee& of the J,(_. ehueetla Humane Society, lie& EB. from Green Bill, distant half a mile. 1''rom Green Bill, to the westwri, a low shore .is pa8llf'd. bounded by a narrow strip of 118lld:beach, behind which extend large salt-meadows. The higher a.nd wooded lands lie still farther liaek, in 110 plaee ~biog the 1-ch nearer tha.n three- eigbtbs of a mf!e. Thia low llhOH eztends flam the ba&e of GJ'l!ell Hill, a lltel~ OT« b&lf a mile in a lllW. bj W. iil.....m.-, to ~e foot of a group of bare hills, called tbe Bog1Clpnd :SW., eeparating the low Janda ~ean them and Green Hill .frota 4he

BOSTON HARBOR. 13 great lfautaaket llGaoh, which begins at the foot of their western slopes, and ext<>nds in an unbroken line two miles and three- qua.rters lf lfW. to the base of Point Allerton. Rockland Hiiis. The Rockland Hills are from eighty to ninety feet high and bare of tree&. Two large summer hotels, th\" Atlantic and the Roclda.nd houses, are buUt upon their summits, and serve to distinguish them. When abreast of tl1ese hills, the beacon on BardJilg's Ledge will be plainly dieeernible to the northward and abont \" mile off. It is an iron spindle, painted black, and carrying a day-mark consisting of a ring or wheel four feet in diameter, set hori- zontally, with twelve wooden pendants attached to the rim. The bell-buoy will appear a little to the eastward of the spindle. Na.ntasket Beach, as before mentioned, extends in a lf NW. direction to Point Allert-0n. It separates a large shallow bay, called lJingha.m Bay, from the ocean, and is at no point more than half a mile wide. Nantaaket Beach. Several grassy hills rise at intervals just back of the beach, the most prominoot of which a.re Sagamore Head, White Head, and Strawberry Hill. Saga.more Bead is grliB!ly, eighty fAet high, and has one or two houses upon it. Four hundred yards to the northward of ii rises White Bea.ti, a bartl hillock only forty-five feet high. Three hundred yards lf. of Whit<> Head there is a hut of refuge, eetabliebed by the Massaclmsetts Humane Society. Nearly a mile farther to the northward rises a smooth, green hill, bare or trees, and showing a single house upon its summit. This is SU'awberry Hill, and is one hundred feet high. At its base is another life-boat station, est&blisbecl by the same society. The high bare clitf seen to the northward of Strawberry Hill is Point Allerton, the southern point of Point Allerton. entrance to the Ma.in Ship Channel. The land, rising abruptly from tbe water to a peak, then descending to a small, low valley, and then rising age.in to a height of one hundred and fifteen l'eet.• forms a head of very peculiar appear- ance. The southern pa.rt of the point is a round hill, ha.re of everything except gr&M, and with perpendicular faces. There is a life-boat station in the valley between the northern point and the high cliff to the southward, and a hut of refuge on the beach, three hundred and twenty-five yards from the base of the hilL A road leads from this hut to RUll and J!l'&ntasket. The ilea· face of Point Allerton is protectml by a sea-wall of granite. On paasing Harding's Ledge beacon; Brniton Light-house will be soon directly a.head and on with the southern end of a remarkable looking island, which looks like Point Allerton, except that the high, round hill is at its n<>rthern end, and the sharp peak, lilte the pommel of a saddle, at its southern end. But thto perpendicular clit!B and the grassy surface a.re exactly similar to those on P<>int Allerton. This is the Orea.t Brewster. (See page 2.) So exactly similar has been the action of the sea on this island and Point Allerton that they appear as if they had formerly been j<>ined together and afterwards separatOO. by some great convulsion of nature. To the eastward of the Great Brewster will appeo.r two bare rocky islands, lying nearly E. and W'. of each other. These are the lllnddle and outer Brewatera. They are merely masees of black rock from fifty to sixty r...,t high, lying on the northern Bide of the Ma.in Entrance. The city of Boston, with the d-0me or the State-holl80 rising above the rest or the houses, will be seen in the distance to the westward of the light-house. The two bare islands just to the left are Lovell's Island and GallUJ>'• Island; and Fon W'Bn'ell. is plainly visible just to the northward or Point Allerton. The description of the ICa1n Ship Cllaml.el, after passing Point Allerton, is given on pages 2-5. DANGERS IN HAIN SHIP CHAN1'\"EL. II. CV-lng ~ the S..Uh-•rd fro- the 'l>kluitw of Cape Ood.-In the approooh to the Main Entrance from the southward the first danger met with is, as above mentioned, Minot's Ledge. There are two rocks on this shoo.I, known, respectively, as the Outer and •inaf'• Ledge. Inner Minot. On the Out.er Minot, upon which is built the light-house, there is no water at low tide; but on the Inner Minot there is six feet at mean low water. The Outer Minot bears from Strawberry Point NE. by N. t N., one mile, and from Scituate Light-tower N. by W. f w .• four miles and three-eighths distant. From the Outer Minot, Point Allerton bears NW. by W., six miles; Narrows Light-house NW. by W. Nearly, eight miles; Boston Light-house NW. t W., six miles and three-quarters; and the eastern end of Outer Brewster NW. i N., six miles and three-quarters distant. Davis' Ledge, the northernmost of the Stellwagen Ledges, (which lie in a N. and ·Davia' Ledge. 8. line along the shore between Strawberry Point and Scituate,) has fourteen feet at mean low water. It is three-eighths of a mile E. by 8. i- S. from Minot's Ledge Light-house, and is marked by a black nun-buoy of the sooond cJass, (No. 1,) placed in five fathoms on the eastern side of the shoal. V e;isels must not attempt to pass between this buoy and the light-house. After passing the Minots there are no dangers in the approoohe;i from the southward until up with the Ha.rdings. Vessels may stand to within· three-quarters of a mile of the shore with safety from Minot's Led~ until up with the 11.ardingB. There is an excellent passage between Point Allerton and this l~ with.f~m three t.o six fathoms in it; hut there are several shoal spots of sixteen feet, and on this aooount it l!! not :recommended to vessels of heavy drauizht. · ~s Ledge, or The Hardit1gs, is an ext.ensive ledge fying t.o the eastward of Harding'• Point AllertOn and about a mile and a half from shore. There are many rooks bare . Ltldge. at fow water, and rocks awsah upon it--the shoal ground extending over a surface of ~hths of a. mile square. A wroQ£tht-iron btia.oon, thirty-one and a half feet high, marks the dry part of this ledge. It is Slll'lD.OunW by a day-mark consisting of a cast-iron ring or wheel four

14 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. feet in diameter, set horizontally, with twelve wooden pendants five feet in length attached t.o the rim. The whole structure is paintoo black. Its bearings and distances are as follows: Point Allerton Bar buoy, NW. by W·----------------------------------- Miles. Boston Light-house, NW·--------------------------------------------- 1f 2t Martin's Ledge, N---------------------------------------------------- 2i tWhistling-buoy on The Graves, N. E·--------------------------------- 4 Davis' Ledge buoy, SE.-! E·------------------------------------------ 4f Minot's Ledge Light-house, SE. i E·----------------------------------- 4! A bell-buoy, painted black and rarrying a five hundred pound bell, is anchored in seven and a half fathoms about three hundred and fifty yards E NE. from the spindle; and from it Boston Light- house bears NW. t W., distant two miles and three-eighths. Narrows Light-house and Long Island Light-house in range 1€ad clear of The Hardings, to the northeastward of them. When past The Hardings, Thieves Ledge is left to the northward over half a Thieves Ledge. mile distant. This ledge has nowhere less than. four and a half fathoms at lowest tides, and is not buoyed. It liM E. by N. t N. from Point Allerton, two miles and a quarter; E. by S. t S. from Boston Light-house, two miles and three-eighths; NE. by N. ~ N. from Harding's Ledge Beacon, one mile and an eighth; and NW. -f W. from Minot's Ledge Light-house, four miles and three-quarters distant. The course RI clear aft.er passing The Hardings for the Main Ship Channel En- Point Allerton trance, and there are no dangers until up with Point Allerton, when there will be Bar. seen on the southern side of the channel a large black nun-buoy. This is on Point Allerton Bar, and is in three fathoms and a half at low water. The bar is a ledge with eight feet at mean low water, making olf from the bare ledge of Point Allerton in a N NE. direction. Its northern end is nearly seven hundred yards from the point, and it is upon this end that the buoy is placed. It is of the second class, marked No. 3, and serves as a guide t.o vessels entering N ant.asket Roads. The dry ledge of Point Allerton ex.tends off four hundred yards from the shore, and its northern point is marked by a four-sided granite pyramid surmounred by a black cone, and called Point Allerton Bee.con. It is nearly three hundred yards inside of the buoy on the bar, and bears from it SW. by S. t S. There is no passage between the beacon and the buoy except at high water, and then only for light-draught vessels. ·when past Point Allerton Bar buoy the next danger met with is on the northern Nash's Rock. side of the channel, and is called Nash's Rook. \"\\Vhen abreast of Boston Light-house a red spar-buoy will be seen about six hundred yards off and a little to the northward of the course. This buoy is on the southern side of the rock, in twenty feet of water, and is marked No. 6. Nash's Rock has thirteen feet at low water, and lies nearly in the middle of the channel. It bears from Boston Light-house SW.!- W., three-eighths of a mile, and from Narrows Light-house W. by N., one mile distant. There is good water on both sides of this rook ; but vessels wishing to pass to the northward of it must give the buoy a berth of three or four hundred yards to the scmthward. It is intended to remove Nash's Rock, by blasting, to a depth of twenty-one feet at mean low water. When past Nash's Rock, and standing to the westward through Nantasket Roads, a number of buoys will be seen ahead and on both side,s, which, however, need not confuse the mariner, as only three of them belong to this channel. The black nun-buoy* lying close in with the Nan- Toddy Rocks. t.asket shore, and bearing about SW. ! W., is on Toddy Rocks, a ledge of rocks making off in a northerly direction for six hnnd.red yards from the base of N ant.asket Hill. Near the northern end there is a depth of ten feet at low water, but the ledge is awash at low ti<ks a quarter of a mile from shore. The buoy is of the second class, marked No. 1, and is placed in twenty- two feet water on t~e northern side of the ledge. The!e rooks are only in the way of vessels going into Nantasket Roads for an anchorage, or hound to Hingham, Weymouth, or Quin(,'Y· The nun-buoy,* painted red and black in horizontal stri~, which appears a little Hunt's Ltitlge. to the northward of the buoy on Toddy Boob, is on Hunts I.00.ge, a detached rook with twelve feet at lowest tides, which lies three hundred yards N. of Toddy Rocks buoy. The buoy is placed on the rook, and there is good water between it and Toddy Rocks-the channel being perfectly safe even for strangers. It is much used by vessels going into the Roads for an anchorage or bound into Nantasket Gut. The red nun-buoy* seen a little to the southward of the course is on the southern end of Centurion Rocks; and the black nun-buoy* just to the northward <>fit is on the northern end of the same shoal. Vessels using the Main Ship Channel pass to the northward of the black buoy, and those d~ to anchor in Nant.ask.et Roads, or boand out from the Baek or Western Way, pass to the southward of the red buoy.

BOSTON HARBOR. 15 Centurion Rocks, which have twelve feet at lowest tides, lie three-eighths of a Centurion Roe/rs. mile SE.:! s. from Narrows Light-house, and one mile and an eighth W. bys: ts. from Boston Light-hom;e. They are on the southern side of the Main Channel where it joins the Baek Way into Nantasket Roads. On the northern end of these rocks is placed a black nun-buoy* (No. 5) to mark the Main Ship Channel. It is in seventeen feet just clear of the ledge. On the southern end of the ledge is placed a red nun-buoy* (No. 2) to mark the Back \\Vay. It is in fifteen feet at mean luw water. Vessels bow1d up the .!\\fain Ship Channel sometimes pass to the southward of this buoy, and, rounding it on the western side, steer up for Narrows Light-house, leaving Georbre's faland black buoy to the westward. The black nun-buoy on the northern end of Centurion Rocks bears from the centre of Fort Warren E. by S. t S., two-thirds of a mile; from Narrows Light-house SE. i S., three-eighths of a mile; and from Boston Light-house W. by S. t 8., one and one-eighth miles distant. .For Dangers and Sailing Directions for Main Ship Channel from this point to Boston, see descrip- tion of that channel, pages 7-12. SAILING DIRECTIONS, MAIN SHIP CHANNEL, BOSTON HARBOR. . r r -III. Co-'nu from. the South:wa-rd tlee mclalltl of cape Cod.-When off the Highlands the direct course for Boston Light-house is NW. by W. } W.-keeping to the northward of this course if the wind is NE., and to the westward if it is SW.-m.aking due allowance for tide. On the flood-tide with a leading wind the direct oourse may be made good; but the ebb-tide sets on to l\\Iinot's Ledge. Continue the course NW. by W.} W. for Boston Light-house (which will lead between the Hardings and Thieves Ledge in eight fathoms) until Point Allerton bears SW. by W. ! W., a little more than a mile dist.ant, and Long Island Light-house W. by N. t N., in six fathoms, sand and gravel. Now steer W. by N. ! N., mrrying not less than five fathoms, until Boston Light-hoUBe bears N. !- W.; when a due W. course should be steered for the southern end of George's Island, carrying not less than four fathoms, until up with the black nun-buoy on the northern end of Cen- turion Rocks, and Narrows I.ight-house bears NW. ! N., in range with Spit Beacon. The course is now NW. ! W. for Nix's Mat.e Beacou, following the directions given for the Main Ship Channel, on pages 10-12. The above courses pass one mile to the northward of Minot's Ledge Light-house; three-eighths of a mile to the eastward of the bell-buoy on Harding's Ledge; half a mile to the southward of Thieves Ledge ; one-third of a mile to the northward of Point AJle.rton Bar; two hundred yards to the south- ward of Nash's Rock; and fifty yards to the northward of the black nun-buoy on the northwestern end of Centurion Rocks. If &aunt.I imo Nant:IUlket Boa.d•: When Boston Light-house bears N. i W., in five and a half fathoms, (as before,) steer W. t S., which will lead, with not less than four fathoms, up to the red nun- buoy on the southern end of Centurion Rocks. Pass to the southward of this buoy and steer WSW., carrying not less than six fathoms, and anchor between George's Island and Windmill Point; or, the WSW. course may be continued until Long Island Light-house is opened to the westward of George's Island, when steer about NW. t W. for the light-house, and anchor, when Boston Light-house is shut in behind George's Island, in from three to four fathoms, fine gray sand; or, haul over towards the Nantasket shore as soon as the vessel is past the Centurion buoy, and anchor according to draught. The bottom is mostly gravel and sand, and in easterly weather the open road.stead is not safe, as the sea hBaYes directly in. In sueh cases vessels of heavy draught, anchored in the open Roads, must run up the channel to President's Roads, or enter Nantasket Gut and anchor under Windmill Point. This last can he safely done, as there is from five to six fathoms water and no obstructions. The above courses for Nantasket Roads pass two hundred yards to the southward of Nash's Rock buoy; three hundred yards to the northward of Hunt's Ledge buoy; and close to the red nun-buoy on the southern end of the Centurion,leaving it to the northward. IV. Co#&~ from. the .so.tlH11ard Alonfr 8h.ore: 'Vhen off Sei~te, vessels should he careful not to go to the westward of the light-tower bearing s., keeping in from four to six fathoms wat.er, and thus avoiding the Stellwageu ~- The ~ directions that can be given for this approach are, with Scimate light-tower bearing B•• to steer N., carrying not less than six fathoms water, until Boston Light-

16 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Sailing Direc- house bears NW. by W. l W., with fourteen fath<>ms. Now steer for the light-house, tiona, coming ffil'l'ying not less than four and a half fathoms, until Point Allerton bears SW. by from South- ward. W. ! W., and Long Island Light-house W. by N. f N., with six fatJ1oms water. The course is now W. by N. i N., carrying not leeJ than five and a half fathoms, until Boston Light-house bears N. l W., when steer W. for the southern end of George's Island, fi~llowing the directions given for the Main Ship Channel, on pa,.,<l'CS 10-12. The above courses pass not less than half a mile to the eaatward of Stellwagen Ledges; n~rly three-quarters of a mile to the eastward of Davis' Ledge; and one mile to the northward of Minot's Ledge. V. Ia a _,essel of 1'11M dr<1-ugld 'to ec»ne \"'-II •hore .J'r-. 'the Sotdh'tcartl ca.14 em- Boa- Harbor: Scituate light-tower may be brought to bear S. i B., when a N. i W. course made good will lead clear of Stellwagen Ledges and a quarter of a mile to the eastward of Davis' Ledge. On this course the least water will be six and a half fathoms. The bearing of Scituate light-tower, however, must be carefu11y wat.ched on the flood-tide to prevent being set on to the ledges by the current, as the direction of the current of flood is nearly across the course. When Minot's Ledge Light-house bears W. bys. \"i S., five-eighths of a mile distant, (eleven hundred yards,) and Boston Light-house NW.1 W., with fifteen and three-quarter fathoms, \"stones, gravel, and cLly,\" steer NW. by W., which course made good will lead, with not less than seven fathoms, up to the bell-buoy on the Hardings. Pass about three hundred yards to the eastward of this buoy and continue the course, carrying not less than four fathoms, until past Point Allerton and Boston Light-house bears N. i W. Now steer W., following the directions previously given. The above courses pass first three-eighths of a mile to the eastward, and then four hundred yards to the northward, of Davis' Ledge buoy; about half a mile to the northward of Minot's Ledge Light-. house; three hundred yards to the eastward of the bell-buoy on Harding's Ledge; and four -hundred yards to the northward of Point Allerton Bar buoy. In passing Minot's Ledge mariners must be careful that the course is made good, as this ledge is very dangerous even in the smoothest weather. Neither is this channel recommended except to light- draught vessels and in the day-time, as it is neressa.ry to be able to see the beacon on The Hardings in order to keep on the eastern side of it. Should the flood set a vessel to the westward, and the beacon be not visible, she would be very apt to go ashore on the ledges. It may also be remarked tJiat, with Minot's Ledge Light-house bearing SE., a NW. course will lead clear of The Hardings. A vessel • .,,_,, 'the In-sluwe Ptuulafle, and wishing to enter the anchorage in Nantasket Roads, or hound into Nant.asket Gut, may-when on the NW. by W. course Point .Allerton Bar buoy bears SW. by s., (or is exactly abeam,) with five fathoms water-steer W. t S., passing between Hunt's Ledge and Toddy Rocks, and carrying four and a half fathoms water. Continue this course until Long Island Light-house opens to the westward of George's Island, when steer for the light-house and anchor at discretion. These courses pass nearly four hundred yards to the northward <>f Point Allerton Bar buoy; a hundred and twenty yards to the southward of the red and black nun-buoy on Hunt's Ledge; and tJie same distance to the northward of the black nun-buoy on Toddy Rooks. - '*•mGener~ Be-rk.8 on. l:he Bel: of U&e Tl4lal ~ lth I•UI SIMp ChaAneZ an4 Ap- ~l&ea.-Marincrs, as a gencml thing, do not pay sufficient attention to ranges when entering harbors with a free wind. The velocity of the tidal crrrrent in most <>f the harbors on the ooast of New England demands, however, the closest attention to prevent the ve;isel being mrried aside from the sailing lines. Such is the alSe in entering Bost.on Harbor by the Main Ship Channel. An inspection of the Current-Table on tJie chart will show the direction and velocity <>f the current during the first quarter, at half-tide, and during the last quart.er, of ebb and flood. Knowing these, the mariner may allow for the set of the current by changing his course, or may take a range with any two objects whose bearing from him is the same as his true course, and keeping that range will enable him to make his course good. It is always easy to cat.ch a range ahead when on a course prescribed in the Sailing Directions. ThEiKl courses are laid dO'Wll as if there were no tidal current; and vessels must either allow for the set of the tide in shaping their 001ll\"8eS, or mllSt catch a. range a.head e.nd keep it until they have run their course out. By attention to head-ranges no one need fear being set upon shoo.ls or ledges, if following the sailing lines laid down. •,

BOSTON HARBOR. 17 In the southern part of the Narrows the flood-tide sets on to Goorge's Island Rangn in Main U.ocks; but these rooks are buoyed, which will enable vessels to avoid them. 8/Jip Channel. From Cast1€ Island wharf to President's Roads a good range is a high steeple in the southern part of the city, on with the northern line of Fort Independence. To clear the Lower Middle in the night, keep Long Island Light-house open about a ship's length to the northward of Narrows Light-house. The two lights in range will clear the shoal, but it is rather close work. To pass to the northward of the Lower Middle, the northern end of Lovell's Island should be opened a little with the southern head of the Great Brewster so as to show a gap between them. Small vessels may approach Bird Island Flats quite closely with safety by keeping Long Island Light-house open with the high part of Governor's Island. This answers for day and night; but vessels of heavy draught can follow this range only at high water. Spit Beacon open a little to the northward of the hotel on Long Island will lead clear of Nash's Rock, to the southward of it. The sailing lines, however, give the rock more of a berth than this range. Long Island Light-house shut in a little on Point Allerton, or in the outer saddle, leads clear of The Hardings, to the southward of them. When Long Island Light-house is open a little to the eastward of The Graves, the passage is clear to the eastward of the Northeast Graves. To pass between The Graves and the Roaring Bulls, (to the eastward of Green Island,) and to clear the latter, the range is to bring Boston Light-house a little to the eastw-.u-d of the Middle Brew- ster, between it and the Outer Brewster, and keep this range until Long Island Light-house opens to the northward of Green Island. Being now clear of The Bulls, and to the northwurd of them, haul to the westward to avoid The Graves. Two miles E. from Boston Light-house the tidal current is weak. Between the Tidal Current light-house and Point Allerton the Hood sets up channel; but the ebb, coming from in lllain Ship Nant:asket Gut, sets somewhat across the channel toward the Spit. Care must be taken Channel. accordingly. V es.sels bound up through the Narrows must be mreful, after passing False Spit Beacon, not to be set on to George's Island Shoals on the flood-tide, as the current of flood sets through Black Rock Channel strongly on to George's Island. The ebb sets strongly through the same channel, and vessels coming down from the Narrows, between Lovell's and Gallup's :islands, are in danger of being carried by it on to Whiting's Ledge or into Black Rook Channel. The flood setting between Gallup's and Goorge's islands may, in light winds, mrry a vessel through when going up. But here the channel-way and anchorage are good. In the northern part of the Narrows the :flood during part of its period sets to the southward, but is not strong. The ebb, which is stronger, sets to the northward, and it requires a quick-working vessel to beat down the NarroWB against an ebb-current. Near Nix's Mare the ebb will, in light winds, carry v€Ssels out through the Broad Sound Channels. GENERAL DIRECTIONS Ar F-18 haHtear \"fJ' ....,_.a.. ..a...._.._..,..._. . . ~.-A vessel working up to. Boston Harbor in the day-time may stretcli ·safely anywhere from Minot's Ledge to Nahant Head until up with The Gmves on one side and The Hardings on the other. The northeastern part of The Graves must n-Ot be app:rooched nearer than half a mile; and at The H.a.rdings the bell-buoy should receive a berth of at least one hundred yards to the westward and·southward. Inside of the line from The Graves to The Hardings vessels may stand to the southward to Within ha.If a mile of the shore, and to the northward to within three-quarters of a. mile of the east.em end of Outer Brewster, or the east.em end of Shag Rooks. When up with the latter, do not stand ·farther to the northWard than the range of Bos!Qn Light-hoose and Long Island Light-house. In passing Point Allertoiuiare muSt be taken not ro go inside the bony. In the day-time a etraoger Dlll.y beat up to the a.ncborage inside Boston Light-house, ma.king short t.acks and. keeping two cables' lengths from Light-house Island; but beyond this it :is not safe to go C. P.--3 .

18 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. without a pilot. The description of the dangers in the channel (pages 5-10) includes the shoals sur- rounding the different islands, and will be found the best guide for keeping vessels off the shore; but the ledgeR and shoals in mid-channel (some of which are not buoyed) require the assistance of a pilot to avoid them if the vessel be of large draught. To avoid the Cohasset Rocks and Harding's Ledge vessels should not go inside of Boston Light- house bearing WNW.; and when within two miles of the light-house should not, when standing to the northward, go beyond it bearing SW. .§- W. \"When near Shag Rocks care must be taken not f:9 go to the northward of the range of Boston and Long Island light-houses. For a proper understanding of the above directions, and for other guides to which it is not considered necessary here to refer, an inspection of the chart of Boston Harbor will be found advantageous to a stranger. HYPOCRITE CHANNEL. This is the :first channel to the n()rthward ()f the Main Ship Channel. Its entrance lies between Green Island ()n the north and Little caJf lBla.D.d on the south, and is three-e.igbths of a mile wide; but the channel itself is but three hundred yards wide between the enrvee of eight<!ell feet at low water, and is n()t reoommended for strangers. Vessels entering by this channel pass to the northward of The Brewsters. From Green Island the channel continues to the westward about a mile ands half t-0 what is called Ram's Bead, where it joins the South Channel ()f Broad Sound, and then nearly a mile farther to the westward towards Loq Ialawl Re&d, joining the :Main Ship Channel oft' Nix's Mate. There is not less than three and a half fathoUlB water throughout its entire length, but there are a good many sunken ledges, some of which are not buoyed. A ve\"\"\"l coming from the eMtward and intending to enter this channel sh()uld, when in thirteen and a half fathoms, bring Boston Light-house to bear W. by S. ! S., and Egg Rock Light-house lf NW. The entrance will then bear nearly W., and will appear as follows: On the southern side of the entrance the nearest land will be the Outer Bre'Wllter, which will appear quite differently from its description \"\" given in the approaches to the Main Ship Channel. (See p11ges 1, 13.) It will look much smaller, as this view is end on, and the high, bare clllf on the northern end of the Great :Brewster will show just dear of it to the so,uthward. The low grassy island with its southern end on with the Outer Brewster is Calf Island. It is a.bout Calf Island. thirty feet high at its northern end, appears somewhat undulating in outline, is bare of trees, and bas ouly one or two houses upon it, which are close to the southern end, and are not seen unless the island is open to the northward of the Outer Brewster. This southern end is only ten or fifteen feet high. Calf.Island lies ()ff the western end of lll1d.dle Brewster, from which its southern end is distant a little over three hundred yards, with a shoal passage between them unsafe for strangers. The island lit1s N. and S., and is a little over six hundred yards tlong. From the point of view above mentioned the northern end will bear W. B., distant three miles and au eighth. To the northward of Calf Island and bearing W. will appear a little island about the same height as Little Calflsland. Calf Island and also b&re of trees. This is Little Calf Island, lying on the sonthem side of the entrance to Hypocrite Channel, and about one hundred yards in diameter. From Calf Island it li..s im. by N., an , eighth of a mile distant, (two hundred and twenty-five yards,) and there is no passage between them. To the northward of Little Calf Island (and the most northerly of the islands visible from this point of Green Island. view) will appear a small island of moderate height, having an undulating surface and faced by whitish· looking rooks on its eastern side. This is Green Island. It lies on the northern side of the entrance to this channel, bears about W. t N., and is in range with the high land in,tbe middle of'Deer Iala.nd-the high cliff on the northeastern fnee of the latter appearing just to the northward of Green Island. It is bare of trees, lies nearly lf. antl S., and is an eighth of a mile long. From The Graves it bears W flW., -000 mile and a quarter, and from the eastern end of Outer Brewster NW. t Ji., one mile distant. From the eouthern extremity of Green Island extends a line of bare rooks in a SW. by w. dil'ectlon about three hundred _and fifty yards-its southern end marking the northern side ot the entrance to Hypocrite Ch!lllllel. Just clear of Green Island, to the n()rthward, will appear the public building• ()tl Deer Ialand, and north of these the ()ther large buildings OD Polln Shirley, with the city of :Bofion in the distance behind iL.. N-0rth <>f Point Shirley the high elilfs or Winthrop's Head and Grover's Cliff' will appear. .la the low land between thees heads will not show at tbls dlstance, they will look like i&lands. Winthrop's Head ill a precipitous headland Olli! hundred feet high and bare ()ftreee, situated half a mile Wildllrop'a Head. H JIB. from Point Shirley, and on the western shore of Brood Sou•d. North from it rune a sand-bee.ch an Grner'a CR1t eighth or a mile wide and half a mile long, to the mainland ab-011& a mile to the &011thward of Orover•s Cliff. This headland, the m~ pl\"OOlinent point between Point Allmtoa mid Nahant Head, lies one mile and one- wtfit\\h lf. by 1. from Winthrop'• Head. kia huked entirely. D,. marah; the point itee!f Hi a preeipitou he&dland eighty feet high and bare of trees. Poltlt Shirley. Point Shirley is the southwestern· l!Xtremity of a vey long and narrow peninsula, mostly sand·beach, which extends in .a S. t W. dirooti<>n from the Ultlinland to the aonthwmod of-ObeJsea Beach. The point itself 1brms a sort ot flat head te the peninsnl•, lies JIW'. and U., and ie hall' • mile long and about one-fifth of n mile wide, (tll?'ee hundred and seventy-five yards.) Sc!veml p1iblie buU.U..gs 112\"9 sitlll!.ted QB this point. .Deer Island, which lies to the southeastward ot Point Shirley, extends in a. llf 1fW. and S sz. dinlction, Deer Island. and. iii nearly • mile long and a third of a mile wide- at ita 'Widest ·put. On approa.ching it through H;rpo- . crite Cbamlel it will appear as .a loDf;; geutl;y...J.oping green hiU, 'bli.viag a ftag-statr ou it119ll1Ilmit. The - - of Ocrrrect.ton and Ot.ber po.Wie bu:lldiop _.. Bitul!lted Qll the -rthl!l'll end.of this Island, at the northem bBlle or the .centml bill and behind the nonh-tera ollil:

BOSTON HARBOR. 19 Ou the eastern slopes of the central hill is o. life-boat station, established under the auspices of the Massaehu....tts Hu- mane Society. Both the northern and eouthern ends of Deer Island are low, covered with grass only, and there are no trees 1'Xcept those planted for ornamental purposes_ On the northern side a channel eighty yards wide separat<>s it from Point Shirley_ Thia passage is known as Shirley Gut, and is som<'times used by the steamers plying between Boston and Nahant. The current runs with great velocity, however, and the passege is therefore unfit for strangers. On ehtering Hypocrite Channel the southern point of Deer Island will appear ahead, and the square red pyramidal beacon to the southward of it is Deer Isla.nd Point Beacon. This beacon is on Deer Isla.nd Point, and vessels must pa.es to th.. south- ward of it_ · A little to the southward of Deer Island Point Beacon will be seen in tl1e distance Nortll. Speda.cle lal&nd, showing as a smoothly-outlined hillock with precipitous faces, and next to this the high cliff of Long Island. Bead, with the light-house and keeper's dwelling on the summit. Nearly in range with the hotel on Long Island, and a little to the southward of the Head, NlX's Kate Beacon may be oreen; and the northern end of Lovell's Island will mark the eouthern side of the passage- Thls is the appearance presented by the South Channel when viewed from the entrance to Hypocrite Channel, between Green a.nd Little Calf islands. DANGERS. HYPOCRITE CH.A.NNEL-BOSTON H.A.RBOR. Here, as in the approach t.o the Main Ship Channel from the northward and east- Th& Grana. ward, the first danger met with, after passing Nahant Head, is The Graves. Th€8e are very dangerous bare rocks, lying in a N. by E. and S. by W. direction and six hundred yards long. Four hundred and fifty yards NE- l N. from the hare ledges is a small but very dangerous rock, bare at low water, called the Northeast Ledge of th,e Graves, or simply the Northeast GraL-e. This rock is marked by a large whistling-buoy, sounded by the motion of the sea. It is placed in ten fathoms of water three hundred yards NE. from the rock. It S€rves t.o mark both the Northeast Grave and the ledges of The Graves proper, and may be heard at the distance of four miles. There is from five to nine fathoms of water between the two ledges, but it is unsafe for a stranger to attempt to pMS through. The followin~ bearings and distances of these dangerous obstructions will be found useful in avoiding them, or m going int.o Boston Harbor in thick weather, after hearing the sound of the whistle: The Graves* proper bear from Miles_ Egg Rocle Light-hoUBe, S. i E------------------------------------------- 4t Hotel on Nahant Head, S. by E. ! E------------------------------------- 3! Grover's Cliff, SE. by E. ! E·------------------------------------------- 4! tDeer Island Hospital, E·--------------·------------------------------- __ 4 Long Island Light-house, E. by N. l N·---------------------------------- 4t OUter Brewster, NE. by N. ! N·----------------------------------------- 1 t Boston Light-house, NE. byN·------------------------------------------ 2!- The whistling-buoy off the Northeast Grave bears from Egg Bock Light-house. s. by E. i E._____________________________________ 4 Long .Island Light-house, E. byN. :f N·--------------------------------- 4! Boston Light-house, NE. i N·------------------------------------------ 2! Minot's Ledge Light-house, NW. by N. ! N·------------------------------ 7 i Entrance to Hypocrite Che.nuel, NE. i E·-------------------------------- 2 After passing the whistling-buoy there is no danger in this channel, with a free wind, until between Green and Calf islands. But with a head wind, or if the wind be smnt, when obliged t.o stand to the southward toward The Brewsters, mariners must beware of Martin!s Ledge, Martin'• L&dg&. which lies three-quart.ers of a mile E. l N. from the Outer Brewster, and has sixteen feet at mean low water and fourteen at lowest springs. It is marked by a red nun-buoy of the seoond class (No. 2), placed on its eastern point in six fathoms wat.er. This ledge lies on·the southern side of the approacli to Hypocrite Channel, and the buoy bears from the whistling-buoy o:ll'the Northeast Grave S. t W. a mile and fi.v~ths; from Boston Ledge (in the main approach) NE. i :N., three-quarters of a mile; and from Boston Light-house NE. by E. t E., one mile and three-quarters dist.ant. Between Martin's Ledge and the Out.er Brewst.er lies Tewksbury Rock, which Tewhltui-y Roct. has nine feet at mean low wster and is not buoyed. It is a small detached rock with deep water on all sides, a.nd lies six hundred yards .E. by N. i ::N. from the Out.er B~, and nearly half~ mile W. i ::N. from !Aartin's Ledge buoy. It is in the way only of vessels sUmdinJt t.o the southward m the a~proach to this channel. .After plS8ing The Graves, and standing in towa:rd Little Calf Island, there will Roering Bulla. be ~n on the northern aid~ of the channel a lo~ge, breaking at all times of tide. This is fOJ'IQ.ed .by a. number .i)f detached roob the Roaring Bulls, and sometimes &nlr.en Rook., *Bearings W.\\;en lrom the a. exttoemity of the roob.

20 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Danger$inHyp- lying in a line nearly NE. and SW., with from. three to six fathoms of water between ocritsChannel. them. They are bare in most cases at low spring tides, and extend over a surface E. and W. seven hundred yards lon~-,-the most easterly of the group having seven feet at mean low water, and about five at low spring tides. The easternmost rock bears from The Graves SW. i W. half a mile, and from the whistling-buoy on the Northea'lt Grave SW. j W., one mile and a quarter distant. The westernmost rock bears from Green Island E. t N., nearly seven hundred yards distant. There is a wide and deep channel, with from four to eight fathoms water, between the Roaring Bulls and The Graves; and an equally cl.;ar though not so deep a passage between the Bulls and Green Island,-this latter channel having fro'm four to six fathoms in it. But neither of these channds is, however, fit for strangers. (See, also, range for clearing the Bulls in the former passage, page 17.) The Roaring Bulls are not buoyed, but show themselves by breakers, at high water, in almost all weathers. The northern Ahorcs of Middle and Outer Brewster arc very bold-to and may be closely approached with safety. Green Island Ledges arc the first obstrnction'3 met with, after passing The Graves, Green Island by a ves.5el having a free wind through this channel. The passage between Green and Ledges. Little Calf islands is very narrow, ob.:,\"'tructed by these ledges on the north and a sunkeu rock on the 8outhern side, leaving an available channel only a mile in width. The Green Island Ledges are a number of bare rocks, out of water at all times of tide, surrounded by many bare and sunken rocks, which extend off from the island in a SW. by W. ! W. direction for nearly three hundred and fifty yards and to the southward and southeastward nearly two hundred yards. There are no buoys off these shoals, as the bare rocks serve sufficiently well as marks to avoid them. The rule is to keep about midway between the southernmost hare rock and Little Calf Island. In following the above directions, however, mariners must beware of a sunken ledge, with nine feet at low water, lying N NW. from Little Calf Island, and about one hundred and seveniy-five yards distant. It is quite bold-to, and is not marked in any way. When between Green and Little Calf islands there will be seen ahead, and about Half-Tide a quarter of a mile off, a red spar-buoy. This is on Half-Tide Rocks, which lie in Roe/cs. the middle of the passage, have two feet at mean low water, and are bare at low springs. They lie SW. by W. ! W. from Green Island, a little over half a mile; and NW. by W. ! W. from Little Calf Island, five hundred yards distant. The buoy, marked No. 2, is placed in rocky bottom on the southern side of the rocks. The channel now turns to the southward for one-third of a mile and then runs to the westward; and on this westerly course a black. can-buoy* will be seen well to the northward. This Alderidge'$ is on Alderidge's Ledge, which lies between the South Channel and Hypocrite Channel, Ledge. has only four feet upon it, and is surrounded by doop water. From Half-Tide Rocks it bears W. ! N., five-eighths of a mile, (eleven hundred yards;) and from the north- eastern point of Lovell's Island NE. ! E., one mile distant. The buoy is of the second class, and is placed in five fathoms on the northwestern side of the ledge to mark the South Channel. V easels using the Hypocrite Channel must be careful, therefore, not to app:rooch it nearer than an eighth of a mile, (two hundred and twenty-five yards.) Between Half-Tide Rocks and Alderidge's Ledge there is a shoal of considerable extent, four hundred yards long in a NW. and SE. direction, between the lines of three fathoms. There is a spot on this shoal exactly in range between Alderidge's and Half-Tide buoys, which has twelve feet at low water and is not buoyed. .From .Alderidge's buoy it bears E. l 8., three hundred and fifty yards distant. /111111'~ Head. When past Alderidge's Ledge a. large black wn-buoy* will be seen directly ahead and lying some distance off the northeastern end of Lovell's Island. This is on Ram's Head, and marks the junction of this channel with the South Channel. Ram's Head is a long spit or reef, bare at low water, extending NE. by N. from the northeastern end of Lovell's Island, three-- eighths of a. mile, (nearly seven hundred yards.) The shoal water extends from the northeastern end of the dry spit three hundred yards to the northeastward-there being only six feet a.t mean low water half a mile llflit from the point of Lovell's Island. The buoy is of the second class, marked No. 5, and placed in four fathoms off the northeastern point of the shooL V 6i!Sels mnst be careful, in stretch- ing over towards Lovell's Island when beating through the South Channel, not to go to the southward of the range of this buoy and the southern end of Green Island. - \\Vhen past Ram's Head buoy the Sou.th Channel is entered, and the eonrse is W. by S. ! B., with Long Island Light-house a little t.o the southward. On this course vessels may enrer the Main Shir Channel oft' Nix's :Mate Beaoon. There are no dangers in the South Channel, after passing Ram s Head, if the wind be fair. With a head-wind vessels should not stretch too far to the ,LittktFaunBar. northward ro avoid Little Fa'\"! Bar, which is a bar or shoal ma.king off from the ~tern face of Deer Island near its southern end. It extends- lil. by s. from the island llalf a mile-being bore at low epring tides. A red am-buoy* of the second class (No. 4) is placed :in

BOSTON HARBOR. 21 seventeen feet off the eastern end of the shoal and marks the western limits of the DangersinHyp- North Channel. The spaoo between the North and South channels at this point is ocriteCnannel. full of shoals having from eight to fifteen feet water upon them. For this reason a vessel of larcre draught should never attempt the North Channel without a pilot. In strekhincr over towards Deer Island after pa88ing the buoy on Little Faun Bar, vessels must be careful not to ~pproach the island nearer than thre.c-cighths of a mile, (seven hundred yards,) as the water is shoal for a distance of nearly six hundred yards to the eastward of the southern point of the island. Vessels should also be careful not to approach the southern point of Deer Island nearer than six hundred and fifty or seven hundred yards, as there is a rock, bare at low water, lying a quarter of a mile S. from the point. It bears from Deer Island Point Beacon E. by S. ! S., an eighth of a mile distant, (two hundred and twenty-five yards.) A good rule to avoid it fa not to go to the northward of the beacon bearing NW. by W. t W., in mnge with the northern point of Governor's Island. Leaving this rock well to the northward, if the wind be fair, pll88 to the north- ward of the buoy and black octagonal pyramid on Nix's Mate, and to the southward Deer Island of a red granite beacon S. of Deer Island. This is ou Deer Island Point, a long reef Point. dry at low water, making off from the southern end of Deer Island in a B. by W. direction for a quarter of a mile. The beacon is on the extreme point of the shoal, and may he approached quite closely with four fathoms of water. It bears from Nix's Mate Beacon, NW. by N·---------------------------------------- Miles. Long Island Light-house, N NE·--------------------------------------- l ! North Spectacle Island, E. by N. !- N·---------------------------------- 1! Fort Independence, E. t B--------------------------------------------- 2! Apple Island, SE·---------------------------------------------------- 2 Long Island Head is bold-to, and may be approached safely within two hundred and 'fifty yards. There are no dangers after passing Deer Island Point Beacon until you are through President's Roads and up with the Lower M:iddle. On the southeastern end of this shoal there is a large red nun- buoy,* (No. 6) which will be seen nearly ahead just after passing D~r Islauil Point. Lower l\\fiddle is a very extensive shoal lying E BE. and W NW., and a mile long, Lower Middle. with portions of it bare at mean low water. The buoy is placed in seventeen feet at mean low water, and lies a little over half a mile N. of the North Spectacle Island. This buoy is replaced in winter by a red spar with two prongs. It marks the dividing point of the channel, which here separates,-one narrow but good channel, called the North U-nnel, passing along the northern side of the shoal, between it and Governor's Island Point; and the other, called the JCab1- m,,ip Cloan- nel, passing along the southern side, between the Lower Middle and Castle Island. This latter only should be used by strangers. The buoy on the southeastern end of Lower Middle bears from Deer Island Point Beaoon W. i N., a mile and a half, and from Long Island Light-house NW. by W. t W., a mile and a half distant. When past this buoy there will he seen ahmcl a black nun-buoy* in range with Castle Island. This is on Castle Rocks, which make off from the southeastern Castle Rooks. side of Castle Island in an easterly direction for nearly six hundred yards. The ledge is very shoal~three feet at low water being found one hundred yards inside the buoy-and there is no passage on the western side of it, as the ilats extend clear to Dorchester Point. The buoy is marked No. 7, and is placed in eighteen feet at mean low water on the east.em. point of the shoal. In beating in or out vessels must not, while to the northward of this buoy, approach Castle Island nearer than three hundred and fifty yards, or go inside of the buoy bearing SE. by S. t S. Near the northern end of the island there is a wharf ext.ending out in a NE. direction,-the end of which is in sixteen feet at mean low water, and will serve as a guide to vesse1s beating through, which should keep outside of the line from the wharf to the buoy. If the lead is used, vessels must not go to the west- ward after striking three and a quarter fathoms. On the northern side of the channel, nearly opposite t-0 the buo;r on Castle Rocks, State Ledge. will be seen a red nun-buoy.* This is on &ate Ledge, an obstruct10n formed by two small rocks lying on the southern side nf the Lower Middle, half a mile W. by N. from the south- eastern buoy. One of these rooks has only three feet at mean low water, and is called Palmyra Rook. The southern edge of this shoal has been removed to a depth of fourteen feet. The buoy is placed in seventeen feet on the southern end of the ledge a.ad is marked No. 8. When psst the buoy on State Ledge there will appear ahead and OQ the northern /tort/Jn.tern side of the ehannel another red nun-buoy.* This is on the Northwestern End of Lower End of· Lonr Middle. The Lower Middle, as be&re stated, is a mile in lenirth in an E SE. and Middle. W J.IW. direetioo., and the North and Main ehannels unite at this northwestern end. At this point the buoy is placed,~ sevent.een feet water. ~tis of th~ thi~ eJass and marked No. 10. Fro:t:\" the buoy on Castle RoekB 1t bee.rs ].!{., nearly one-third of o. mile distant, and from Governor's

22 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Island Point B., about the same distance. When abreast of this buoy another red nun-buoy* becomes visible about four hundred yards off and on the northern side of the channel. This is Gonrnor'& on Governor's Island Point,-the shoal extending off from the 8outheastern end of Island Point. Governor's Island. Its direction is SW. by 8. !- S., it'5 length a quarter of a mile, and it is dry at low water for half its length. The buoy is of the third class, marked No. 12, and is placed in fourteen feet off the southwesrern end of the shoal, and at the northern point of the junction of the Main and North channels. Vessels using the North Channel will find the best water midway between this buoy and that on the northwestern end of the Lower Middle. , The North Channel, as before mentioned, runs along the northern side of the GolflJrnor'• Lower Middle. Its northern boundary is formed by very extensive dry flats, very Island Flat•. bold-to, and known as Governor's Island Flats. They extend off from the eastern shore of Governor's Island in an E SE. direction for one nillc,-their eastern p<.iint being also the southern point of entrance to Gover-r's Island Channel, which is at present the best channel up to Boston for heavy-draught steamers. On the northern side of this eastern p<.iint is placed a black spar-buoy (No. 1) in three and a half fathoms water, which is not, however, in the North Channel, but marks the southern 8ide of the entrance t.o Governor's Island Channel, and should not be approached by vessels bound through the North Channel, as the flats extend a quarter of a mile to thtJ southward from it. (See, also, Governor's Island Channel, pages 33-34.) When abreast of the red buoy on Govern-0r's Island Point, a black nun-buoy* Upper Middle. will be seen bearing about NW. ! W. and one-third of a mile off. This is on the western side of the channel, and marks a ''four feet shoal\" on what is known as the Upper MiddltJ. The buoy is of the first class and is marked No. 9. The Upper Middle is not, strictly speaking, a middle ground, hut a bar. In fact, from Castle Island to a point one-third of a mile above Upper Middle buoy the shoal water extends farther and farther from shore, encroaching upon the channel, and forming part of what is known as South Boston or Dorchester Flats. The Upper Middle is part of this. The bar extends nearly all of the way across, and nineteen feet at mean low water is the best water that can he carried over it, except in a very narrow cut made by the U. 8. Engineers in the course of their improvements, in which there is twenty- three feet at mean low water. The U.S. Engineers are at present engaged in dredging a channel across it two hundred yards wide and twenty-three feet deep at low water, which will probably be completed before the publication of this work. When so completed, a passag-e with three and three- quarter fathoms at lowest tides will exist from Point Allerton to the anchorage off Boston. When abreast of the black buoy on the Upper Middle there will be seen, on the Governor'8 northern side of the channel, to the westward of Governor's Island, a black spar-buoy, Island Shoal. (No. 7.) This buoy is placed on the western end of Governor's Island Shoal, making o:ff from the western point of Governor's Island, and properly belongs to Governor's Island Channel, marking its southern p<.iint of junction with the Main Channel. A little over two hundred yards t.o the northwestward of the black buoy on Bird Island Governor's Island Shoal will appear a red spar-buoy; and about the same distance Flats. still farther w the northwestward, a spindle. These are on Bird IBfilnd Flats. Bird Island is covered at half-tide, and the spindle marks its southeastern point, which is one-third of a mile NW. by W. from the western end of Governor's Island, and between them is the western entrance to the deep channel, commonly known as the Governor's Island Channel. The spindle on the southeastern point of Bird Island is iron, and has a wge on top,-all being painted red. The buoy is marked No. 14, and is placed in fourteen feet on the southern point of Bird tIsland Flats. It is seventy-five yards S. E. from the spindle, and vessels bound to Boston by the Main Ship Channel must pass to the southwestward of it. It should receive a good berth from vessels using the Governor's Island Channel unless of lighter draught than sixteen feet, as there is a spot with sixteen and a half feet at mean low water one hundred yards to the southward of the buoy. On the southwestern side of the ehannel, nearly a mile above the black buoy on Slate Ledge. the Upper Middle, (from which it bears lfW. by W. t; W.,) will be seen a black nun- buoy,*{No. 11.) This is on Slate Ledge, which lie<! on the northern side of South Boston Flats, nearly midway between Dorchester Point and Fort Hill Channel. It is two-thirds of a mile from the nearest shore, and is placed upon the north€8Btern end of the ledge in seventeen feet at mean low water. Slate Ledge is dry at low spring tides, and there is no passage inside of jt except at high water, and then only for light-draught vessels; as the ext.ensive South Boston or Dorchester Flats (which are dry in most places at low spring tides) occupy the whole a:rea inshore of the Upper Middle, and extend from Castle Island to the entrance to Fort Hill Channel. To the northward of Slate Ledge buoy is a small shoal half a mile E BE. from $'1H/ Spot II. the end of Long Wharf, and bearing from the State-House E. by S., and from Slate tofSlate Ledge Ledge buoy N. W. It is three-eighths of a. mile from the latter, and is not marked But1y. in any way. It is, however, the intention of the Harbor Commissioners t.o dredge this portion of the clumnel to a depth of twenty-three feet at mean low water, in doing whieh they will remove this shad. as well as Slate ~·

BOSTON HARBOR. 23 South Boston Flats are to be filled up nearly to the edge of the channel, with the exception of a narrow passage leading along the northern side of the peninisula of South Boston. SAILING DffiECTIONS. HYPOCRITE CHANNEL-BOSTON HARBOR. I. fJom,iag frona 'f:he Norlheast-rd.-The course from Cape Ann is SW. l W. until Boston Light-house bears W. by S. ! S. and Egg l~ock Light-house N NW., when there will be thirt.een and a half fathoms. Thence st.eer W. t N., which course made good will lead, with not less than eight fu.thoms, safely through between Green and Little Calf islands. On this course the oouthern end of Deer Island will be a little open to the northward. When Little Calf Island fa abaft the heam, bearing S. by E., and the red buoy on Half-Tide Rocks (which will be almost directly ahead) is about four hundred yards off, and Long Island Light-house bears W. by S., and Boston Light-house s.. in twelve fathoms, \"mud and sand,\" haul to the southward to avoid Half-Tide Rocks and A.lderidge's Ledge, and st.eer SW. by W. for one-third of a mile, caxrying not less than ten fathoms water, and until Boiston Light-house bears B. by E. t E. Deer Island Point Beacon (red stone beacon) will now bear W. t N., open a very little to the southward of the southern end of Castle Island, and the course is W. t N. into the South Channel, which will be entered as soon as you are past Ram's Head buoy. On this course there is not less than nineteen feet, and when Long Island Ligl1t-house bears W SW., and Nix's Mare Beacon (black stone beacon) SW. by W. t W., in ten fathoms, steer W. by S. ! S., with the western edge of Long Island Head on with the southern end of South Spectacle Island, and carrying not less than six fathoms. On this course, when Deer Island Point Beacon bears NW., (in mnge witJ1 the western end of Apple Island,) and Long Island Light-house SW. by W. ! W., six and a quarter fathoms will be found in the Main Ship Channel a quarter of a mile to the northward of Nix's Mate Beruion, and W. ! N. will lead through President's Roads; after which follow the directions given for the Main Ship Channel on page 11. The above courses pass eight hundred yards to the northward of Martin's Ledge; about seven hundred yards to the northward of Tewksbury Rock; three-quarters of a mile to the southward of the southern. end of The Graves; six hundred yards to the southward of the Roaring Bulls; nearly two hundred yards to the eastward of Half-Tide Rocks; three hundred and fifty yards to the southward of the black buoy on Alderidge's Ledge, and two hundred yards to the southward of the ledge itself; about sixty yards to the northward of Ram's Head buoy; a quarter of a mile to the northward of Nix's Mare Bea.con; and a quarter of a mile to the southward of Deer Island Point Beacon. II. &nBi.n11 r r - aae NertAfftarll \" ' - Sluwe.-Vessels may pass Egg Rock at a distance of eight hundred yards, and when abreast of it, in thirteen fathoms water, st.eer S. by E., rarrying not less than fourteen fathoms, until abreast of the whistling-buoy off the Northeast Grave. Pass three-eighths of a mile to the eastward of this buoy, and continue the course until Long Island Light-house bears W. by s. ts. and Boiston Light-house is just opened from behind the Outer Brewster,-bearing SW. ! W. The depth will be fourteen fathoms, hard bottom, and the course SW. by W. ! W., carrying not less than seven fathoms, until Long Island Light-house is in range with Little Calf Island bearing W. f s., and Boston Light-house is almoist in range with the eastern point of Middle Brewster on a bearing of SW. by S. ls. Here there will be ten fathoms; and thence the course is W. l N. through Hypocrite Channel, carrying not less than eight fathoms, until within four hundred yards of the buoy on Half- Tide Rocks, with Long Island Light-hm1Se bearing W. bys. The depth will be twelve fathoms, \"mud and stona:1,\" and vessels must now haul to the southward to avoid Half-Tide Rocks and Alderidge's Ledge,-steering SW. by W., and following the directions given above for the Hypocrite Channel. These courses pass three-eighths of mile to the eastward of the whistling-buoy on the Northeast Grave; three-eighths of a mile (six hundred and fifty yards) to the southward of the southern end of The Graves; about six hundred yards to the southward of the Roaring Bulls; and nearly two hundred ·yards to the southward of Green Island Ledges. III. ~ ~ Bea fr.- 'fAe ~.-When in thirteen and a half fathoms, bring Boston Light-house to beat' W. by S. f S. and Egg Rock Light-house N NW., and steer W. t N., following the directi.QUS given above for this channel.

24 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Hypocrite Channel is not recommended for the use of strangers, except in cases of extreme necessity. In view of such a rose the bearings of Long Island J_.ight-house and Boston Light-house are given in the Sailing Directions at the turning points in the channel. But strangers will rarely have occasion t-0 use this passage,-the safe and convenient South Channel being just to the northward of Hypocrite Channel and the Main Ship Channel entrance only a mile t.o the southward. In the Hypocrite Channel the tidal currents of flood and ebb set in the direction Tidal Currents. of the channel Keeping any part of The Graves open to the southward of Green Island clears Ranges. Half-Tide Rocks. THE BROAD SOtJND CHANNELS. Besides Shirley Gut there are two channels leading into Boston Harbor from Broad Sound. The westc1\"Ilmost of thest>, which pa.sees within less than half a mile of Deer Island, is called the Horth Cba.nnel. It is shoal and fall of dangers, and is not fit for strangers. The eastern channel is called the SouUL Channel, and is almost univer!!ally used by coasters of all sizes coming into Boston from the northward and northeastward. The South Channel, which is easy of a.ccesl! and baa plenty of water at half-flood for vessels of the South Channel. largest draught, comes into Broad Sound to the westward of Green Island. It is short and straight, its range is perfect, and strangers may resort to it. with safety. The course in is SW. by W. ~ W. for Nix's Mate Beacon until past Ram's Bead buoy. Then the channel turns to the westward and runs between Deer Island and Long Island into President's Roa.Wt. v.,,.se]s of light draught often steer SW. by W. for Long Island Light-house, crossing the shoals between the North and South channels. When coming from the vicinity of Cape Ann and intending to enter by tbe South Channel, the course is SW. by w. for Long Island Light-honse until Egg Rock Light-house bears N. by E. ! E., when~•.,.,,. to the southward until Nil's Jla.te Beacon is on with the middle of the northern and highest part of the Blue mus, which is the ·range for the channel. From thie position the entrance is eaaily nieognized by a stranger, on referring to the view. The channel will appear .:>pen between Long Isla.11.4 Blla4 and a long high island with a gently-sloping green surface, bare of trees, but having a flag-staff on its summit near its eastern end. Long Islaud Head is easily recognized by its bold, bare, precipitous face, on which the light-house and keeper's dwelling are seen. The other island with the gently-sloping hill is Deer llllan4. The hill ou Deer Island appears to be joined to another at its northern end, which bas an abrupt descent, forming o. precipitous face. Over this high bluff will appear the public buildingt<. Both hills are on Deer Island,--the low land connecting them not being visible at this distance. To the northward of Deer Island will be seen the open entrance to SlllrleT Gut: and the low 811Ildy point, with houses upon it, which lies on the northern side of the opening, is Po1nt Shirley. If the day be clear, Fort W1nthroP on Govern.or's Island may be seen over the northern end of the point-appearing RB a square earth-work on a high smooth hill. To the northward of Point Shirley the high bnre elllr which rises from the water, appearing like &n island, is 'W1Jltllrop's Bead. It is joined to Point Shirley by a strip of beach not visible at this distance. The city of Boston, with the dome of the State-Bouse in the centre, will Bbow to the northward of this bead. If the day be clear there may be seen in the distance, towering above the low bills that are visible to the northward of the city, a slim shaft or tower, looking like a tall gray chimney. This is Bll.nker Blll lloa~ Some diBtanee to the northward will appear a high bare cliff apparently rising from the water. This is GrOYU's CllUr, at the l!Outbern end of Chelsea Beach. Beyond this the land -rune away towaros Lynn, and then around to Na.hant Head. To the southward of Deer &land will be seen Long Island; then Lovell's lalan4 in range with Gallup's Ia1an4; then the white walls of Fort Warren in the distanee; then area I8laD4 and L1We C&l! l8llm4 at th<! entrance to Hypocrite Channel; then 1'he high, bare, precipitoas bead of the Orea• Brewster, pl'('t!enting a very singulal' appearance, (see view;) then Kl44le BreW'ster, showing IUI a bare rocky island, and behind it lll'&naaket l!lll, with a couple of steeples rising above it; and ll08Wa JJ.gllt.-llOue will be in range with the eastern end of the Kiddle Brewster. The channel being open from the above bearing, the oounse for N'IX'e Maia will lead safely in. DANGERS. SOUTH CHANNEL--BOSTON H.A.RJJOR. Tlltl Grt111U. .After passing Nahant Haid there are no dangers encountered in crossing Brood Sound until you are nearly up with The Graves. These are very dangerous bare rooks lying in·a '.N. by E. and S. by W. direction, united into one ledge at low water, and forming a group six hundred ya.Ms long. Four hundred and fifty yards Wl!J. i '.N. from the bare ledg<'S is a Small but very dangerous rook, be.re at low -water, mlled the N~ Ledge <if the Graves, or simply the N()f'f}v. MBt Grm:e. This rook is marked by a large whlstling-'huoy, sounded by the motion of the sea.. It is placed in ten fathoms three hundred yards '.NE. from tJie rock, and serves to mark both the Northeast Grave and the bare ledges of Tlie Graves proper. This buoy can be heard at the distance of four miles. · The following bearings and distances will be found useful in avoiding The Graves, or in gomg into Jketon Harbor in thick west.her after hearing the sound of the buoy:

BOSTON HARBOR. 25 The whistling-buoy off' the Northeast Grave bears from Miles. Egg Rock Light-house, S. by E. t E·------------------------------------ 4t Long Island Light-house, E. by N. ! N·---------------------------------- 4! Boston Light-house, NE.! N·-- -b-y-N- -.-!- --------------------------------- 72%i Minot's Ledge Light-house, NW. N.______________________________ The bare ledges of The Graves* proper bear from Mlles. Egg Rock Light-house, S. t E------------------------------------------- 4t Hotel on Nahant Head. s. by E. i E·------------------------------------ 3! Grover's CJ.iif, BE. by E. f E·------------------------------------------- 4~ tDeer Island Hospital. E·----------------------------------------------- 4 tLong Island Light-house, E. by N. N·---------------------------------- 4t Boston Light-house, NE. by N·--------------·--------------------------- 2! The next danger in the approach to the South Channel is the Roaring Bulls, but Roaring Bull:r. these are not in the way unless you are standing to the southward on a wind. In such cases you must not go to the southward of the line between Long Island Light-house and the whistling- buoy off' the Northeast Grave, or Long Island Light-house bearing W. by S. ! S.; and, if of heavy draught, you must not, when near Green Island, go farther to the southward than Long Island Light- house bearing WSW. to avoid MaffiJf's Ledge, which has eighteen feet at low water. The Roaring Bulls are a number of small rocks lying in a line nearly NE. and SW., with from three to six fathoms between them. Several of them are bare at low water of spring tides, and they extend over a surface E. and W. seven hundred yards long. The most easterly rock has five feet at lowest tides, and bears SW. i W. from The Graves, half a mile distant. The westernmost rock bears E. l N. from Green Island, nearly seven hundred yards distant. There is a wide and deep channel between The Bulls and The Graves, and one equally good, but not so wide, between them and Green Island; but neither channel should be attempted by strangers. (See directions for clearing The Bulls, in the former passage, page 17.) . The Roaring Bulls are not buoyed, but show themselves by breakers at high water in almost all weathers. Maffitt's Ledge, before referred to, is a detached rock with eighteen feet at mean •affitt':rLsdgs. low water, and is not buoyed. It lies a quarter of a mile NW. by N. ~ N. from Green Island, and on the southern side of the channel. From it Deer Island Point Beacon bears W. bys.• two miles .and three-quarters distant. There is good water all around it, and vessels of light draught paJ:, no attention, to it. .A quarter of a mile to the westward of it lies Commissioner's Ledge, another detached rock, with fifteen feet at mean low water. It lies on the Commissioner's southern side _of the channel, with six fathoms water on all sides of it, and bears W. Ledge. from Maffitt's Ledge, and half a mile NW. by W. t W. from Green Island. It is not buoyed, but to avoid it, when in its vicinity, you must not go to the southward of Long Island Light-house bearing WSW., or Nix's Mate Beacon bearing SW. by W. i W. Devil's Back, or Devil's Iamb as it is sometimes rolled, is the next danger met De¥ir• Back. with, and is marked by a black can-buoy, which will be seen to the sonthwnrJ, about half a mile o~ when abreast of Green Island. It is a very dangerous ledge, three or four hundred yards long, bare in places at extreme low tide, and lies on the southern side of this channel, in a NE. by N. and BW. bys. direction. The buoy is of the first class, marked No. 1, and is placed on the n.orthern side of the ledge. It bears from Green Island W. ! N., five-eighths of a mile (eleven hundred'yards) distant; and from Long Island Light-house E. by N. i N. When up with the buoy on the Devil's Limb there will be seen, on the southern side of the channel, two black can-buoys at distances of half a mile and a mile, respectively. The nearest is on .A.lderidge's Ledge, a sunken ledge lying between this Channel and the .fldsridge'$ Hypocrite Channel, with only four feet upon it at mean low water. From the black Ledge. can-buoy on the Devil's Back it bears SW. by W., half a mile distant; from Deer Island Point Beacon E. :l N.; and from Long Island Light-house E. by N.} ::S. There is from five to six futhoms water all around it; but ve35els beating up must not go so far to the southward as to bring the buoy in range with Nix's M.ate Beacon, to avoid the shoal ground of Twd'l»-Fe,et Rock, which lies between this ledge and Half-Tide Rocks in the Hypocrite Channel. (See also page 20.) The buoy on .Aldericlg-e's Ledge is of the second class, marked No. 3, and plared in five fathoms on the northwest.em side of the shoal. It may be passed close-to, hut the sailing lines pass well to the · nortlrwnrd of it. - The other black <an-buoy* is on Ram's Head, a long spit or reef, bare at low Ram'• H6ad. water, extending oft' for tbroo-.eighths of a mile (nearly seven hundred yards) in a lUI. by 1\": direOtion from the northeast.em. end of Lovell's IsJand. From the end of this dry spit the * Bea:riasa taken_ &om the JIB. extremity of the 1'tl<lktl. C. P.--4

26 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Dangers in water is shoal for three hundred yards to the northeastward,-there being only six feet South Channel. at mean low water half a mile NE. from the point of Lovell's Island. The buoy is of the second class, marked No. 5, and is plae,ed in four fathoms off the northeastern point of the shoal. V cssels must be rareful, when to the westward of this buoy and stretching over towards Lovell's Island, not to go to the southward of this buoy a little open with the southern end of Green Island until so far to the westward as to fairly open the Narrows between Lovell's and Gallup's islands. In passing Alderidge's Ledge buoy and that on Ram's Head there will be seen to the northward two red can-buoys, and a conical beacon of stone, with an iron spindle and cage on top, also painted red. These are all in the North Channel. You must not approach the buoys nearer than half a mile, nor go nearer to the beacon than one mile distant. The easternmost of these buoys is GreatFaun Bar. on the caEtern end of Great Faun Bar, which makes off in an easterly direction from the eastern side of Deer Island for a little more than a mile. The buoy marks the western limits of the North Channel, and between it and the South Channel there are shoal soundings. Eleven feet at low water is found between it and Devil's Back buoy, about five hundred yards from the former; and nine feet at mean low water between it and Alderidge's Ledge buoy, over eight hundred yards from Great Faun Bar buoy. Vessels, therefore, when standing to the northward on or near the line of Great Faun and Alderidge's buoys cannot count on more than eighteen feet at high water, if to the northward of Nix's Mate Beacon bearing SW. by W., or Long Island Light-house bearing WSW. The red conical beacon which is about thirteen hundred yards to the westward of Great Faun Bar buoy is called Great Faun Bar Beacon, and is built upon the dry part of the bar, near its eastern end. This part of Great Faun Bar makes off in an E. ! N. direction from the middle of Deer Island, and is dry at low water to a distance of thirteen hundred yards,--0r three hundred !:llld fifty yards beyond the beaoon. This beacon must not be approached, even by vessels using the North Channel, except at high water, and then not nearer than five hundred yards. The red can-buoy* to the westward of the buoy on Great Faun Bar, and half a Little Faun Bar. mile to the southward of the beacon, is on Little Faun Bar, also on the western side of the North Channel. This buoy is of the second class, marked No. 4, and placed in sixteen feet off the eastern end of the bar, which makes off in an easterly direction for half a mile from the southeastern point of Deer Island. This bar is bare at low spring tides to within two hundred and fifty yards of the buoy. Vessels beating up the South Channel at high water cannot go to the northward of the line of Little Faun Bar buoy and the black buoy on Alderidge's Urlge and carry over eighteen feet. A good rule :is, when not drawing over fifteen feet, if it be half-flood, to go about (when to the westward of Ram's Head buoy) as soon as Deer Island Point Beacon is brought on with the northern end of The Spectaclf~. There is another range marking the limits of the beating channel in this vicinity, viz: Not to stand to the westward of Long Island Light-house bearing SW. until to the westward of Nix's Mate. After that you must only look out for Deer Island Point and the shoal which lies an eighth of a mile E. by 8. t S. from the beacon. (See also page 21.) The channel is clear between the beacon and Long Island Light-house. On the course through the South Channel, when past Ram's Head buoy and approaching Nix's Mate, there will be seen, about three-quarters of a mile to the southward and westward, two nun-buoys.* The easternmost, which is red, is on Seveniy-Four Bar, which lies to the wmtward of the northern end of Lovell's Island and on the eastern side of the northern entrance to the Narrows. The other, which is black, is on the shoal making off from Nix's Mate Beaoon. Both buoys are in the Main Ship Channel at the northern end of the Narrows, where, between Deer Island and Nix's Mate, the South Channel unites with the Main Ship Channel. The channel, after passing Ram's Head, leads to the westward between Deer /fir's Mate. Island and Long Island; and on the northern side will be seen Deer Island Point Beacon, (painted red,) and on the southern side will be seen Nix's Mate Beaoon, (painred black.) Nix's Mate.is the name given to the dry part of the exrensive shoal which stretches from the northwesrern part of Gallup's Island for eight hundred yards to the northward. The beaoon is an eight-sided granite pynunid, rising from a large square base, and painted black. From it a shoal makes out in a northeasterly direction to the black nun-buoy before mentioned, which is called Nix's Mate buoy, and is marked No. 7. Deer Island Point Beacon in range with ApPle Island leads clear of this shoal. From Nix's Mate Beacon Deer Island Pomt Beacon bears NW. by 1'., two-thirds of a mile distant; and Long Island Light-house W» a little over half a mile distant. Dor Island Deer Island Point is a long reef or point, dry at low water, making off from the south~ end of Deer Island in a S. bv W. direction for a quarter of a mile; and its Point. southern point is marked by a pyramidal beacon of granite, painted red, which may be approacb6.:l quite closely. This beseem bears from

BOSTON HARBOR. 27 Miles. Nbt's l'da.te Bee.con, NW. by N·--------------------------------------- · ti Long Island Light-house, NN E. _____________________________a little over Little Faun Bar buoy, SW. by W. i W·-------------------------------- t Apple Island, SE·--------------------------------------------------- 2 After passing Deer Island there are no obstructions until past President's Roads, when there will be seen to the northward a large red nun-buoy.* This is on the southeastern end of the Lower Middle, a long shoal lying E SE. and W NW., and a mile long,-portions Lower Middle. of it being bare at mean low water. The buoy is marked No. 6, placed- in seventeen feet water on the eastern end of the bar, a little over half a mile N. from the North Spect.aclc, and is replaced in winter by a red spar-buoy with two prongs. It marks the dividing point of the channel, which here separates,--one narrow but good channel (called the 1''orth Channei) passing along the northern side of the shoal, between it and Governor's Island Point, and the other (called the lllain Sldp Channel) passing along the southern side, between the shoal and Castle Island. This latter only should be used by strangers. The buoy on the southeastern end of the Lower Middle bears from Miles. Deer Island Point Beacon, W. i N·------------------------------------ 1 ! Long Island Light-house, NW. by W. t W·----------------------------- 1 i When past the southeastern end of the Lower Middle a black nun-buoy* will Catttle Roch. be seen ahead, in range with Castle Island, and a red nun-buoy* on the starboard bow. The former is on Castle Rocks, the latter on State Ledge, and the channel leads directly between them. Castle Rocks make off from the southeastern side of Castle Island in an easterly direction for nearly six hundred yards. The ledge is very shoal,-three feet at low water being found one hundred yards inshore of the buoy. There is no passage between it and the shore,-the flat'! extending clear to Dorchester Point. The buoy on Castle Rooks is marked No. 7, and is placed in eighteen feet water on the eastern point of the shoal. In beating in or out you must not, while to the northward of this buoy, approach Castle Island nearer than three hundred and fifty yards, or go inside of the buoy bearing SE. by s. :f S. N e,ar the northern end of the island a wharf extends out in a NE. direction, the end of which is in sixteen feet at Jow water, and will serve as a guide to vessels beating through. They should keep outside of the line from this wharf to the buoy. If using the lead, you must not go to the westward after striking three and a quarter futhoms. The red nun-buoy* on the starboard bow, as before mentioned, is on State Ledge, State Ledge. an obstruction formed by two small rocks lying on the southern edge of the Lower Middle, half a mile W. by N. from the southeastern buoy. One of these rocks has only three feet at low water, and is called PaJ,myra Rock. The southern edge of this ledge has been removed to a depth of fourteen feet at mean low water. The buoy is in seventeen feet, to the southward of the ledge, and is marked No. 8. When past it there will be seen on the northern side of the channel two red nun- buoys, the nearest of which (about six hundred yards off) is on the northwestern end of the Lower Middle. The Lower Middle, as before stated, is a mile in length in an Northwestern EBE. and WNW. direction, and the North and Main Ship Channels unite again at end ofthe Low- this northwestern cnd,-at which point the buoy is placed in seventeen feet water. It er Middle. is a nun* of the third class, marked No. 10, and vessels using the North Channel pass to the northward of it, while those using the Main Ship Channel pa&\"! to the southward. This buoy bears from the black nun-buoy on Castle Rocks N., one-third of a mile distant; and from Governor's Tuland Point s., about the same distance. The second red nun-buoy* (which is about four hundred yards NW. from the buoy on the upper end of the Lower Middle) is on Governor's Island Point, the shoal extending off from Gorernor'll the southeastern end of Governor's Island. It.s direction is SW. by S. t S., it'! length a quarter of a mile, and it is dry at low water for half it.s length. The buoy is of the Island Point. third class, marked No. 12, and plared in fourteen feet water off the southwestern end of the shoal, and at the northern side of the junction of the North and Main Ship channels. Vessels using the North Channel will find the best water midway between this buoy and that on the north- western end of the Lower Middle. The northern side of the North Channel is formed by dry flat.s extending off from Governor's Island in on E SE. direction, and called Governor's Island Flats. They are a mile in 60W1rnor'• length, and their eastero point is also the southern point of entrance to Go_ _..r>• .w.-r a.-nei, -which. is at present the deepest channel up to Boston for steamers of lttla.nd Flat•. heavy draue:ht. On the northero side of this east.em point is placed a black spar-buoy (No. 1) in ifu.ee and a half Cathoms, which is intended to mark the southi::rn side of the entrance to the Governor's Is1md Channel, and should not be approached by vessels uamg the North Channel, as the fiats extend a. quarter ofa mile to the.southward of it. (See also GJvernor's Island Channel, page 33.)

28 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Upper Middle. When abreast of the red nun-buoy on Governor's Island Point a black nun-buoy* will be seen bearing NW. t W., and about one-third of a mile off. This i<> on the western side of the channel, and marks a\" four-feet shoal\" on what is known as the Upper Middle. The buoy is of the first class, and is marked No. 9. The Upper ]\\fiddle is not, strictly speaking, a J\\ifiddle Ground, but a bar. In fact, from Castle Island to a point one-third of a mile above U ppcr Middle buoy the shoal water extends farther and farther from shore, encroaching upon the channel, and forming part of what is known as the Soulh Bo,«ton or DorcheBter Flats. The bar extends all the way across, and nineteen feet at mean low water is the best that can be carried over it, except in a very narrow cut made by the U. S. Engineers in the course of their improvements, and which has twenty-three feet. The U. S. Engineers are at present engaged in dredging a channel across it two hundred yards wide and twenty-three feet deep at mean low water. This channel will probably be completed before the publication of this work, and when so completed an unobstructed pa._\"Sage, with three and three-quarter fathoms at lowest tides, will exist from Point Allerton to the anchorage off Boston. When abreast of the black nun-buoy on the Upper Middle there will be seen on Governor'& the northern side of the channel, and to the westward of Governor's Island, a black Island Shoal. spar-buoy, (No. 7.) This buoy is placed on the western end of Governor's Island Shoal, (making off from the western point of Governor's Island,) and properly belongs to Governor's Island Channel, marking its southern point of junction with the Main Ship Channel. Bird Island A little over two hundred vards to the northwestward of the black spar-buoy on Governor's Island Shoal will be seen a red spar-buoy; and about the same distance Flats. still further to the northwestward, a spindle. These are on Bird Island Flats. Bird Island is c.overed at half-tide, and the spindle marks its southeastern point, which is one-third of a mile NW. by W. from the western end of Governor's Island. Between them lies the western entrance to the deep channel known as Governor's Island Channel. Bird Island spindle is iron and has a cage on top, all painted red. The buoy is marked No. 14, and is placed in fourteen feet of water on the southern point of the flats. It is seventy-five yards B. ! E. from the spindle, and vessels bound to Boston by the Main Ship Channel pass to the south- westward of it. It should receive a good berth from vessels using the Governor's Island Channel unless drawing less than sixteen feet, as there is a spot with sixteen and a half feet at mean low water one hundred yards to the southward of the buoy. On the southwestern side of the channel, and nearly a mile above the black nun- 81ate Ledge. buoy on the Upper l\\fiddle, (from which it bears NW. by W. l W.,) will be seen a black nun-buoy,* (No. 11.) This is on Slate Ledge, which lies on the northern edge of South Boston Flats, nearly midway between Dorchester Point and Fort Hill Channel. It is two- thirds of a mile from the nearest shore, and the buoy is placed on its northeastern end in seventeen feet of water. Slat.c Ledge is dry at low spring tides, and there is no passage inside of it except at high water, and then only for light-draught vessels, as the extensive Soutk B<Jstnn Flats (which are dry in most places at low spring tides) occupy the whole area inshore of the Upper Middle, extending from Castle Island to the entrance to the Fort Hill Channel. To the northward of Slate Ledge buoy is a small shoal half a mile E SE. from 81toalSpotN. the end of Long Wharf, and bearing from the State-House E. by B., and from Slate of Slate Ledge Ledge buoy N. t w. It is tluee-eighths of a. mile from the latter, and is not marked in any way. Fourteen and a half feet is the sh-Oalest water at mean low tides; but 6uo7. it is the intention of the Harbor Commissioneni to dredge this portion of the channel t.o a depth of twenty-three feet at mea.n low water, in doing which they will remove this shoal as well as Slate Ledge. South Bostr.m Fkds are to be filled up nearly to the edge of the channel, with the exception of a narrow passage along the northern sicle of the peninsula. of South Boston. SAILING DIRECTIONS. SOUTH CHANNEL-BOSTON JI.A.RB()R. I. ....,_ C.pe .c.- In. a- n.11-t'-e.-When a mile to the southeastward of the lightB on Thatcher's Island, in twenty-five fathoms water, steer BW. f w .• carrying Jl()t leea than fifteen fathoms, until exactly between Nahant Head and Minot's Ledge Light-house. Nix's Mate Beeoon will now bear SW. by W. t W. and will be in range with the n-0rt.hem an4 highest of the Blue Hills. Now steer that coun!e, keeping the range, and carrying not less than twenty feet, until Long Island Light-house bears w. by 8. f S. and Deer Island Point Beacon W. i N., when you will have passed Ram's Head buoy and will .be in ten mthows water. The course is now W. by S. t 8. for the .cliff' on the northern s.ide of Long Island Head, which will be on with the southern end of South Spectaelie

BOSTON HARBOR. 29 Island. Keep this range, on which there will be not less than six fathoms, until Deer Sailing Direc- Island Point &aeon bears NW. and is on with the western end of Apple Island; when tions-South Channel. Long Island Light-house will bear SW. by W. ! W., and there will be six and a quarter fathoms in the l\\fain Ship Channel. Now steer W. ! N. through President's Roads, and follow the directions given for that channel on pages 11-12. II. Pron& fupe Ann bu Nig1t.t.-Steer SW.! W., as before, until Minot's Ledge Light-house bears SE. by S. ! S., Long Island Light-house SW. by W. ! W., and Egg Rock Light-hou\"e N. byW. The depth will be fourteen and a half fathoms, and the course SW. by W. t W., with Long Island Light-house a little open to the northward. Continue this course, carrying not less than twenty feet of water, until Narrows Light-house bears S. ! E. and Long Island Light-house W. by S. ! S., in ten fathoms. Now steer W. by S. ! B., carrying not less than six fathoms water, and continue this course until Narrows Light-house is in range with Nix's Mate Beacon on a bearing of SE. :f E., when there will be six fathoms of water. The range may not be visible, but the bearing of the light can be obtained. Thence the course is W. by N. through President's Roads, carrying five fathoms, until the black nun-buoy on Castle Rocks is made, or the red nun-buoy on the southeastern end of the Lower Middle, when NW. ! N. leads up the channel to the Upper 1vliddle; after which the directions given for the Main Ship Channel, on page 11, must be followed. Or, if Door Island Point Beacon can be seen on the W. by S. t S. course, as soon as it bears NW., and Long Island Light-house SW. by W. f W., with six and a quarter fathoms water, steer W. t N., and follow the directions given on page 11. III. .Jllron& YiciaU11 •f Sf.I.le- Ead.r-.-Whcn Baker's Island Lights bear NW. by N. ! N., about three miles distant, and Marblehead Light-house WNW., four miles distant, in twenty fathoms water, all dangers are cleared, and Egg Rock Light-house will bear W. by S. l S., eight miles off. The oourse is now SW. by W., carrying sixteen fathoms, and Long Island Light-house will soon be made directly ahead. Steer for it until Egg Rook Light-house bears NW. by N. i N. and Narrows Light-house SW. l S.; when steer for the latter, carrying not less than ten fathoms, until Ni~'s Mat.e Beacon bears SW. by W. -l W. and is in range with the northern and highest of the Blue Hills. Now steer for it, keeping the range, carrying not less than twentr feet of water, and follow the directions given above. IV. At Night ,l'ro-. og Sale-.-Steer SW. by W., as above, until Egg Rock Light-house bears NW. by N. t N. and Narrows Light-house SW. ! S.; when there will be sixteen fathoms, and the course will be SW. :i S. until Long Island Light-house bears SW. by W. -f W. and Egg Rock Light- house N. -l W. There will be ten fathoms, \"fine gravel,\" on these bearings; and SW. by W. t W. for Nix's Mate Beacon will lead safely in, following the directions given for entering by the South Channel during the night. V. 'l'o ....- ai-g Sltore :paid N<IAaat Hea4 a...i enter -tloe l!lo141o. Vlaa--Z.-When F~ Rock Light-house bears W. by N., distant three-eighths of a mile, in ten fathoms, st€er s. by w. t w. On this course you will carry not less than twelve fathoms, and, on crossing Broad Sound, the high cliff of the Great Brewster will be seen rising from behind Calf Island. Keep this range until within a mile and a half of the latter, in ten fathoms water, when Nix's Mate Beacon will bear SW. by w. l W. and will be on with the highest Blue Hill, as before. From this position the directions given above must be followed. The South Channel courses pass three-quarters of a mile to the westward of the whistling-buoy off the Northeast Gmve; three-eighths of a mile to the northward of Maffitt's Ledge; three hundred and :6.fty yards to the westward of ColllDlissioner's Ledge; a quarter of a mile to the westward of Devil's Back buoy; a little over half a mile to the eastward of Great Faun Bar buoy; a quarter of a mile to the northward of Alderidge's Ledge; a little over two hundred yards to the northward of Ram'sHead buoy; half a. mile to the southward of Little Faun Bar buoy; four hundred yards to the northward of Nix's Mare buoy; a. quarter of a mile to the northward of Nix's Mate Beacon; and a little over a quarter of a mile to the southward of Deer Island Point Beacon. In this channel the current of ebb, after passing Ram~s Head, sets to the Tidal Current. eastward, and care must be taken not to be carried on to Alderidge's Ledge when bound out on the ebb tide. To the northward of this ledge the current sets in the direction of the channel.

~o ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. NO~ CHANNEL OF BROAD SO\"UND. This channel leads across Great and Little Faun bars, o.nd is never used except by vessels of light draught. Its entrance is just to the westward of the entranr,e to the South Channel, and its com\"E!e about aw. by W. ! W. VeBl!els of lighter draught than ten feet, however, often bring Long Island Light-house to ben.1• aw. by W. and run for it, which carries them safely acrOfls. Thirteen feet at mean low water can be carried across the two bars, but the channel is narrow and unsafe for strangers unless of very light draught. A shoal with ten feet lies to the eastwnrd of Little Faun Bar buoy, and about two hundred aud fifty yards from it. DANGERS. NORTH CHANNEL-BOSTON HARBOR. The course from Cape A.nn, usually steered by vessels intending to enter by the North Channel, leads a little over a mile to the northwestward of The Graves. Should the whistling-buoy be fallen in with, however, in thick weather, it may be of use to state here that Great Faun Bar buoy bears exactly W. ! B. from it, distant three miles and one-quarter; and there is nothing in the way. Great Faun In approaching this channel the first danger met with is Great Faun Bar, a long spit or bar making off from the eastern shore of Deer Island in an E. ! S. direction Bar. for nearly one mile and three-quarters. For twelve hundred yards of this length it is bare at low water,-the bare sand-spit having a general course E. by N.;-and its eastern end is marked by a stone beacon, called Great Faun Bar :Beacon. To the eastward of this the shoal water continues, with depths varying from two to seventeen feet. The North Channel leads directly over this shoal in from fourteen to fifteen feet at mean low water. Great Fann Bar Beacon is placed about three hundred and fifty yards back from the extreme point of the dry o;pit. It is a granite cone rising from a square base, and surmounted by an iron spindle and cage, all being painted red. Vessels must not approach this beacon nearer than three-eighths of a milc,-twelve feet only being found at that distance from it. Its bearings are as follows: :From Mlles.. Nahant Head, SW. by S·------------------------------------a little over 4i Graves whistling-buoy, W. ! 8------------------------------- \" \" 3:! Long Island Light-house, NE. by N·----------'-------------------------- 1! Two-thirds of a mile to the eastward of Great Faun Bar Beacon there is placed, in fifteen feet water, a red can-buoy of the second class, as a guide to the North Channel. This buoy is marked No. 2, and shows the best water over the bar. It must be left to the westward, and may be passed close-to. From Long Island Light...house it bears NE. ! E., distant one mile and three-quarters. ·when up with it there will be seen ahead, and nearly in range with Deer Island Point Little Faun Beacon, another reJ can-buoy.* This is on Little Faun Bar, which makes out from Bar. the southeastern end of Deer Island in an E. -! S. direction for a mile and a quarter to the edge of the South Channel. For three.eighths of a mile of this length (about seven hundred yards) it is dry: at low tides; and about two hundred yards to the eastward of the dry bar is placed the buoy, which is of the second claBs, and marked No. 4. It is in fifteen feet at mean low water. This buoy is a guide for the North Channel, which crosses the bar in thirteen feet; and to the eastward of it the bar has soundings varying from nine to-seventeen feet. About two hundred and fifty yards E. from the buoy there is but ten feet, on a shoal extending E. and W. for three hun- dred yards. This shoal is on the eastern side of the North Channel. Little Faun Bar buoy marks the western limits of the channel, and bears from Miles, Great Faun :Bar buoy, SW. by W. ! W·---------------------------------- i Deer Island Point Beacon, NE. by E. f E·-------------------------------- i tLong Island Light-house, NE. l B·------------------------------------- 1 Dear Islam/ Aft.er passing Little Faun Bar buoy the COllnle leads for Long Island Light.. Point. house to avoid the shoals S. of Little Faun Bar and Deer Island Point. The eastern shore of Deer Island must receive a berth of at least six hundred yards, and the south- ern point not less than seven hundred yards; for E. by S. i B. from the beacon lies a rook, bare at l0to water, at the distance of an eighth of a mile, (two hundred and twenty-live yards.) To avoid this you must not go to the northward of Deer Island Point Bea.con bearing NW. by W. i W., on with the northern point of Governor's Island. There are no other dangers in the North Channel.

BOSTON HARBOR. 31 SAILING DIRECTIONS. NORTH CHANNEL--BOSTON HARBOR. From off Cape Ann, when clear of the Londoner, steer SW. by W. On this course Long Island Light-house will be made directly ahead, and must be steered for until past The Graves and up with tGreat Faun Bar buoy. Pass close to this buoy, leaving it to the westward, and steer SW. by W. W. for Little Faun Bar buoy. When up with this buoy pass to the eastward of it, close-to, and steer SW. for Long Island Light-house. On this course, when Deer Island Point :Beacon bears NW. t W., or is exactly abeam, steer W. t N. through President's Roads, and proceed as directed for the )fain Ship Channel. On the above courses the least water is eleven feet. Or, bring Long Island Light-house to bear SW. by W. and run for it until Deer Island Point Beacon bears NW. by N., in seven fathoms water, with Nix's Mate :Beacon bearing SE. by S. The oourse is now W. i N. through President's Roads, following the directions given for the Main Ship Channel. Or, oontinue the course for Long Island Light-house until Nix's Mate BeMon is in range with Narrows Light-house on a bearing of BE. -.f E. Thence steer W. i N., and proceed as directed for the Main Ship Channel. This last channel may be run safely at night, as Long Island Light-house is steered for, and the oourse is altered only on a bearing of Narrows Light-house. It crosses Great Faun Bar in thirteen feet on the eastern side of the channel, and leaves the buoy about one hundred and fifty yards to the westward. It also crosses Little Faun Bar in thirteen feet on the eastern side of the \"ten-feet shoal,\" and leaves the buoy a quarter of a .mile to the westward. Vessels of light draught may safely run it unless there is a heavy sea. The North Channel is never attempted by strangers; but with the above directions a stranger may, in case of necessity, run safely in to an anchorage. It is not recommended, however, to any but vessels of light draught; and to strangers, only in mse of urgent necessity. SHIRLEY our. This narrow and intricate passage is only fit for steamers, and must never be attempted by strangers under any circum- stances. Thirteen feet at mean low water may be taken through it under the guidance of a pilot; bnt the cha.nnel is crooked and dangerous, with a swift current. It leads between Polllt Shirley and D1ler Island, and is a.bout one hundred and fifty yards wide. DANGERS. SHIRLEY GUT-BOSTON HARBOR. The first danger met with in approaching this passage lies on the western side of the approaches and E. of \\Vinthrop's Head. When Winthrop's Head bears W., about a mile and a quarter distant, there will be seen on the starboard bow, about twelve hundred yards distant, a red spar-buoy, (No. 2.) This is on Winthrop's Bar, which makes off from \\Vinthrop's Head in an B. by S. direo- tion for three-quarters of a mile, with not over six feet upon it at mean low water. For Winthrop'a Bar. eight hundred yards of this distance the bar is bare at mean low water. The buoy is plared in fifteen feet off the southeastern side of the shoal, and bears from Nahant Head SW. t S., b!labout three miles and a half distant; and from Deer Island North E. by N. f N., nearly one mile distant. It is well to give it a berth when passing it, so as to e a straight course for the North beacon. There is an \"eight-feet spot\" between the two buoys. 'When past Winthrop's Bar buoy the course leads directly for Point Shirley, (easily distinguished by the almshouse and other public buildings upon it,) and there will be seen, in range with the p-0int, a black spar-buoy, (No. 1.) This is placed on the northern point of the shoal making off from the northern end of Deer Island. The channel leads to the westward of it, and makes a sudden and sharp turn around the buoy to the southward,-the current running with considerable velocity. This is the most dangerous part of the charuiel. When through the Gut a red spar-buoy will be seen ahead, about half a mile off, Dear la/and Deerwhich must be steered for to avoid the long fiat.s making off from the western shore Flats. of Island, and cnlled Deer Island Flats. These fiat.s have from four to six feet awthmicehamn luoswt bwea~ter andclrousne-atobotoutaWvoiSdWth.efmor. half a mile, almost over to the red buoy above mentioned, The buoy, however, is on the southeastern end of Apple directiottIsland Flats wbich are dry at low water and surround Apple Island, extending in a SB. about eleven hundred yards. At low water the fiats, being quite bold-to, Apple 18/and mark the limits of the channel with great exactn('BS and may be passed close-to. The Flat8. buoy is ma.rked No. 4, is plooed in twelve feet just clear of the shoals, and is to be left

32 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. to the westward by vessels coming in, whether standing t.o the southward into President's Roads or turning t.o the westward and entering Governor's Island Channel,-the northern point of entrance to which it marks. When abreast of the buoy on Apple Island Flats, if intending to proceed up to Boston by the M:ain Ship Channel, steer about S. by W. for the eastern end of Spectacle Island. Governor's In steering this course the black spar-buoy on Governor's Island Flats will be left Island Flats. well to the westward. Governor's Island _Flats are extensive shoals lying oft' the eastern shore of Governor's Island, from which they run E SE. for about a mile, and are bare at low spring tides throughout their entire length. Between these flats and Apple ISiand Flats runs the Govornor's Island Channel, and the black spar-buoy marks the southern point of entrance to it. Between Governor's Island Flats and the Lower Middle lies the North Branch of the Main Ship Channel, and a red spar-buoy marks its northern point of entrance. Vessels usin\"' Shirley Gut Pa.'l'la!!C may p!ISS up to Boston through either of these channels, or may continue past the red buoy on the so~theastern end oi the Lower Middle and go up the Main Ship Channel way. The black buoy on Governor's Island Flats is marked No. I, as a guide to Governor's Island Channel, and is placed in twenty-one feet at mean low water. If bound into President's Roads, when past this buoy you must take care not to go ashore on the Middle Ground, a mass of Middle Ground. shoal ground lying in an E SE. and WNW. direction, between Governor's Island Flats and ·Deer Island Point. It is half a mile long, but there is only part of it dangerous to vessels using Shirley Gut Passage. This is on its western end, about three-eighths of a mile SE. by S. from the black buoy (No. 1) on Governor's Island Flats. It has seven feet at mean low water and five at lowest tide.s. It is marked by a red spar-buoy (No. 4) placed in three and a half fathoms about Qne hundred yards to the westward of the shoal. The entrance to Governor's Island Channel leads between this and the black buoy on Governor's Island Flats, and vessels bound through Shirley Gut from the Main Ship Channel also pass between them. In coming into the Main Ship Channel from Shirley Gut vessels must pass to the eastward of the black and t-0 the wastwm·d of the red buoy, not- withstanding their colors. The range of the eastern end of North Spectacle Island bearing S. by W. ! W. leads clear of this shoal. There is good water on both sides of the Middle Ground; but vessels arc cautioned against using the eastern pasEage unless of light drau9ht, as there is no buoy to guide them, as in the western passage, although the water is equally deep. \"'\\ e.gse}s of light draught round Deer Island Point Beacon and steer NW. by w. for the red buoy on Apple Island Flats; but large vessels should go up into Governor's Island Channel by the western passage. \"\\\\-\"'hen past the black buoy on Governor's Island Flats there will be seen t.o the southwestward, about seven hundred yards off, a large red nun-buoy.* This is on the southeastern end of the Lowe'/\" ~Fuldle. Now, if bound up the Main Ship Channel, steer for this buoy and pass to the eastward of it. Continue the course to the southward until State Lee!~ buoy (red nun-buoy*) is in range with the red nun-buoy* on the northwestern end of the Lower Middle on a bearing of NW. i W. Now steer that course, and proceed as dire.cted for the Main Ship Channel. But if bound up the North Branch, (which is the usual passage,) round the southeastern end of Governor's Island Flats and steer to the westward along their southern side. On this course there will be seen ahead two red nun-buoys,* one on each bow. The buoy to the southward is on the northwestern end of the Lower Middle, and that to the northward is on Governor's Governor's Island Point, the shoal extending off from the southeastern end of Governor's Island. Island Point. Its direction is SW. by S. i S., its length a quarter of a mile, and it is dry at low water for half its length. The buoy is of the third class, marked No. 12, placed in fourteen feet water off the southwestern end of the shoal, and marks the junction of this channel with the Main Ship Channel. Vessels must pass t.o the southward of it, and to the northward and westward of the red buoy on the northwestern end of the Lower Middle. When past these buoys, and you are in the Main Ship Channel, steer for the black buoy on the Upper Middle, and follow the directions given for that channel on page 11. The least wat.er in the passage is thirteen feet. SAILING DffiECTIONS. SHIRLEY GUT--BOSTON HARBOR. From Nahant Head (which may be passed within eight hundred ya;nls) steer SW. for a.bout four miles. This will bring you up with the red spar·buoy on Winthrop's Bar,-which must be left about four hundred and fifty yards to the westward,-and when it bears :NW. by N. -! N. and Great Faun Bar Beacon S. ! W., steer W. l S. for Deer Island North buoy. Continue this course (on which there will be not less than sixteen feet) until within four hundred yards of the buoy, when alter the ootm1e to the northward so as to peas about one hundred yards to the norihward af it, carrying not less than thirteen feet wat.er. When a.breast of the buoy, tum short to the southward, passing to the westward

BOSTON HARBOR. 33 of it, close-to, carrying not less than four fathoms, and steer S. by W. toward Deer Sailing Direc- Island for 0bout an eighth of a mile, (two hundred and twenty-five yards,) until within fions--Shirley one hundred and fifty yards of the Deer Island shore, with five fathoms of water. Gut. Thence W. bys.·~ s. must be steered for the red buoy on Apple Island Flats, which will be in range with the middle of Fort Independence, (Castle Island.) On this course there will be not less than nineteen feet water, and when up with this buoy, if bound through Governor's Island Channel, pass to the southward of it, and, rounding it to the westward, steer W. by N. l N. (with not less than four fathoms) for the centre of Fort 'Vinthrop, and follow the ilirectioDS gh\"cn for that channel, on page 35. But, if bOffntl into Preshlent!11 Jloads and through the North Branch of the l\\Iaiu Ship Channel, when up with the buoy on Apple Island Flats steer s. by W. i W., passing between the black buoy on Governor's Island Flats, and the red buoy on the western end of the Middle Ground. Continue this course until State Ledge buoy bears W. tr S., when that course should be steered for about throo- cighths of a mile, carrying not less than four fathoms water. 'Vhen the red nun-buoy on Governor's tIsland Point bears NW. by W. W., steer NW. by W. i W., which will lead safely through the North Channel with not less than three and a half fathoms; and when the easternmost point of tGovernor's Island bears :N. i E., W. :N. will lead safe1y past the red buoy on Governor's Island Point and int-0 the Main Ship Channel. At low water the above courses will not be necessary, as the flats will show on each si<le, and it is only necessary to keep the middle of the Passage to pass safely through. Sailing-vessels must not attempt the passage through Shirley Gut and thence into this channel. It fa fit only for steamers. The sharp turn at Deer Is1and north buoy is so abrupt that great care has to be exercised even by steamers in making it; and the velocity of the tidal current, both of flood and ebb, is such as to render the passage at all times one of danger. None but those well accustomed to threading its windings ever attempt it. The above directioDS are given as a. part of the description of Boston Harbor, a.nd not as a guide to strangers. GOVERNOR'S ISLAND CHANNEL. This cho.nnel, wl1icb is only fit for steamers, begins ut t11e eastern end of Governor's Island Flats, and 1·uns in a WNW. direction, between Governor's Islnml and Apple lslmul, for n. little over a mile n.nd a hn.1£ Then turning abruptly to the south- ward it runs between Bird.Island and Governor's Island into the Main Cha.nnel, which it joins a little above the Upper Middl~­ lt is crook..U at its western end and narrow at both ends; bnt a steamship can carry not l<.'_ss than nineteen and a. half feet at mean low water throughout its entire length up to the East Boston wharves. It is very well buoye<l,-there being bnt one danger lcfl; unmarked, and that is easily a,·oided by careful.attention to the courses :md sailing-liu..s laid down. DANGERS. GOVERNOR'S ISLAND CHANNEL-BOSTON HARBOR. After passing Deer Island Point Beacon the rourse leads to the northwestward Middle Ground. ar:for the black buoy on Governor's Island Flats. The first danger encountered on this co~rse is the Middle Gr~m_n?, e~tensive shoal, lying W NW•. and ~ SE., which occupies the very middle of the passage, d1v1dmg 1~ mto two narrow channels with mneteen and a half feet waror in each, the WIBtern channel only bemg buoyed. A depth of from fourteen to seventeen feet at mean low water is found over this shoal, except at its western end, where there is only seven feet. It is nearly half a mile long between the lines of three fa!homs, an~ is marked by two red spar-buoys,- one (No. 2) on its southeastern end, and the other (No. 4) on its western end. The bla.ck spar-buoy met with on the southwestern side of the entrance is on Governor'a Governor's Island Flats,-exmnsive shoals lying oft' the eastern shore of Governor's Island Fla.ts. Island, from which they extend E SE. for about a mile. They are bare at low spring tides throughout their entire length; and between them and the western end of the Middle Ground lies the southern entrance 1n the G;>vernor'~ Island Channel. The buoy is placed in twen'o/ feet on the northern side of the eastern pomt of thlS shoal, and v~ must pass to the northward of it. Wben nearly up with it, a red spar-buoy will be seen about a g_uarter of a mile to the northward. This is on Apple Is1and Flats, which surround Apple Island and extend to the southeastward abont eleven hundred yards. They are dry at low water nearly to the Apple Island buoy, which is pl~l in fourteen feet on their southeastern point. ~t marks the Flab. northem side of the channel, and vessels must pass to the southward of it. O.P.-5

34 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. Dangersin Gov- From this point the course of the channel is NW. by W. t W., between Apple ernor's Island Island Flats on the north and Governor's Island Flats on the south. At low water Channel. the limits arc mnrked as by a wall, but at other times of tide it is not so easy to keep in the best water. To do this the buoy on ~i\\._pp]c Island Flats must be left t-0 the northward about two hundred and seventy-:five yards, and a NW. by W. t W. course leads up the middle of the channel with not less than four fathoms of water. On this course, on approaching the northeastern point of Governor's Island there will be seen, on the northern side Western Spit of of the channel, another red spar-buoy. This is on the \"'\\Vestern Spit of Apple Island Apple Island Flats. These flats, which, as before mentioned, surround Apple Island, extend to the Flafs. westward from it for half a mile, and are dry at low water to within one hundred yards of the buoy. TlJC buoy is marked No. 8, and placed in eighteen feet on the southern side of the western extremity of the shoal, and may be approached quit.c closely. V csscls must pass to the southward of it, and there will then be seen nearly ahead, and three-eighths of a mile off, (about seven hundred yards,) a black spar-buoy. This is on the Northern Point of Governor's Northern Point Island Flats, and is intended to mark the southern limits of the passage at this point. of Governor's These Hats make off from the northern side of the island for a quarter of a mile, but Island Flats. there are soundings of twelve, thirteen, and fourteen feet outside of them all the way to the buoy, which is in sixteen feet at mean low water between five and six hundred yards from the shore. It is marked No. 3, and is plaood on the northern extremity of the shoal. From the buoy on Apple Island Flat.s it bears NW., seven hundred yards di<ltant. V cs.<iels must pass to the northward of it to go in the best water, and an abrupt turn is then made to the westward toward the northern end of Bird Island, with a red spar-buoy on the northern side of the channel, about three hundred and fifty yards off, and a black spar-buoy on the southern side, about Noddles Island the same distance. The former is on Noddk~s Island Shoals. N oddlcs Island is almost Shoals. entirely occupied by East Boston. It is an island of very irregular shape, lying on the southern side of Chelsea River. A large bay, full of flat.s with narrow slues leading through and among them, is formed by the great curves of the shore between this island and Point Shirley. It is, however, at present of no commercial importance. These flats extend to the northern edge of the Governor's Island Channel, and it is on the southern point of one of these, making off from Noddles Island, and which is dry at ordinary low water, that the buoy is placed. It is marked No. 10, and pla<,-ed in eighteen feet on the edge of the channel. Almost exactly midway between this buoy and the black spar-buoy on G1ade._q Four Feet Flats (to the southward) there i;; a shoal spot with four feet at mean low water, which Shoal. i-;; not buoyed, and is exactly in the way of vessels bound through this channel. This is the most formidable obstruction in the whole length of the passage, but is .for- tunately very sma1l, and is easily avoided by keeping close to the red spar-buoy on Noddles Island Shoals or to the black buoy on Glades Flats. The latter will be seen -0n the eastern side of the pa...\"Sllge, nearly in range with another of the same color some distance to the southward. The channel turns abruptly at this point and runs in a nearly S SW. direction. . Glades Flats, which make off from the northwestern end of G-Overnor's Island Glades Flats. in a NW. by N. direction for four hundred yards, are bare at low water and rocky. The buoy is marked No. 5, and placed in four fathoms about one hundred yards NW. from the bare spit. It may be passed close-to, leaving it to the eastward, and the course continued passes between the red and the black buoys seen ahead. The red spar-buoy which is Bird Island first met with is on the southeastern point of Bird Island Flats. Bird Island lies on Flats. the western side of this channel and is covered at high water. There will be seen an iron spindle with a cage on top, both painted red, on the soutJ1eastern point of the ·island, about seventy-five yards to the northward of the buoy. This is called Bird Island Beacon, and there is no passage between it and the buoy except for ve;:sels of very light draught. The buoy marks the termination of the shoal water which makes off to the southward from the island, is markC'<l No. 10, and is placed in two fathoms at low water. Give it a berth to the westward,-passing midway between it and the black spar-buoy which lies off the wesrern end of Governor's Island, and which, when abreast of the former, will be seen a little to the eastward of the course. This buoy is on the northwestern side of G-Ovemor's Island Shoal,-the name given to the shoal ground making off from the western end of Governor's Island. It has from two to five feet at low water upon it, and extends in a westerly direction for nearly four hundred yards. The buoy is placed on the eastern edge of the channel, and vessels must pms to the westward of it. Here the Main Ship Channel unites with the Governor's Island Channel, and ab-Out :five-eighths of a mile to the westward (twelve hundred yards) will be seen the black nun-buoy on Slate Ledge. Now follow the directions given for the Main Ship Channel, turning when abreast of the buoy on Governor's Island Shoo.I, and steering exactly for the State-house dome until well clear of the flats on the southern side of Bird Island, when haul up for the wharves on eith«.>r side.

BOSTON HARBOR. 35 SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ISLAND CHANNEL. ooThis channel may entered either through Broad Sound or from the Main Ship Channel. I. Fron& the J!La:in Ship Cha.n:nel: On the NW. coul'RC for D(,>er Island Point Beacon, when past Nix's Mate, ancl Long Island Light-house bears WSW., in six and a quarter fathoms water, steer NW. by W. i w. for the southern end of Governor's Island. On this e-0urse there will not be less than four and a half fath-0ms, and the two red spar-buoys marking the :Middle Ground will soon be seen a little to the northward. Continue the course until the middle of Apple Island bean; N. by W. ! w., with five fat.horns water, when the oourse for the island will lead safely through b€tween the Middle Ground and Governor's Island Flats, rarrying not less than nineteen and a half feet water. When abreast of the black buoy on the northern side of these flats steer NW. by W. t W., having Deer Island Point Beacon directly astern and the red spur-buoy on the western spit of Apple Isfand Flats nearly ahead. On this course there is nothing less than three and a half fathoms. \"When fairly past the buoy off Apple Island Flats steer NW. by N., carrying not less than three and a half fathoms, until the State-house dome bears W. ! N. and the red spar-buoy on Noddles Island Shoals is in range with it. Steer for the dome, keeping the range until past the black spur-buoy on the northern point of Governor's Island Flats, and Bird Island Beacon bears SW. ! W. Steer for the beacon until abreast of the black spar-buoy on Glades Flats, when steer SW. by S. } S. for the black buoy on Governor's Island Shoal, passing to the southeastward of the red spar-buoy on Bird Island Flat'!, and . carrying not less than nineteen and a half feet water. \"\\Vhen past the black buoy on Governor's Island Shoal steer W. ! N. until Bunker Hill Monument bears NW.-! N., when steer for it if bound to East Boston; or steer NW. by W., and anchor on the edge of the fiats off Boston. II. If the t:ide is up a. little: Continue the course NW. for Deer Island Point Beacon (in range with the western end of Apple Island) until within two hundred and nfty yards of the former. Now steer W. t N. for two hundred and fifty yards, (an eighth of a mile;) when the beacon 'vill bear N NE., the depth will be nine fathoms, and Long Island Light-house will bear S SW.,-the bearings tchanging rapidly. The course is now NW. W., which will lead through the Eastern Chanm~l, between the Middle Ground and Deer Island 1'-,lats, with not less than nineteen and a half feet, and the red spar-buoy on Apple Island Flats will soon be seen directly ahead and open to the westward of Apple Island. Follow this course, keeping the buoy open, and carrying not less than three and a quarter fathoms, tmtil the red spar-buoy on the western side of the Middle Ground and the red nun- buoy on State Ledge are in range on a bearing of about W. by S. Now steer NW. by W.} W. up the pa.ssag€, heading for the red buoy on the Western Spit of Apple Island Flats. ·when abreast of it steer NW. by N., and follow the directions for this channel given above. In this passage, if the first course in (NW. t W. for the buoy on Apple Island \"Flats) can be made good, there will be at mean low water not less than nineteen feet. But in all probability a vessel \"-'ill be set to the eastward or the westward by the tide, and have only fifteen or sixteen feet. This channel, therefor€, is not recommended to steamers of heavy draught unless the tide be up. III. .Fro- the South Channel: Vessels entering by this channel pass Deer Island Point Beacon as usual, and bring it to bear SE. by E. t E., and steer NW. by W. -f W., keeping it over the stern for a range. Continue this course until abreast of the northeastern end of Gt>vernor's Island and up ,with the red spar-buoy on the Western_ Spit of Apple Island Flats, when steer NW. by N. and follow the directions given abOve. THE GANGWAY• •This is a nnrrow channel which lea.de along the eastern shore of the bay from Scituate to the northward,-threading the _ln~ate pa8llage8 among the C-0huaset Rooks. Although there iB good water through its entire length it is used only by Vl!B.!lele of 1ight draught, and by them only when piloted by an experienced pilot. No stranger should ever attempt; thi!! paasage even by da.y; it would be impol!i!ible by night. ,. From Scituate to Cohasset Entrance the fhore is guarded by many bnre o.nd sunken ledges lying at various distances from the land,-dangerons in the extrenui, and many of' them not buoyed. To throod the channel• between these requires an expe- rienced pilot, and, lllnce SeitUate light has been extinguishlld, few of these dare attempt the P'\"\"\"'ge nt night. · ·· · The shores from &itllllte to Strawb.!ITJ' Pomt are of moderate height, undulating, and dotted here and there with trees. A few hDW!Ji.'ll ILl'e - now and then. &itoate Entrauee lies aboot foer mijes and a half S. by :S. f E. from llinpt's Ledge Ligbi-

36 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. house, aud three miles and three-quarters SE. by S. t S. from Strawberry Point. The tower is the only conspicuous object. It is situ:ited on the northern side of tho entrance, hut the light !ms been discontinucd,-the tower being left as a dny-mark. It is said that the fishermen who trade to Boston in the summer maintain a light on this tower at their own expense to vuable the111 to con1e through tl1e Gangway at night. DANGERS GANGWAY PASSAGE-BOSTON HARBOR. Although no stranger should ever attempt this passage, a description of the approaches' to Boston would not be complete without a mention of the numerous rocks and ledges which obstruct it. After passing Scituate Tower the shore should not be approached nearer than Long Ledge. three-quarters of a mile to avoid Long Ledge, a dangerous ledge making off from the shore in a NE. ?t N. direction for three-€ighths of a mile, and bare at low water. It is not buoyed, but almost always shows itself by breakers. 'Vhen past it the above rule must be observed until the entrance t-0 the Gangway is reached, as there are several sunken ledges lying well off shore. Of these, among the most remarkable as well as the most dangerous, are the Cowen Cowen Rocks. H,ocks, one mile and three-quarters above Scituate Tower, a mile and a quarter above Long Ledge, and three-eighths of a mile (seven hundred yards) from shore. They are a dangerous group on the edge of the three-fathom line, being partly bare and having in places from two to six feet at mean low water. They are not buoyed, but the course usually sailed leads well fo the eastward of them. As this channel, however, lrads close along shore it is also necessary in the highest degree to guard against the extensive and dangerous Stellwagen Ledges, which Stellwagen must be left to the eastward. They are numerous detached rocks, with from nine to Ledges. eighteen f(,>et at mean low water extending in a chain from Davis' Ledge in a direction nearly S. to within a mile and a half of Scituate Tower,-a dit>tance of nearly two miles and a half. Th~y are all surrounded by good water, and arc not buoyed, with the single exception of Davis' Ledge, but they break with great violence in easterly weather, and at such times should not be approached under any circumstances. Scituate Tower, bearing S., clears these ledges, passing to the eastward of them; but those using the Gangway pass to the westward. One of the moot dangerous of these rocks, which has but seven foet at lowest tides, lies five-€ighths of a mile (twelve hundred yards) NE. of the Cowen Rocks and two miles N. by W. t W. from Scituate Tower. The oourse leads nearly a quarter of a mile inshore of it. Five-eighths of a mile N. by W. from Cowen Rocks and half a mile from shore Sunken Ledge. lies a detached k'<lge, called Sunken Ledge, but why 8-0 called is not known, as it is bare at low water. There is from five to seven fathoms on all sides of it, and it is not buoyed. '\\Vhen past it Smith's Rocks are approached. They are a group of bare rocky islets, forming the eastern end of a long line of bare and sunken ledges which make off in an easterly Smith's Rocfs. direction from the shore just below the Glades to a distance of half a mile, and are five hundred yards to the northward of Sunken Ledge. These rocks are surrotmded by shoal water, bnt are .boldest-to on their eastern side. The easternmost rock is a small islet, quite bold-to, and may be £afely approached; and vessels in passing it leave to the eastward, a quarter of a mile off, one of the Stellwagcn Ledges, with eleven feet at mean low water. Just to the northward of Colomore this ledge lie the Colomore Ledges, which are also part of the Stellwagen Ledges,- Ledges. being a group ofsunken rocks lying nearly three miles to the northward (N. by W. ! W.) of Scituate Tower, one mile SE. by E. ! E. from Strawberry Point, and a mile and three- . eighths s. by E. from Minot's Ledge Light-h-0use. They are not buoyed. Vessels using this pagsage pass to the westward of them, and to the eastward of Osher Rocks, which are bare at low water, and lie half a mile inshore of them. These rocks lie close in with the Oder Rocks. shore of the Gl™les,-being only three hundred yards off, and are not generally con- t>idered in the way by vessels using this channel. There is a small passage inshore of them, but they are not buoyed. A quarter of a mile E. from Osher Rocks lies a detaoh£d rook with fiflRen feet at mean low water upon it. The courses pass to the eastward of it. Chest Ledg•. After passing Osher Rocks, Chest ~ is next met with. It is a bare rook, surrounded by shoals, lying one-third of a mile SE. by E. l E. from Strawberry Point, one mile B. by W. t W. from :Minot's Leage I.Jight-house, and nearly three-quarters of a mile to the northward of Smith's Rocks. Though surrounded by shoals there is a passage with twenty-two feet at low water between it and the shore, which is not, however, available except in the smoothest weather. Chest Ledge is not-buoyed, but the courses pass to the eastward of it, About five hundred yards E. ! :N. from it lies a detached pinnacle rook, called Mike's Ledge, and the channel Mike'a Ledge. foa.ds. between them. Mike's Ledge has six feet at mean low water, and lies three- t. eighths of a mile N. by W. t W. from Colmnore Led~, and one mile S. E. from Minot's Ledge Light-house. The OOUI'8CS pru;s an eighth of a mile t,o the westward of it.

BOSTON HARBOR. 37 Tobias Rock is the next obstruction met with after passing Chest Ledge, and is Tobias Rocx. the southernmost of the group known as the Coha8Bet Bocl.s. It is three hundred and fifty yards aboye Chest Ledge, and a qn~r of a mile E. of ~~rawI;ierry Point. It is a bold ba!e :rassrock, always out, and may be approached quite clOSt;ly, but the sa1hng-lmes to the eastward of it. \"\\Yhen abreast of it there >1-'ill be seen a bare rock7 islet to the westward, lymg about iliree hundred yards N. of Strawberry Point, called Gull Island. The channel leads between this and a dangerous ledge about five hundred yards to the eastward of it, called the West Willies. \\Vest \"'Willies. These which are also a part of the Cohasset Rocks, arc bare at low water. They lie a quarter of a mile to the northward of Tobias Rock, and five-eighths of a mile (twelve hundred yards) SSW. from Minot's Ledge Light-house,-forming a piece of shoal groun~ about an eighth of a mile square on the eastern side of th~ ch_annel. A hlack spar-~:moy (No. 1) IS 11laced on the northwesrern side of the shoal, and vessels gomg rnto Boston through this channel must pass to the westward of it notwithstanding its color. It is painted and numbered for a channel leading from the eastward into Cohasset. This buoy is the first one met with by Ve&'lels hound to the north- ward through the Gangwny. East Willies. The FJ3.St 'Villies lies about four hundred yards te> the eastward of the dry rock on \\Yest \"Willies, and three-quarters of a mile S. ! W. from Minot's IA'ilge Light- house. It is bare at low water, and is not buoyed. A passage with six fathoms leads between the two ledges. Sheppard When up with West \\Villies the course passes to the eastward of Gull Island and a line of ledges to the northward of it, some of which are always out. A quarter Ledge. of a mile to the westward of these lies Sheppard Ledge, bare at low wau~r, and marking the southeastern side of the entrance to CohasL.:;et Harbor. A black spar-buoy (No. 3) i<J placed on its northwestern side; hut there is no passage between it and Gull Island, nor between Gull Island and Strawberry Point. When past Gull Island the entrance to Cohasset opens to the westward, and to the eastward will be .seen a red spar-buoy. This is on the southern side of Enos Ledge, and is not in the Gangway Channel, but on the northern side of the easrern entrance to Cohasset, £n0& Ledge. which leads between this ledge and the \\Vest \\Villies. It is a large ledge, lying nearly E. and W., and dry at low water. From Minot's Ledge Light-house it bears SW. i S., three-eighths of a mile distant. The buoy is placed on the southern side of the ledge, and must not be approached by vessels using the Gangway; for, about three hundred and fifty yards to the west- ward of it lies a bare rock, surrounded by shoal water, and known as East Shag £an Snag Ledge. This ledge lies on the eastern side of the Gangway, half a mile SW.! W. Ledge. from Minot's Ledge Light-house, and must receive a berth of one hundred and fifty yards. It is not buoycd,-tbe bare rocks serving DB a guide. \\Vhen abreast of it, two spar-buoys will be seen ahead. The black buoy is on the western point of \"\\Vest Hogshead Rock, dry at low water, and lying W. t s. from l\\finot's Ledge Light-house, a little over West Hogshead half a mile distant. An eighth of a mile to the eastward of it is anoilicr rock, bare Rock. at low warer, called HogBMad Rock; but both form one large ledge, lying nearly E. and W., and about three hundred and fifty yards long. The same distance still farther to the east- ward lies another rock, bare at low water, called East I:logshead Rock, and surrounded by deep water. ~he buoy is a black spar, (No. 1) and is placed in sixteen feet on the western edge of the ledge,- markmg the eastern limit.a of the Main Channel into Cohas<iet. V cssels bound to Boston through the Gangway must pass t.o the westward of it. On approaching the buoy on West Hogshead Rock a large bare rock, called Wert Wen Shag. ~hag, will be left t.o the westward. From this buoy the roc1( bears NE. by E. t E., s~x hundred yards distant.. West Shag is shoal in its approaches, and bare at low water on its western side for nearly four hundred yards; but on its eastern side it is pretty bold-to. . The red spar-~uoy whim will be seen to the westward on coming up with West Hogshead Rock, JS on ~e .w:estern s1d~ of the northern entrance to t11e G..ingway, and marks the point where it J01ns the roam approach as well as the Main Channel into Cohasset. It is The Grampuses. on the northeastern end of t hWe eGstraSmhpagu,saens'dtw~booultartghe~liegdgle;sthbsaoref at low {s~pirxinh\"~'mtdidrecsd and fifty yards) lying on the northern side o f a mile to the westward of West Hogshead Rock buoy. There is a depth of six feet between these two ledges. The buoy is marked No. 2, but vessels bound t.o Bost.on through the Gangway r_a1i' to t11e east- ward ~f it, 35 it is painted and numbered for the Cohasset Entrance. From l\\finot s Ledge Light- ;;~use it bea:rs W., seven-€ightbs of a mile; from the Glades House N. :f W.; and from the buoy on nest Hogshead Rock W. by N •• a little over a quarter of a mile distant. · . d The G~p~ form the nerthern extremity of an extensive line of ledges extending in a N NE. anThats SW. direCtion up .the middle of Cohasset Harbor,-separating t.he app~ into two cliannels. to the eestward is eal1ed the ·••ta u.a-.ei, and the wtstern passage JS known as BrusJ& ..ldan4......_.._. When past the red :buoy on the Grampuses the channel is clear to The Hardings.

38 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. SAILING DIRECTIONS. GANGWAY PASSAGE--BOSTON HARBOR. Vessels using this passage pass half a mile to the eastward of Scituate Tower,-steering N NW. for Minot's Ledge Light-house. This course will lead past Long L€dge in not less than four and a half fathoms. Wlien the tower bears S., one and a third miles distant, steer NW. t W. for about a mile, carrying not less than six and a half fathoms, until Minot's Ledge Light-house ~ N. ! tW,. and Scituate Tower S. by E. E.; when the depth will be seven fathoms, and N. by W. l W. will lead safely through the passage, passing to the eastward of Entrance Rock, to th(l westward of Colomore Ledges, to the eastward of Chest Ledge, and to the westward of Mike's Ledge. 'Vhen between the two latter, in six and a half fathoms, with Minot's Ledge Light-house bearing N. t E., · one mile distant, and the middle of Gull Island NW.! W., five-eighths of a mile distant, steer NW. fr N., which will lead, with not less than four and a half fathoms, past Gull Island and West Shag, and nearly up with the red buoy on the Grampuses, carrying not less than three fathoms at low water. Vessels must pa5s fo the eastward of the buoy on the Grampuses and steer NW. t N. for the bell- buoy on the Harilings, carrying not less than seven and a half fathoms. ''-'hen up with the bell-buoy, NW. by W. will lead into the Main Ship Channel with not less than four and a half fathoms. On this latter murse, when Bost()n Light-house bears N. i W., steer W. for the southern extremity of George's Island, and follow the directions given for the Main Ship Channel on pages 10-11. Or, when up with the red buoy on the Grampuses, as before, steer NW. } W. for the cas1:crn cliff of Point Allerton. This course leads, with not less than four fathoms, half a mile inshore of the westernmost rpck of The Hardings; and when the spindle bears E. ! N. and Boston Light-house NW.-by N. i N., in four fathoms, \"Fltony bottom,\" steer for the latter until Narrows Light-house bears W. by N. ! N. Now steer W. by N. for the black buoy on the northern end of Centurion Rock, carrying not less than three and a half fathoms. Pass to the northward of this buoy and steer NW. t W., following the directions given for the Main Ship Channel on pages 10-11. The above courses pass nearly six hundred yards to the eastward of Cowen Rocks; four hundred yards to the eastward of Sunken Ledge; a quarter of a mile to the westward of Nine-feet Rock on Stellwagen Ledges; two hundred yards to the eastward of Entrance Rock; an eighth of a mile to the westward of Colomore Ledges; three hundred and :fifty yards to the eastward of the dry part of Chest Ledge; two hundred yards to the westward of Mike's Ledge; an eighth of a mile to the eastward Qf Tobias Rock; two hundred yards to the westward of the bare rock of West Willies ; two hundred yards to the eastward of Sheppard Ledge; two hundred yards to the westward of the bare rock on F_.ast Shag; an eighth of a mile to the eastward of West Shag; three hundred yards to the westward of the black buoy on West Hogshead Rock; and about fifty yards to the eastward of the Grampuses. They pru38 half a mile inshore of Harding's Ledge spindle, and three hundred yards to the northeast- ward of the black buoy on Point Allerton Bar. This passage, as before remarked, must never be attempted by strnngers. It is of great conven- ience, however, to the fisherman and light coasters, who are familiar with its dangers. BLACK ROCK CHA.NNEL. This is a narrow channel which leads from the Main Ship Channel in a 1'lll. direction, between Lovell's Island and Narrows Light-botll!e, into Hypocrite Channel. It is dangerous, and is never used by large vessels unless there is ice in the Narrows. The sootbeastern eide of this pruisage is marked by Spit Ba.r; the north western side by the shoals on the erurtern side of Lovell's Island. Strangers mast not attempt it. DANGERS IN THE BLACK ROCK CHANNEL OUT OF BOSTON HARBOR. Whiting's In lmving the Main Ship Channel and bound out by the Black Rock Channel, Ledge. the first <langer met with is Whiting's Ledge, which has about six feet at lowest tides, and lies nearly in the middle ofthe passage, with the ebb tide setting strongly over it. It is not buoyed; but the following bearings were taken upon it: Nanow8 Light-house (with Spit Beacon Just open to the eastward) BE. bys.! s .• au eighth of a mile distant; and Black Rock E. by N., a little over six hundred yards distant. To avoid it, keep the east.em side of the paesage aboard; and in doing so care must be taken not to go ashore on Spit, or

BOSTON HARBOR. 39 Brewster Bar, (see also page 2.) This long spit makes off from the Great Brewster Spit or Brews- in a westerly direction to Narrows Light-ho~,-a distance of nearly one mile: It ~s fer Bar. dry at low water and tolembly bold-to, _and IS not very da~gerous to Y~ssds usmg.tlus. . . , channel, unless they hug the easten1 side too closely while cndeavormg to avoid W ~itmg s ~dgP. On the northern edo-c of this spit, about five hundred yards NE. ;{ E. from Narrows Light- house, lies a prominent ro~k or islet, called Black Rock, 'vhich gives the name to the channel awl serves also lliJ a guide to keep vessels off the spit. From the eastern side of Lovell's falaud shoal water extends to the northeru-twanl Shoals East of for three-quarters of a mile,-there being only twelve feet ~t low water ~t that <list;auc-e Lovell's Island. from the island. The spit is bare at low water for an- eighth of a mile NE. of the southern end of the island, and there is less than six feet one-third of a mile to the cast-ward of the eastern shore. The ebb tide sets on to these shoals, and vessels bound out must be careful, after tpassing Whiting's Ledge, not to go to the westward of Grl->en Island bearing NE. Th~ northeastern point of these shoals is three-quarters of a mile E. by N. N. from the northeastern pomt of Lovell's Island, and about two-thirds of a mile W. by N. from the southern end of C:alf Island. The wei;tern shore of Calf Island is bold-to and may be approached qmte closely. SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR VESSELS LEAVING THE MAIN SHIP CHANNEL AND llOUND OU'l' THilOL'GH THE BLACK ROCK CH~NEL. Coming down the J'.Iain Channel on the SE. -! E. course, when about midway between the south- eastern end of Lovell's Island and Narrows Light-house, with the southeastern angle of Fort Warren bearing SW., steer NE., keeping that range, with Green Island a very little to the northward of the course. This clears Whiting's Ledge, and should be oontinued until Little Calf Island bears S. by E., three hundred yards off, when the vessel will be in the Hypocrite Channel, about five hundred yards SW. from Green Island, and should steer E. or E. ! S., which will lead clear of everything. Not less than four fathoms is found on these oourses. If the tide be flood, mariners must not depend upon the NE. course to lead clear of 'O\\'hiting's Ledge. The course made good leads within thirty yards of that ledge, towards which the flood tide sets. In such a case, keep the eastern side of the channel aboard (guiding the courses by Black Rock) until past the ledge, when haul up for Green Island and proceed as before directed. This channel is, however, seldom used except on the ebb tide. Both flood and ebb tides set strongly through this channel,-the former setting nearly in the direction of the channel, and the latter more toward the eastern side. In either case, however, care must be taken not to be set on to Whiting's Ledge. A good rule is to pass close to Narrows Light- house and steer to the northeastward, keeping Blaek Rock open to the eastward. But no stnmger ought to attempt this passage, as a pilot can always be obtained in Boston. BACK, OR WESTERN WAY. Thill channel is used on the ebb, in light winds, to avoid being set out into the Sound nt N'ix's Mate, or int-0 Black Rock Channel at the southeastern end of Lovell's Island. The entrn.nce is between Thompson's Island and the Spootncles, whence it passes between the southwestern end of Long Island and Moon Head; then, turning abruptly t-0 the northeastward, passes along the eastern shore of Long Isla.nd, betwoon it and Rainl!ford Island; and thence towards George's Island into Inner Nantasket Roads. With en.re, this channel is safe even for strangers. Wben abreast·of the black buoy on Cnstle Rocks the entrance will bear B BE. A little to the Wet!tward Thompson'& of this bearing will be seen the precipitous fuoo of Thompson's Island, which lies on the western side of the Island. entrance h:> the Back Wny and ou the eaetern side of the entrance to Neponset River. This island lies E HE. and W BW. nnd is a mile long. The group of large houses on its summit is the hotel and its surrounding buildings, built near the middle or the island where the land rises to a height of seventy-five feet,-nearly rul the rest of the island being low land. I~ is aurrounded by tlata o.nd shoals, wbieh, on its eaal.ern side, extend oft' to a distance of three-quarters of a mile with leas than_ l$lX f<!Bt at low water; but on its western side it is much bolder, nnd may be approached (if bound into Neponset River) witrun three hundred and fifty yards. To the southward of Thompson's Island lies the peninsula of Squantum; a.nd from the southenstern end of the fonner a long and narrow sand-spit extends nearly S. by B. for five hundred yards,-its southern end being within seventy.five ylll'ds of Sqwmtum. Thus the island is nearly joined to the mairiland a.nd there is no pw!llllg0 between them at low water. (See also page 4.) On the eastern aide of the entrance will be seen the Epectacle Island,., which will be nearly in range Speotacle from this J>?i~t of view. They are two islands of moderate height, ban. of t,..,.,.., lying lf. and S. from each Islands. other, and Joined at low -wa1,er by a dry bar. The northern island lies nearly E. and W., and is seven hun- dred )'ll1dB long and aixty-&ve feet high, with clift'·li!c:e fuces worn by the n<ltion of the water. On eoming up with it tlren> will

40 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. ).ie seeu a group of houses on its southern end, where there is a low sand point. Th., southm·n island, on approaching it, will he seen tu be equally bare with the North Spectacle, but not so steep, although its height at the summit is the \"'1me. Tlie northern fa<:e of this island is as precipitous as that of the North Spectacle, but this side is uot visible from the Back Way. On the southern side the ~horn is low and sandy. Her<l ther,; is a wharf makiug out to the edge of the channd from the western shore of the South Spectacle near its southern end. When past the Spectacles on the S SE. course llfoon Island will appear on the western side of tho Moon Island. channel and Long Island on the c,...tern ><iile. Moon Island cannot fail to he recognized by reasou of its high, bare, precipitous liead, called Mooa Read, which forms its eastern end. Viewed from nen.r the Spectacles it will look like an cxtcusfon of the easlem face of Squautum. , M()()n Island lies :E. by N. nn<l W. by S. and is three-quarters of a mile long. 'l'he Head, wl1ich is eighty-five feet higli, fin·ms the principal part of the island; as to th<' wv-£two.r<l of its ba.!<e there 11' nothing but a low sand-spit cxtend\\ng about W. over one-third of a mile, At low water this is joined to the peninsula of Bquantum, whose rugged bills nppear to the westward of Moon Island. Opp01?.ite to Moou Head appeaTS, <>n lhe <'llstern side of the channel, the soutl1westem <'Xtr~mity of Long Long Island•. Island, presenting a hare hill fifty feet high, with precipitous face. To the northward of this hil1 th.. surface slopes J'\\!gularly almost to sea-level; rises again to a height of twenty or thirty feet; then falls again, uncl.so c<mtinucs, preseming a series of ele,·ations and depresslons,-tl1e lulls varying from fifty to ninety feet in heigl1t. The lJjgbest land on the island is about midway between its n<>rtbern and southern ends, where a smooth grrnm hill rises to a heigl1t of ninety fot>t. On the northern slopes of this hill will be seen-on passing to tbe southward of Spectacle Islands-the hotel buildings; aud here is a large wharl:' used as a steamboat landing during the snmmer season. Still furth..r to the northward rises Long Isl&Jld B.ea.d, eighty feet high, with· the light-house on it\" snmmit. It will ai>pear like a separote island,-the land betwoon it aud tlm base of the.hill upon which the hoJel is built being so low as to be scurcely pe1\"Ceptible. The channel passing between Moon Head and Lr:mg Islan<l leads dir<--ctly towards a bare precipitous l1ead with water-worn fuoo, behind which rises a still higher bill, smootb and grwsy, but not so steep. The high hill is QuiJlcy Grea.1' mu; the smaller hood in range with it is Nut Island. The lattt>r, sixty feet high, is two miles to the southeastward of Moon Head, and lies on the eastern side of Quinc-y Day. To the RDutlnvard and a )itt1e to tl1e westward of Nut Isl:i.nd, and about three-quarters of a mile off, Hangman's will :tppear a low, bare, rocky islet.. This is Hangmlln's Island, which lies in the midule of the entrance to Island. Quincy Bay, about midw:ty between Moon Island nnd Nut Island, and is surrounded by shoals. To the northeru;tw:trd of this island and in range with the western end of Peddoek's Island will :tppear n Jayge beacon of open-work, with a gti'nite b1i.B<', r.ml ;;unno\\mted by a Btaff and cage. This is on Sunkell. Isla.nil, and is one of tl1e guides to the approaches to 'Veym<>uth Fore River. Neither this ledge nor Hangman's Isfand is iu the way of vei;sel~ bound out by the Back \\Vlly. \\Vhen weU past the southwestern end of Long Island the channel t11rns abl\"llptly to tbe northew,ttw:trd Ra.insford Island. along the ea.stem face of that faland, between it and RainstOrd Island. Tbis will 1»ppear as a low island nearly bare of trees, hut having several groups of buildings upon it, and a long wh:1rf making off from its B011thern end. The buildings belong to the Qua.ranlilne Sta.tion, whicl1 was formerly ustablisl1ed upon this island, and are pn.r- tially concealed hy tl'<'<JS planted a.round them for m·na.ment and sh:i.de. To the southward of the we..tern eml of the island a Jong J..dge of bare rocks will he seen extending in a southerly direction a considerable distance. '.l'hese are the Quars.nt.131e RoCks, 11nd are among tbe principal obstructions to the entrance to Weylllout11. The course to th(} nortberu3tvmrd loods dirootly row1nd>1 the western end of Gallnp's Island, which from this point of view will show as low, gently-sloping land, with a couple of houses close to the shore nnd two small wharves making out to the ooutl1ward and westward. :Nix:'s Mat.a Beacon will appear a little to the northward of the course, and Long Island Light-house still farther to the westward. 'When past the eastern end of Rain.sford Island the ch.n.nnel turns to th<> eastward,--the course lending directly fot' tbe southern angle of f'ort Warren on George's ·Island, until within three-eighths of a mile of it, when it turns to the southward, leading directly towards a. Jijgh 11are liill, on the western elopes of which will he seen the village of .RUU. This is Na.nta.sJcet Bill, This course le&ds into Nn.nt.ask<it :aa...ds, al.\\er wliich tbe direcfams fm· the 'Main Ship Channel must be followed. DANGERS IN THE BACK OR WESTERN WAY. Scant nine feet at mean low water is all that can be taken through this channel. The shoalest part is to the southward of Spectacle Islands, between them and Moon Head. The first obstruction met with, aft.er passing the black buoy on Castle Rocks, is Thompson's known as Thompson's Island Flats. These extend off from the northeastern end of la/and Fla.ts. Thompson's Island to the eastwai-d for nearly three-cighths of a mile, with less than six feet at mean low wat.er, and that depth is found at a distance of three-quarters of a mile from the southern end of. the island. They are not buoyed, and to avoid them the Spectacle Island shore must be kept best aboard.· V €SSels must be careful not to approach the Thompson's Island shore. When abreast of the southern end of Spectacle Islands there will be seen well to Sou/pin Ledge. the eastward of the course, and about half a mile off, a red spar-buoy. This is on the eastern end of Soolpin Ledge, a long reef, with ma.ny rock:S awash, lying on the eastern side of the eha.nnel, about midway between. Long Island and Spectacle IslandB. · The buoy is no l!;Uide for the Back Way, being p}aoo(l as 3° ~ide t.o .seul_pfn. Leilue craa.--i, as the passage between Long Island and the Spectacles is called. Sculpi;l Ledge lies W NW. and E SE., is nearly three

BOSTON HARBOR. 41 hundred yards long, and its western_ end bears SE. b:f S. from the wharf on the Sou~h ~pectacle, i;i.x hundred yards distant. There. 18 ?? _buoy on this end of the ledge, and to av01d 1t vessels must not go to the eastward of the line JOlllmg the southwestern end of Long Island and the wharf on the SoutJ1 Spectacle. Moon Head Frorn Moon Head to the .eastward a flat extends about an eighth of a mile, with Flats. le.'J.S than six feet water. It is called Moon Head Flats, and is not buoyed, but the sailing lines lead well clear of it: . . The next danger met with 18 known as. Quarantmc Rocks. Th~y extencl rn 3; S. Quarantine by w. direction from the western end of Rarnsfot;d Island for three-eighths of a nulc, not marked rn an_y way. . They are1 how~ver, not Rock8. \"Way unless heatn:g to. \"''?dward, Ill winch case, are mostly bare at low water, and are to . them, dan.gerous to ves...'<els using the Baek av01d keep Long Island Light-house open to the westward of Ramsford Island. ·when past Rainsford Island and steering t?w~rds Fort~arren there will be ~n, on the southern WNW.side of the channelablack nun ~-buSoEy..*d ThIB lB on Hospital Shoal , aann~ eGxctoernws,i~v'es a nd irection, betwee.n Rainsford Ie<lb-.-c, lying in a Hospital Shoal. islands. It is three-eighths of a Inile long, and has upon it a small rock with five feet . Eat low water rn.llcd TVifson's Roel~. The western end of the shoal bears from the western end of Rams- ford Island NE., and from Long Island Light-house S. by E. ! E. The buoy is of the third cla...\"8, placed in eighteen feet off the eastern end of the s~oal. It bears from the southei;i end of G~rge's Islafid W., half a mile, and from Long Island Light-house SE. by S. ! S., one rmle and an eighth distant. After passing the buoy on Hospital Shoal you will enter N antasket Roads, and the. COlll'8e must be shaped either for the southern Centurion buoy, or to pass between Toddy Rocks and Hunt's Ledge. In the former case steer E NE. for a red nun-buoy,* with a black mm-huoy* a short distance to the northward of it. The red buoy is on the southeastern end of Centurion Rock, which has fourteen feet at mean low tides and twelve at low springs, and bears Centurion Rock. tfrom Narrows Light-hD1L..'<e SE. ! S., three-eighths of a mile, and from Boston Light- house W. by S. S., one mile and one-eighth distant. V esseis using this channel pass to the southward of the buoy, close-to. On passing the red buoy on the Centurion a nun-buoy,* painted red and black Hunt's Ledge. in horizontal !\"tripes, iA left to the southward a quarter of a mile off. It is on Hunt's IA,'<lge, which lie.s on the southern side of the channel about half a mile from the N antaskct shore, has fourteen. feet at mean low water and from three to five fathoms on all side.s. The buoy is on the rock. \"When past the Centurion buoy the course leads to the eastward, passing to the southward of a red spar-buoy. This is on Nash's Rock, a detached rock with thir- Nash's Rocc. t.een feet at low water, lying in the middle of the channel. The buoy is placed in eighteen feet water on th<i southern side of the rock. It is intended to remove Nash's Rock by blast- ing to a depth of twenty-Qne feet at mean low water. After passing Boston Light-house the channel is clear to sea. If intending to pass between Toddy Rocks and Hunt's Ledge, the course will be about E., and there will be seen about three-quarters of a mile to the eastward a black nun-buoy* on the southern side of the passage, and a red and black nun-buoy* on the northern side. The latter is on Hunt's Ledge; the former on the northern end of Toddy Rocks. These rocks Toddy Rocks. make off in a long line from the base nf the Nantasket Hills, and are hare at low water one-eighth of a mile from shore. The buoy on Toddy Rocks is a nun* of the second class, marked No. 3, and placed in three and a half fathoms on the northern side of the ledge. The channel lP,ads directly between this buoy and that on Hunt's Ledge, and continues to the eastward towards Point Allerton, passing to the northward of the black nun-buoy on Point Allert-On Bar. After passing this buoy there are no more obstructions and the channel is clear to sea. SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR VF.SSELS BOUND OUT OF BOSTON HARBOR BY THE BACK WAY. From abreast of the black buoy on Castle Rocks steer SSE. for Quincy Great Hill, which will appear about four miles off. This course will lead, with not le.ss than nine feet, between Thompson's Island and the Spectacles, passing to the eastward of Thompson's Island Flats and well to the west- ward of Sculpin Ledge. (It may be possible to see Nut Island in range with Quincy Great Hill and to rooognize it by its hare precipitous head.) On this course, when Bass Point (the sou~eastern end of Long Island) is opened from behind the southwest.em point on a bearing of NE. by E. f E. st.ccr BE. for one-quarter of a mile exactly for the summit of the hill on the southwestern end of Peddock's Island. On. this oourse there will not be le.ss than nineteen feet; and, when the southwestern end of Long Island bears 111'. i W. and· is in. nwge with the easoorn ~nd of the North Spectacle, steer NE. c.1~.-6

42 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. by E. for the western end of Gallup's Island, passing between Rainsford and Long islands and carrying four fathoms water. Continue this course until Long Island Light-house bears N. and the ea.stern end of Rainsford Island is a little abaft the beam, bearing S. by E. -! E., when there will be three and three-quarter fathoms, and E. by s. must be steered for the southern angle of Fort Warren on George's Island. On this course the least water is three and a half.fathoms. ·when within five hundred yards of the island, with the centre of Nantasket ffill bearing SE. ! E., steer for the hill until Narrows Light-house hears N NE., when the depth will he seven and a half fath()ms, and E NE. will lead you up to the southeastern buoy on the Centurion. 'Vhen up with this buoy steer E. ! N. to sea. Or, on the SE. 1 E. course for N antasket Hill, when Narrows Light-house bears N NE. and it is intended to pass between Toddy Rocks and Hunt's Ledge, steer E., passing about midway between the two buoys in five arid three-quarter fathoms. This course continued will carry you safely to sea. OTHER P ASSA.GES IN BOSTON HARBOR. Thl're is a de..p and unobstructed passage with not less than :five futhoms leading between George's Island and Gall11p's Island. Vessel8 P\"\"\"ing up the Narrows on the flood-tide may, if the wind be light, be set through thiM passage. In s11ch a case they will find good anchorage anywhere to the southward of Gallup's Island, or to the westward of George's Island. If such a vessel be of light draught, she may avail hers.,Jf of a channel with ten fe..t st mean low water which leads to the northward, between Nix's Mate and Long Island Head, into the Main Ship Channel. DANGERS IN THE PASSAGE BETWEEN LONG ISLAND HEAD AND NIX'S MATE, FROM INNER NANT.ABKET ROADS. Designing to enter this channel from Nantasket Roads, the oourse leads toward the low land to the southward of Long Island Head, passing to the eastward of a black nun-buoy* marked No. 1. This is on Hospital Shoal, a large led9e lying WNW. and E SE. between Rainsford Hospital Shoal. Island and George's Island,- lVikon B Rook, the shoalest part of it, baving five feet at mean low water. The buoy is placed on the eastern side of the shoal and is half a mile W. of the southern angle of Fort 'Varren. When past it there are no dangers until near the western end of Gallup's Island, when there will appear, a little to the northward of the course, a red spar-buoy. This is on the Southern Spit of Nix's l\\fate, which fa dry at low water, SouthernSpitof and extends from Nix's Mate B€acon in a SE. direction for a quarter of a mile to Nix's Mate. this buoy, which is marked No. 2. In passing the shoal the buoy is left to the east- ward close-to, to avoid the shoals on the Long Island side. SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR PABSING FROM INNER NA1'\"\"\"TASKET ROADS, BETWEEN NIX'S MATE AND LONG ISLAND HEAD, INTO PRESIDENT'S ROADS. From the buoy on the southeastern end of the Centurion steer W SW. until Narrows Light- house bears N NE., when steer NW. l W. for the low land just to the southward of Long Island Head. On this course Nantasket Hill will be directly astern. Continue it until past George's Island, carrying not less than three and a half fathoms, and Deer Island Point Bcaoon bears N. by w. Now st.ecr for the beacon, passing t.o the we,stward of the red buoy on the Southern Spit of Nix's Mate; and when fairly in the Main Ship Channel, with Long Island Light-house bearing SW. t s., steer W. l N. into President's Roads. Ten feet is the least water, and this is found between Nix's Mate and Long Island Head. Everywhere else there is over three fathoms. PASSAGE :aE'lwEE:N LONG ISLA.ND AND THE SPECTACLES. This channel, called ScUlpiu Ledge Cllamlel. leads from President's Roads into the Back or Western Way, and is commonly used by vessels bound to Qnincy and W eymonth. It is good for eleven feet at mean low water. The channel lies nearest to Long Island,-exteusive shoals malting offfrom the eastern shore of the Spectacles. DANGERS IN SCULPIN LEDGE CHANNEL. In coming int.o this channel from President's Roads, when abreast of Long J.sland Light-house, there will be seen to the eastward of the course a black spar-buoy lying close in with Wharf Rock. the wharf near the hotel. This is on Wharf Rock, which lies to the westward of the

BOSTON HARBOR. 43 mustwharf and has two feet at lowest tides. The buov is marked No. 1, })laced on the northwest.ern side of the rock in twelve f(let water, and vessels pass to the westward of it. When past it, a red spar-buoy will be seen ahead about half a mile ofl: This is on Sculpin Ledge, an obstruction already described in the dangers in the Back \"\\Vay. It is a long reef, aw:uih Seu/pin Ledgs. in several places at low water, lying about midway bc~vecn Long Island and the Spectacles and on the western side of this channel. The buoy is marked No. 2, placed in twelve feet water off the eastern end of the shoal, and vessels must pass to the eastward of it. SAILING. DIRECTIONS. I. Coming frown U•e Eastward to Enter this Channel.-'Vhen Long Island Light-house bears SE. i S. and Deer Island Point Beacon E. by N. ! N., steer SW. by B., carrying not less than three fathoms, until up with the red buoy on Sculpin Ledge, which must be left to the westward about fifty yards off, and SW. by W. t W. must be steered for the summit of Moon Head. On this course there will not be less than fourteen feet, and when within one-third of a mile (about six hundred and fifty yards) of Moon Head, with Quincy Great Hill bearing S BE. and the wharf on the southwestern point of the Spoot.acles N. by W., you will have entered the Back Way, and must steer S SE. or N NW., according as you are bound to Quincy or into the Neponset River. On this course there will not be less than eleven feet. II. etnn«ng fro..., the W\"eshDarrl.-'\\Vhen, on the course through President's Roads, Long Island Light-house bears E SE., and the eastern end of the North Spectacles. by W., steer SE. for the wharf near the hotel on the western side of Long Island. Continue this course, carrying not les.q than three fathoms, until within three hundred and fifty yards of the wharf, when steer SW. bys. for the red buoy on Sculpin Ledge and -proceed as above directed. FORT HILL CIIANNEL. This channel separates South Boston from Boston proper and leads into South Bay. It has eight feet at mean low wat.er, it& shores a.re lined with wharves, and it i• crossed by no less than five draw-bridges. Vessels therefore must be towed in and out. The Harbor Commissione1'S d ...ign making extensive improvements in this dumnel,-one of the most important of which is a heavy granite sea-wall. LIGHT-HOUSF.8. NAME. Latitude N. Longitude West from Fixed or lnteITal Height Distance Greenwich. Revolving. of Flash. al.ove visible in In arc. In time. level of nautical 0 '\" b. m. s. sea. miles. 4' 4.3 33.'l Boaton Light-house •..••••• I 0 I\" '10 63 lll5 4' 43 411.15 Revolving. m. s. Feet. 17 '10 157 13 4 43 40.T 0 30 16 Long Island I.l.gJJ.t-houae•.• u 111 89 TO l5IS 10 Fixed. 111 ll Harrowa I.lg.ht-house •.•••• 111 H ' '\"u 2.3 Fixed red. .--...~...-....-....-....-......................-..-.. llll 16 llinot's I.edge I.lcht-boUlle .• H '10 u ff H H 111 Z1 4 311.15 Fixed. .................... 46 En Bock Llgjlt-house .•• ___ H 70 151 H Fixed red. 92 16 9 u 215 ll8 BT TIDES. Boston Light. 11• 12\"> U. S. Dry Dock. 9.4 ft. Corrected Elltabllsllmellt .•••••••••••••••••• - •••••.• - - .•••••.• - • • • • • • • • • • • • 11h 27... 10.9\" 8.1\" J(ean Rise aud Fall of tide• •••••.••• _ • • • • • • • •• • • • • . . • • . . • • • • • . . . • • • . . . • • 1o.o ft. 6b 20m 6 11 5m Jlean Rise &ltd Fall of Spring tides • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • . • • • • . . • • • • • • 11.3 \" Ob 11m Mean Rise a.ad Fall of l!rea,p t.ldea....... .••••. .. •.•. ..•••. ... ••. .•.•.. •••• 8.5\" 12.2 ft. Jlean duration of Biiie.................................................... 6• 13m !lean duration of l'all .•••.•.•••••••••••. : . • • . • • • • • • . . • • • . . • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • 6h 13m · · - 411r&'1on of Bt&n4 • -· ••••• ·- •• ··- •••••••••••••••••••••••• -- - • -· ••• -- Oh 9\"' :atae of ~ ttde obaerved. • •• • ••• • •• ••• •• •• •• •• • • •• • •• • •• ••• • •• •• •• •••• 15.1 ft. FOG-SIGNAL& At Jlblo\\•1 Ledp I.ijrb.t-home there is & bell struck by machinery. At BoSCOll ~Jaoue there is an air-trumpet, giving blasts of seven seconds' duration at intervals of furty-three 8eCOnde.

44 ATLANTIC COAST PILOT. CL\"\"RRENTS. i 1''irst Quarter. 1: I Third Quarter. I 111--------,--- I1--~~~~~~~~~S~T~AT~I~ON~S~. ~~ii-~~se_t_·~-i-D_r_in_.1 ~~-S-et_·~-i-D-r-ift_.1 _~_s_e_t.~~-!-D-ri_~_t. Maximum. tThree-eighths of a mne s. of Bird Island •..•... EN.Wb.ylNN..,l N. ' 00..88 EN.Wb.ytNN. ••.l. N . 1.311.2 EWNW...t0E.J.tNNNt.•N. . • O0..9'l W. t N. 0.6 W. by N. 0.7 Three-eighths of a mne N. ofSpeeta.cle Isl an..,._.... i N. o.7 E. by N. t N. 0.9 O.'l E. by N. o.9 W. of Long Isl.and Lh · ·• · · · · • ·• · • }i NSEW. i.t W . 0.5 SSW. O.T S.fW. t E. 0.3 l.ght- ouse. · · · N. 0.4 E. by N. 0.9 NE. by E. 0.4 2.5 NW. byW. i w. BetweenLongislandLight-houseandDeerisJ.and1 w. by H. t N. 1.4 W. bys.ts. 1.2 IPoint Bea.con. 3.3 E. i 8. 2.1 E. ts. 1.4 E. by s. Between Lovell's and Gallup's Islands......... N8 NSBW. . 0.4 Between Barrel Bea.con and Centurton Buoy - . · - o.3 l!tW. bY N. 0 -6 NNW.f.Wby. N. 0.6 w;s..bbYyNs.. i N. 0.2 N.fW. 0.9 o0..'6T w. bys. t s. 1.101..60 BSWH.Eb. yW. t w. 11..121 Ew..-tbNy. H. ~1:.:4 =~t:ep~dBdo:tko' :ILslla.ngdht-~~~-~~-~~~~~~~~: l;_y:.-tN. ~:: ~w-.tbbiy_sE..itsE.. u2.1 w. bys. i s. 1.2 E. t S. 1.0 E. t S. ;_b:/s.*N. 0.6 1.:1 E. by S. 0.1> ~5 1.0 I SW. t W. of Calf Island ·• - • •• • · - •• • - • • • •• •• • • • • • •• · SW. by W. 0.6 , SW. 1.1 I0.6 I NE. t E. . 0.1 IW. o.6 : HE. by N. IN. 0.11 j NE. t E. 5 .i H0.2 Between the outer Brewster a.nd Th G - sw. t w. t E. o.a .J sw. ts . t E. 1.1 sw.1 w. i E. e raves. NE. NE. by E. b y E. o.8 NE. by E. 0~:.2: I1w~-. ;bry/N·.tts.N. H ~~{f~~s.0.3 w. by N. ii N. ::~:=::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::~l)~IS~W~;. sbiy~s*.;tsis. j In the above table at ea.ch station the set and drift of the flood-tide is placed first, followed hy that of the ebb. The .set i11 given by compass; the drift is in nautical miles per hour. VARIATION {)F THE COMPASS. In January, 1876, the Magnetic Va.l'iation was 11° 13'. The present annual increase is about 21'· LIFE-BOAT STATIONS. There is a life-boat. at Nahant, on the northeastern side, near the hotel, which can easily be launched on either side of the peninsula. At Deer Island there are three boats, one large and two small ones; at Point Allerton, inside of the buoy nod rocks on the northeastern part of the point, there is another life-boat; and on Bull Beach, on the inside of the N eek connecting Hull nnd Nantasket, there is a boat with a life-car, mortar, hmvser, and otl1er means of communicating with a wreck. On Ha.nta.sket Bea.ch, about a mile and a quarter to the southward of Point Allerton, there are two life-hoats; on Pleasant :Beach, a little over a mile to tile westwarn of the entrance to Cohasli<et Harbor, there ia a boat; near Hominy Point, inside the westem entmnce to Cohnsset Harbor, there are two boats; on Simon's Fa.rm Beach (N<>rth Coh!1.8Set) there is one ]ife-boat; on the beach near the Glades House there is a boat; at Fourth Cltif (Scituate) there is a life-boat; on North Scituate BeaCh, inside of Minot's Ledge and rocks, there is a boat; at Bull Cove, about a wile to the eastward of the town of Scituate, there are two Loats in one house i and on the beach near Bc:ltua.te Light-tower there is one largB metallic life-boat, placed under the care of the MW!sachnsetts Humane Society by the Secretary o( the Treasury. SHORES OF BOSTON BAY FROM DORCHESTER POINT TO NEPONSET RIVER. From Dorchester Point, the eastern point of the peninsula. of South BOl!ton, the shore rnns to the westward a mile and a qoarter, then turns to tl1c BOUtl1ward. for nearly half a mile, and then to the eastward into a long marshy point, enllffi Old Barbar Poillt,-thus forming n large but shallow cove, dry at low water, and called Old Barbor. A smaJl cove, also dry at low water, makes in on the soutlrnrn side of Old Harbor Point, between it a.nd a steep partia.lly-wooded hill, one hundred foot high, and called Sa.vln mu. The shore extends to the eastward from the base of this hill into a long narrow sand point, called Savin Point. On the southern side of Savin Hill anol-her large cove makes in,-the shores of which are t11ickly settled. It is dry at low wat.er and is crossed nl'nr its head hy a bridge,-over whid1 passes the Old COJ.oay Ba.Uroa.4. The southern point of the entrance to this cove is 11 flat peninsula, called Commercial Point, composed of low cleared land, :thickly covered with houses, and from hs southeastern point a large wharf, called Commercla..l Wharf; extends oft\" to the eastward.. This peuinsufa fonna t11e western point of entrance to .NEPONSET RIVER. This is the first river emptying into Boston Day to the eastward of South Boston. It leads to lfeponset; VllJa.&'e, one mile above its mouth, and thence to llr1lton EUs, two miles farther by the river. It is narrow and crooked, tl10 approll.<lhcs are dangerous, and it is not considered safe fur etr•angers to enter wit.bout a pilot. Some description of its shores a.nd obs1ruotiona will be given, however, and such sailing dlrections as can be made inCelligible.

NEPONSET RIVER. 45 The river is a third of a mile wide at its month, but grows gradually narrower until, nt Milton Mills, it is only one hundred yarcls in width. The western side of the entrance is thickly settled, and is marked by n. long wharf, with many buildings upon it, called Commercial Wharf, ancl which extends out to the edge of the channel. The eastern shores of the river are composed almost entirely of salt-meadow and are destitute of houses. In entering this river vessels pass between the Spectacles and Castle Island,-kceping along the western shore of Thompson's IW:tnd and steering nearly for Commercial Point. When past Thompson's Island the thickly-settled country between Mount Ilowdoin and Neponset will be seen ahead; and, on the western side of the channel, Savin Hill will appear as a high, st\"\"P hill, pa1·tly wooded, and with a number of handsome houses clotting its slopes. It will be noticeable as the only high land on the shore between Dorchester Point and Squantum. To the southward of the hill, however, and well back from the shore, will appenr the summit of :Mount Bowdoln,-one hundred and se¥enty feet high. Its sides are cultivated and its whole surface is dotted with houses and orchards. Next to the southward will appear Commercial Point, marking the western side of the montb of the Commercial Point. river; and to the eastward ofit a low, broad, marshy point. will be seen, with the mouth of the river between Farm Point. them. This point, called Farm Point, is the ea1<tern point of entrance to Neponset River, and the extensive mnrshes, of which it is the extremity, are called Fa.rm Meadows. There are several patches of firm ground on the peninsula, (which are under cultivation,) and two or three small groves of trees. To the eastward of it and just to the BOUthward of Thompson's Island the high land of Squanturn will appear, grassy, bare of trees, and under cultivalion. Sqmmtum separates Neponset Entrance from Qutncy Bay,-the large shallow bay which makes $quantum. in bt>tween Squantum and Hough's Neck. On entering Neponset River between Commercial Point and Fa.rm Point th\" course of the stre.am is at first S. by E. for nearly a mile,-between low marohy banks with occasional groves of trees,-until abreast of Neponset, which is seen about n. qua.rter of a mile back from the western shore. Th1mce the stream makes a turn about SW. by W. for n. quarter of a mile, passing under the Old Colony Railroad bridge and the county bridge just to the southward of it. Thence it runs S. by W. (still between marshy banks) for one-third of a mile, thence SW. by W. for a quarter of a mile, and con- Milton Milla. tinues its windings, with an avernge width of a little over a hundred ynrds, to Milton Mills Village. This village is two miles and a quart.er above the mouth of the river in a straight line, but nearly three miles and n half by the windings of the river. The land upon which the village stands is high, slopes gently to the water, nnd is under cultivation. About n. mile above the county bridge a third bridge carries the road to :B.a.Uway Vlllage across the river. All these are, of co111-eo, draw-bridges. DANGERS IN .APPROACHING .AND E]).\"'TERING ~EPONSET RIVER. Veesels int.ending to enter this river from the eastward will leave President's Roads when past Spectacle Islands, and steer to the southwestward for Commercial Point. On this oonrse Thompson's Island will be left to the eastward, keeping its northwestern shore pretty close aboard; and to the southwestward will be SBen two spar-buoys,-a red buoy on the western side of the channel and a black buoy on the eastern side. The former is on Old Harbor Shoal. Old Har6or This is the name given to the ext~msive flats making off from the west.ern shore, Shoal. between Dorchester Point and Old Harbor Point,-their eastern end extending to within half a mile of Thompson'l:l Island, with less than six feet at mean low water. The buoy is marked No. 2, and is placed in eight feet on the southern side of the eastern end of the shoal. It bears from Dorchester Point B. l W., seven-eighths of a mile, and from Fort Independence SW. by 8., a mile and a quarter distant. The best water is about one-third of the way from this buoy to the black spar-buoy on the eastern side of the channel, which is on Thomp- Thompson's son's Island Flats, making off from Thompson's Island. It is about two hundred /Bland Flats. and fifty yards from the shore, and bears S. by W. -f W. from the red spar-buoy on Old Harbor Shoal, a quarter of a mile dist.ant. The buoy is placed in seven feet water on the north- western side of the flats. . The space inclosed between Thompson's faland, Farm Point and Squantum is one mass of flats, bare at extreme low tides, which it would be impossible for a stranger to avoid except at low wat.er, when the flats on both sid€S show themselves. It is possible for a vessel drawing not over five feet to beat through this channel with the aid of a chart and a free use of the lead; but no one is advised to attempt it. When abreast of the black spar-buoy on Thompson's Island Flats there will be Old HarfJor Flats. seen ahead and in range with Commercial Point a red spar-buoy. This is on Old Harbor Flats, which make off from Old Harbor Point in a southeasterly direction for .about three-eighths of a mile. They are often called Cbw Pasture Ffaw, are bare at low tide, and their south:astern edge is quite bold-to. The buoy is marked No. 4, and is plaoed in ~v~n feet on the extreme pomt of the flats. The course passes to the eastward of it, and when abreast of it leads more to the w~ard, with Savin Hill to the northward, and three spar-buoys nearly ahead · appean1:if/l~ ::cer. Of these three buoys the first one met with will be a black Farm Point ~r. JS lB on arm Point Shoal, which is the name given to the dry flat ext.ending Shoal. uu from Farm Point in a NW. by If. direction for one-third of a mile. The buoy is ma.rked No. 3, and is placed in seven feet on the northwestern point of the flats. It bears from the red