Northwest Channel has been improved and in January, 1925, had a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m.) and a width of 200 feet; it can be used by vessels of 16 feet (4.9 m.) draft. This channel affords a short cut from Key West Harbor to the Gulf of Mexico and is well marked.

Key West, on Key West Island, is the only city of any size on the west and north shores of the Straits of Florida. It is the terminus of the Florida East Coast Railroad, and has steamship communication with New York, Habana, Tampa, Mobile, and Galveston, and in the winter season with Colon and Nassau. A number of steamers and small sailing vessels enter and clear from the port, over half of which are from or for foreign ports. The commerce consists of canned goods, cedar, cigars, coal, fish, flour, fruits, grain, crude and refined oils, tobacco, and general merchandise. The greatest draft of vessels coming to the port is 262 feet and the average draft is 14 feet.

Terminal facilities.-The depth at the wharves ranges from 10 to 26 feet (3.0 to 7.9 m.), according to locality. These consist of four wharves and six piers, used for general freight, etc., having berthing space of 11,744 feet. All have connection with city streets, two piers having rail connections. These terminals with the exception of one wharf are open to the public. In addition to the above there are four Government piers, having a berthing space of 4,138 feet.

Prominent features. When standing along about 6 miles southward of the Florida Keys, as the entrances from the southward are approached, the city and Key West Lighthouse will be seen near the western end of Key West Island, and Fort Taylor will show prominently a little westward of the island. The naval coal wharf and radio poles are conspicuous north of the fort. Sand Key Lighthouse will be seen about 7 miles southwestward of Key West Lighthouse.

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

Anchorage. The best anchorage is in the inner or Man-of-War Harbor, where the depth is 32 to 42 fathoms (6.5 to 8 m.); this anchorage is northward of the city between coral banks, which prevent a heavy sea. Vessels can anchor anywhere off the city northward of Fort Taylor, or in the entrance to the Northwest Channel abreast of the city in 32 to 5 fathoms (6.5 to 9 m.), taking care, however, not to get too close to the reefs, which in some places rise abruptly at the edge of the channels. The outer anchorage, about 1 mile from Fort Taylor, with the fort bearing between 36° true (NE. by N. mag.) and 328° true (NW. by N. mag.), has depths of 42 to 6 fathoms (8 to 11 m.) and is somewhat exposed, but is safe for vessels with good ground tackle. Small craft generally anchor in the cove on the north side of the city southward of the railroad wharf.

Quarantine. The boarding station is near Fort Taylor; no vessel is permitted to pass above this before obtaining pratique. The

quarantine anchorage is in Man-of-War Harbor northward of Fleming Key.

A marine hospital is located at Key West. It is open to foreign as well as American seamen.

Pilots can always be had by making signal while outside the reefs. Pilot boats are usually cruising outside and a good lookout is kept for approaching vessels. Pilotage is compulsory for certain vessels. Pilots for Hawk Channel can be had at Key West. See the extracts from the laws of Florida relative to pilotage on page 4.

Extracts from the Rules and Regulations for the Port of Key West.-The master of any vessel entering the port of Key West, who does not accept the services of a pilot shall be compelled to pay the full legal rates of pilotage, provided the vessels be spoken outside the following limits:

If she be entering by Main Ship Channel she must be spoken outside the Western Head Buoy. If by Hawk Channel, she must be spoken east of midchannel buoy, intersecting Southeast Channel and Hawk Channel, Key West Light bearing NW. 14 N.

If entering by Southeast Channel, must be spoken outside of No. 4 red buoy, Sand Key bearing SW. by W. 4 W.

If entering by Southwest Channel or Sand Key, she shall be spoken southwest or a line of No. 7 black buoy and No. 8 red buoy in Southwest Channel. If entering Northwest Channel she must be spoken outside of No. 1 or Bar Buoy.

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

SEC. 13. The rates of pilotage as now established by law are as follows: For steamers or vessels drawing 6 feet, or less than the same, $2 per foot; for steamers or vessels drawing from 6 to 10 feet, $3 per foot; for steamers or vessels drawing from 10 to 14 feet, $4 per foot; for steamers or vessels drawing from 14 to 20 feet, $5 per foot; for steamers or vessels drawing over 20 feet, $6 per foot. These rates shall apply to all steamers or vessels, whether owned wholly by citizens of this State or not: Provided, That all steamers or vessels carrying the regular United States mails shall pay half pilotage only: Provided further, That all steamers or vessels drawing less than 6 feet of water, and having a coastwise license, shall be exempt from paying whole or half pilotage, unless they employ a pilot.

And all vessels drawing 14 feet or less shall pay the sum of $10 for dropping from one anchorage to another and those drawing over 14 feet shall pay the sum of $20.

Supplies.-A large supply of bituminous coal is always kept on hand, and anthracite coal can be had in limited quantities. Water can be obtained, but the supply is limited at times. Provisions and ship chandler's stores can be obtained in the city.

Repairs. There is a small marine railway, 180 feet long, with a lifting capacity of about 1,000 tons. Vessels of 10 feet draft forward and 16 feet aft can be hauled out. Repairs to the hulls of wooden vessels can be made, and there is a machine shop where ordinary repairs can be made.

Storm warnings are displayed at Key West.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 1.2 feet.

Currents. The tidal currents in Key West Harbor and Northwest Channel set fair with the channels and the times of maximum current at these places are nearly simultaneous, the strength of the flood (north flowing) occurring 1 hour 46 minutes before high water, and the ebb 1 hour 14 minutes before low water, at Key West. Slack water occurs 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 52 minutes, respectively, after high and low water at Key West. The average velocity at strength of both flood and ebb is 1 knot between Whitehead Spit and

Kingfish Shoals, 1 knot in Man of War Harbor, and 1.7 knots at its entrance, and 1.4 knots in Northwest Channel abreast of Middle Ground. These normal conditions are greatly modified by winds.

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

DIRECTIONS, KEY WEST HARBOR

The approaches to Key West Harbor have been examined by means of a wire drag, and the dangers are shown on the chart.

Main Ship Channel. This approach is used by all deep-draft vessels entering Key West. A channel 300 feet wide and 302 feet 9.3 m.) deep has been cleared of shoals.

Key West Entrance gas and whistling buoy is moored in about 15 fathoms (27.4 m.) on the Main Ship Channel range, 414 miles eastward of Sand Key Lighthouse. Buoys Nos. 1 and 2 mark the 24-foot (7.3 m.) curves at the sides of the channel, about 1/4 mile northward of the gas buoy.

Main Ship Channel range marks the axis of the channel up to Eastern Triangle Light. The front light of the range is mounted on a small, white, pyramidal beacon on the shore end of the causeway leading to Fort Taylor; the rear light of the range is mounted on an iron mast near the southeast corner of the Navy coal shed, color white, with vertical stripe down roof and side of buoy shed. Each of these beacons shows a red light at night.

From the entrance gas buoy steer 356° true (N. 5% W. mag.), with Key West Main Ship Channel range lights in line ahead. When up to Eastern Triangle Light steer 339° true (NNW. % W. mag.), with Whitehead Point Spit buoy a little on the starboard bow. Pass 200 yards westward of this buoy and steer 2° true (N. mag.), passing between buoys Nos. 11 and 8 at distances of about 200 yards from each. When abreast of buoy No. 8 steer 10° true (N. 5% E. mag.) for 3⁄4 mile and anchor in 4 to 5 fathoms (7.3 to 9.1 m.). Or, if bound for the wharves or Man of War Harbor, from abreast of nun buoy No. 8, steer 24° true (N. by E. % E. mag.) on the Key West Harbor range, and give the breakwater at the naval station and the wharves a berth of about 100 yards.

Northwest Channel.-Northwest Channel has been examined by means of a wire drag, and the dangers are shown on the chart. The following courses lead in a least depth of about 18 feet (5.5 m.):

When Northwest Passage unused lighthouse is distant 7 or 8 miles, bring it to bear 182° true (S. mag.) and steer for it, passing about 1 miles eastward of Smith Shoal gas and whistling buoy, and until up to the entrance gas and bell buoy. Northwest Bar Light will then be on range with Sand Key Lighthouse, the latter barely showing over Snipe Key.

Leaving the gas and bell buoy 200 yards to eastward, steer 171° true (S. by E. mag.), heading for Northwest Bar Light in range with Northwest Channel entrance range rear light until abreast of can buoy No. 3. Then haul gradually to eastward, passing between Northwest Bar Light and can buoy No. 5, and bring Northwest Bar Light astern and in range with Northwest Channel turn range rear light, course 118° true (SE. by E. 34 E. mag.). Continue this

course, leaving three can buoys to port and up to nun buoy No. 6. Then bring Northwest Channel inner range on ahead, on course 139° true (SE. 1 S. mag.) and continue this course until one-fourth mile from the front object of the range. Then steer 155° true (SSE. 3 E. mag.), heading for Inner Midchannel gas buoy (flashing white). Vessels drawing 14 feet or less can cross the Middle Ground by passing about 400 feet south of Northwest Channel Inner Rear Light.

Vessels of the limiting draft of Northwest Channel should pass southward of the Middle Ground. From Inner Midchannel gas buoy steer 148° true (SE. by S. mag.) to a position 100 yards eastward of Kingfish Shoal Light. Then steer 171° true (S. by E. mag.) for 1 mile until Key West Lighthouse bears 70° true (ENE. 1% E. mag.) or at night in the red sector of the light. Then head for the lighthouse until Key West Harbor_range comes on. Then steer for

it on course 24° true (N. by E. % E. mag.) and give the breakwater at the naval station and the wharves a berth of 100 yards.

FLORIDA KEYS, WESTWARD OF KEY WEST

This section is the western end of the remarkable chain of low islands, with intervening reefs and shoals, beginning with Virginia Key, in about latitude 25° 45′ N., longitude 80° 09′ W., and extending in a circular sweep to the Dry Tortugas, in latitude 24° 38′ N., longitude 82° 55′ W. From Florida Bay westward to Dry Tortugas they separate the waters of the Straits of Florida from the Gulf of Mexico.

Westward of Key West there is a succession of shoals, reefs, and keys, mostly of a coral formation and very irregular in outline. The keys are low, small in extent, and, except for the Dry Tortugas, largely covered with a dense growth of mangrove. Fresh water in limited quantities is found on Marquesas Key and some rain water is caught and stored at Dry Tortugas.

About 51⁄2 miles south of the main chain of keys and reefs, and extending westward from Sand Key Lighthouse for a distance of 40 miles or more, is a line of reefs, shoals, and generally broken ground, which rises abruptly from the deep water of the Straits of Florida. Satan Shoal, Vestal Shoal, Coalbin Rock, Cosgrove Shoal, Marquesas Rock, and a 17-foot (5.2 m.) spot 21/4 miles westward of Marquesas Rock are the most dangerous of those known at present. As a measure of safety, when standing westward of Key West and bound into the Gulf of Mexico, vessels of the deepest draft should avoid this broken ground, including the areas with depths less than 10 or 12 fathoms lying southward and westward of Rebecca Shoal and Dry Tortugas. A course which leads 1 to 2 miles south of the buoys, 12 miles south of Rebecca Shoal Lighthouse, and 8 miles south of Dry Tortugas Lighthouse on Loggerhead Key is as close as this broken ground should be approached when skirting it. The hand lead can not be depended upon to insure clearing the dangers.

The currents near the edge of the bank in this locality are variable, being influenced by the winds, by differences of barometric pressure in the Gulf and outside, and by the tides. There are strong

tidal currents through the passage westward of Rebecca Shoal. A velocity of 12 knots has been observed in the passage and 1 knot (north and south) on the edge of the bank southward of the passage. The tidal current on and off the edge of the reef should also be taken into consideration by vessels in these waters.

For about 11 miles westward of Key West Harbor there is an extensive shoal area with a number of small scattered keys on it. White sand beaches make the three southernmost keys easily distinguishable from the southward.

Bocagrande Channel, lying about 15 miles westward of Key West, between Bocagrande Key and Marquesa Keys, affords a short cut across the shoals from the Straits of Florida to the Gulf of Mexico; but it is seldom used, as the Northwest Channel from Key West has deeper water, is better marked, and cuts off more distance for vessels coming from or bound to points northward or eastward. Bocagrande Channel is good for a depth of about 11 feet (3.5 m.) and is buoyed, but it is used only by local boats of about 6 feet or less draft. A 2° (north mag.) course will lead through the buoyed channel.

Marquesas Keys are a number of keys, roughly circular in outline, lying westward of Bocagrande Channel; they are about 4 miles long and 3 miles broad and surrounded by an extensive shoal area. Extending in a westerly direction for a distance of 18 miles from Marquesas Keys is an extensive shoal, the western part of which is known as The Quicksands. The general width of the shoal between the 18-foot (5.5 m.) curves is about 41⁄2 miles, with depths of only 2 to 6 feet (0.6 to 1.8 m.) over it in spots. At the western end of The Quicksands is Half Moon Shoal, with a least depth of 10 feet (3.0 m.) on it. A red buoy, No. 4A, marks the location of a wreck.

About 5 miles north of The Quicksands is New Ground, a narrow ridge 51⁄2 miles long in a general east and west direction, % mile wide, and with a least depth of 4 feet (1.2 m.). Its western extremity is marked by a gas and whistling buoy. On the northern side of New Ground the water shoals abruptly, and vessels should keep in not less than 13 fathoms (23.8 m.) to insure clearing the shoal.

On the southern side of New Ground, and between it and The Quicksands, is a questionable channel, 214 miles wide, with depths of 28 to 35 feet (8.5 to 10.7 m.). Spots having 19 to 22 feet (5.8 to 6.7 m.) over them are found 7 miles eastward of New Ground, and the bottom inside of the 10-fathom (18.3 m.) curve is generally broken. There are indications of a ridge, of which New Ground is the western end, extending eastward to Smith Shoal, and the locality should be approached with caution by all except lightdraft vessels. A shoal, with 212 fathoms (4.6 m.) of water over it, lies 33% miles 255° true from Smith Shoal, partly verifying the existence of the ridge mentioned.

Between Half Moon Shoal and Rebecca Shoal is a channel used by steamers with local knowledge drawing as much as 18 feet (5.5 m.), but it is not recommended for a stranger because of the broken nature of the bottom. Within a radius of 234 miles from the buoy on Half Moon Shoal, and between southeast and west of it, are a