MIAMI 263 to navigation. In July 1935 the controlling depth was 12.8 feet (3.7 m). The main entrance is now north of Burlingame Island and runs close along and southeast of the Royal Palm Yacht Basin. To enter the river through this channel pass southward through the turning basin off the city park and stand through the channel into the river passing about 100 feet off the Royal Palm Yacht Basin. The river can be entered with a controlling depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) by following the channel ranges through the dredged channels east and southwest of Burlingame Island. Vessels from the southward use this route. 14. MIAMI HARBOR AND MIAMI (Chart 583) Miami is the principal city on Biscayne Bay and the most important city on the Atlantic coast south of Jacksonville. It is a popular winter resort and is growing in commercial importance. It is on the main line of the Florida East Coast Railway and is the southern terminus of the Seaboard Air Line Railway. This gives excellent communication with all northern cities and with Key West and Habana on the south. It is an important yachting center, especially in winter, and a large number of small boats operate out of the port, angling and cruising along the Florida Keys. In addition to steamer connection with northern cities, there is a steamer running to Nassau and to Habana, Cuba. Miami Beach is a winter resort located on the peninsula and the outside beach, east of Miami and Biscayne Bay. Several bridges cross the bay, forming good highway connection with Miami. This city is wholly residential. On the southwest end of the city, south of the county causeway and just inside the jettied entrance of the main channel, are located the only commercial wharves. The municipal wharf is located at this point with a depth of 19 feet (5.8 m) alongside and in Meloy Channel, connecting with the main channel. Numerous small wharves are located along the west side of the city, which are used entirely by pleasure craft. The east side of the city, fronts directly on the ocean. There is an amusement pier extending out into the ocean, about 1/4 mile north of the jetties. Numerous other structures are prominent from seaward, several of which are located on chart 583. For port facilities, see below. Coconut Grove is located about 4 miles southwest of Miami. A channel with a controlling depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) at mean low water and well marked by beacons leads from the deeper waters of Biscayne Bay to the docks. The Pan American Airport and the Biscayne Bay Seaplane Base (Coast Guard) are located at Dinner Key. There is a marine railway at Coconut Grove with a capacity of 1,500 tons, 150-foot length and 10-foot (3.0 m) draft. Coral Gables is a city adjoining Miami on the southwest. The waterfront is unimportant. A canal has been dug through the coral rock to form an approach to a proposed yacht club. The canal is crossed by fixed bridges with limited clearance. It is reported that a draft of 4 feet (1.2 m) can be taken into the mouth of the canal Miami, Fla., at night from Biscayne Bay; (1) Everglades Hotel tower; (2) courthouse; (3) News tower. at mean low water. There is an important landmark, the tower of the Miami Biltmore Hotel at Coral Gables, which shows well over the lower part of Biscayne Bay and the approach to Miami from the southeast. Pilots.-Pilotage is compulsory for certain vessels. The pilot station is at Miami Beach, on the end of the pier, close to the North Jetty. The pilot boat will come out to meet any vessel making signal for a pilot. Pilotage. The following are extracts from the rules adopted by the Board of Pilot Commissioners: The rates as given below 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 mail shall pay half pilotage only: provided further, that all steamers or vessels drawing less than six (6) feet of water, and having coastwise license, shall be exempt from paying whole or half pilotage, unless they employ a pilot. 34. Any pilot detained on board of any vessel by the master or quarantine officer shall receive from such vessel for each and every day's services the sum of $4 per day over and above his pilotage. 35. The rates charged for placing letters or orders on board any vessel shall be one pilotage; this rate shall apply to vessels seeking and not taking cargo. The maximum charge for taking a physician out to any vessel or for taking any sick or injured person from such vessel shall be $75. 36. The master of any vessel subject to pilotage entering the Port of Miami, who does not accept the services of a pilot, shall be compelled to pay the regular legal rates of pilotage: Provided, That services of a pilot are offered such vessel outside the entrance bar buoy to Miami Harbor. 37. All vessels subject to pilotage crossing the bar, either in or out, shall be required to pay full pilotage to the pilot offering his services, whether such craft to be in tow or otherwise. 38. Every master of a vessel who shall detain a pilot after the time appointed, so that he cannot proceed to sea, though wind and water should permit, shall pay such pilot $10 per day, or fraction thereof exceeding one-half hour, during the time of his actual detention; and if any vessel which shall be boarded by a pilot without or within the harbor limits, shall by violence of the weather or otherwise be driven to sea the master or owner of such vessel shall allow and pay the pilot $10 per day, or fraction thereof exceeding one-half hour, for every day he shall be on board, besides the fee of pilotage. 40. All vessels at anchor or under way within the bar at night shall exhibit a light in some conspicuous place, at least ten feet above the deck, so as to be seen by vessels or boats passing, under a penalty of $100 for each and every neglect, and shall also be liable for all damages or the amount of injury sustained by any vessel or boat coming in contact with such anchored vessel because of the absence of such light. And it shall be the duty of the pilot to notify the master of each vessel coming over the bar of the existence of this requirement. Pilotage rates.-The rates for pilotage are as follows: Channels.-The Main Channel is a dredged cut from the 30-foot (9.1 m) contour, through the jettied entrance south of Miami Beach, and thence across the flats in Biscayne Bay to the municipal piers on the Miami water front. An extension of this channel leads to the railroad pier south of the municipal piers. In crossing the bay this channel runs parallel and close to the Miami Causeway. There is a shoal marginal strip about 100 feet wide between the northern edge of the channel and Miami Causeway along its entire length. Lights marking this channel are established about 25 feet back from the edges of the channel. Vessels are advised to favor the south side of the channel during southerly winds as a pronounced northerly set of current may then be experienced. The present project calls for a 30-foot (9.1 m) channel, with a width varying from 500 feet at the ocean end to 300 feet in the passage across the bay. In December 1935 full depth was available in all parts of the channel. The turning basin off the municipal piers has a controlling depth of 30 feet (9.1 m). There is a controlling depth of 13 feet (4.0 m) in the channel to the Florida East Coast Railway piers, with the same depth alongside. Miami Beach Channel (Meloy Channel) branches from the Main Channel at the inside end of the jetties and extends northwestward along the west shore of Miami Beach as far as the causeway bridge. It is reported that the depth in this channel and at the wharves on the east side of the channel is 19 feet (5.8 m) at low water. A channel about 1/2 mile westward of the Miami Beach Channel leads northwestward from the Main Channel to the Miami Causeway. The controlling depth in this channel is reported to be 18 feet (5.5 m) at mean low water. Fishers Island Channel branches from the Main Channel just inside the jetties and extends westward for about 1,200 yards along the north side of Fisher Island to the Belcher Oil Co. property, and is maintained at a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m). The channel westward of this point and on the west side of the island is maintained by private interests to a depth of 20 feet (6.1 m). The Railroad Channel extends westward from Fishers Island Channel to the city water front. This channel is no longer maintained and is little used except by local interests. It is poorly marked. The controlling depth, according to surveys in 1935, was 8 feet (2.4 m). From this channel a natural channel with a controlling depth of 7 feet (5.2 m) leads to the southward. It is also little used and is not marked. Biscayne Channel leads through the shoals south of Cape Florida into Biscayne Bay. It is partly dredged, and there are shoals close to the channel line in places. Care must be used with boats that are close to the limiting depth of the channel. The route is well marked and easily followed in daytime. The directions given are good for 8 feet (2.4 m), but it is reported that, with local knowledge, 10 feet (3.0 m) can be taken to the city wharves via this channel. Several channels lead through the shoals between Biscayne Channel and Key Biscayne which are much used by local boats. For these channels the chart is a good guide. South Channel is a dredged cut leading from Biscayne Bay, northward of Key Biscayne, to the Miami city water front. The Intracoastal Waterway southward to Key West passes through this channel. One branch of it leads into the Miami River and the other leads directly into the turning basin off the city park. Between these two branches there is a connection which runs close along the Royal Palm Yacht Basin. South Channel and the two main branches are reported to have 11 feet (3.4 m) at low water. The connecting channel into the Miami River alongside the Royal Palm Yacht Basin has a controlling depth of 15 feet (4.6 m) at mean low water. Small-boat channels.-The area between the two causeways connecting Miami and Miami Beach is used as an anchorage by yachts and small boats. There are numerous slips and wharves on the made islands in this area. There are no marked channels but the depths are ample, from 9 to 10 feet (2.7 to 3.0 m), for the size of craft that use them. Local knowledge is necessary for navigation in this area. A channel, marked by private temporary markers, follows the east shore of Biscayne Bay northward from the Miami Beach (Meloy) Channel. The channel has a controlling depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) to the Venetian Causeway and 8 feet (2.4 m) beyond it and is used by the owners of the various estates in this vicinity. Directions. From the Miami Causeway Bridge at Miami Beach follow a midchannel course until the Flagler Monument bears west (mag.); then head for the draw of the Venetian Causeway bridge. After passing through the draw, follow the shore of Belle Island at a distance of about 200 feet until north of the northern point, then head east until about 100 yards offshore. Thence head north and follow the shore at a distance of about 100 yards. The turns in the channel are usually marked by an iron stake. An unmarked channel permits a draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) to be carried from the Intracoastal Waterway to the channel described immediately above. The channel follows parallel to the north points of the Venetian Islands and about 100 yards offshore. Local knowledge is necessary for the navigation of this channel. Collins Canal leads northeasterly, along the southeast side of the highway prolongation of the Venetian Way, to Indian Creek. The controlling depth in the canal is 4 feet (1.2 m). Navigation is limited by the fixed bridges crossing the canal. The Intracoastal Waterway northward from Miami through Biscayne Bay has a controlling depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) and is well marked by beacons. The harbor master. 42. The harbor master's jurisdiction shall extend over all waters within Miami Harbor limits and all waters within Dade County. 43. The harbor master is an ex-officio member of the board of pilot commissioners, and as such shall carry out all rules and regulations of the pilot commissioners and shall be the operating force through which the pilot commissioner's rules and regulations for the harbor of Miami are enforced. He shall have full police powers upon all the waters, wharves, etc., within the harbor limits and wherever his duty may take him. 44. The harbor master will be a deputy sheriff with all powers of same, and any law case he is required to handle will be presented by him to the proper county officials. 45. The harbor master shall appoint a deputy for Miami Beach. 46. It shall be the duty of the harbor master, in addition to such other duties as may be imposed on him from time to time, personally to see that all the regulations of this port looking to the safety and convenience of the vessels arriving, remaining in, and leaving the same, shall be properly observed and kept; and to this end he is required from time to time, and as often as may be necessary, to inspect the wharves, docks, and places of anchorage in this port, and observe the location of the vessels using the same. All vessels shall be anchored fore and aft in the fairways. He is required to keep the channel way and track of vessels clear at all times. 20712°-36-18 |