Towboats are generally used by the larger sailing vessels, and will sometimes be found at the entrance of the river waiting for vessels expected to arrive; they may also be obtained at Newport or by telephone from Dutch Island Harbor.

Harbor and quarantine regulations for the port are given in Appendix II.

Marine hospital.-See page 10.

Supplies. Coal, provisions, and ship-chandler's stores can be obtained. Water can be had at the wharves and from water boats.

Repairs. There is a floating dock with a capacity for vessels of 1,000 tons at East Providence, and two marine railways for small craft on the Seekonk River. There are large machine shops in Providence, with excellent facilities for repairs to the machinery of steamers.

Storm-warning displays are made at Providence and at the Providence Yacht Club.

For tides, see table, page 29.

Tidal currents are not strong, and generally follow the direction of the channel.

Ice. In severe winters the river is closed to navigation, but in ordinary winters the towboats and steamers keep the channel open.

SAILING DIRECTIONS, PROVIDENCE RIVER.

These directions are good for a least depth of 20 feet at low water to the city of Providence; vessels of deeper draft should take a pilot.

Having followed the directions in section 3 for the Eastern Passage or Western Passage of Narragansett Bay, pass 200 yards northeastward of Conimicut lighthouse and steer 307° true (NW 1⁄2 N mag.). When Sabine Point lighthouse opens westward of Bullock Point lighthouse 12 make the turn with an easy port helm, steer 342° true (N % W mag.), and pass 200 yards westward of these lighthouses. Pass 200 yards northwestward of Sabine Point lighthouse and steer 22° true (NE % N mag.) for Pomham Rocks lighthouse until abreast the red buoy nearly 14 mile below it.

Then steer 351° true (N % E mag.), pass 150 to 200 yards westward of Pomham Rocks lighthouse, and continue the course about 4 mile above it. Then steer 335° 30′ true (N by W mag.) for Fuller Rock lighthouse, with Pomham Rocks lighthouse a little on the starboard quarter. When about 4 mile from Fuller Rock lighthouse, steer 321° 30' true (NNW 1⁄4 W mag.), pass about 100 yards westward of it, and continue the course up the middle of the harbor. Anchor above Fuller Rock lighthouse and Fields Point, on the side of the channel as directed by the harbor master.

Remarks. In addition to the lighthouses the channel is marked at comparatively short intervals by buoys. The channel is being improved to a least width of 600 feet, and the directions lead near the middle of the improved channel. Above Fuller Rock lighthouse, the harbor line on the easterly side extends from the end of Kettle Point to the end of the Wilkesbarre coal pier. On the westerly side the harbor line extends from Fields Point (as cut off) to the end of Harbor Junction wharf, and thence to the wharf opposite Fox Point. Where there are no wharves to mark the harbor lines, the edges of the channel are defined by buoys. Above Fields Point dredging is in progress to deepen the entire river between the harbor lines to a depth of 25 feet.

GREENWICH BAY 1

is situated at the northwestern end of Narragansett Bay, its entrance being between Warwick Neck and Potowomut Neck. The bay is about 21⁄2 miles long, has an average width of about 1 mile, and an average depth for the greater part of its area of about 10 feet. Old Warwick Cove and Brush Neck Cove are shallow coves in the northeastern part of Greenwich Bay; on Oakland Beach, between these coves, is a large hotel and flagstaff which show conspicuously in Greenwich Bay. Apponaug River, a shallow stream, empties into the northwestern part. Nearly 1 mile above the mouth of the river is the village of Apponaug. At the northwestern end of the bay southward of Apponaug River is a coal dock, to which 8 or 9 feet can be taken at high water.

Greenwich Cove, 14 miles long, 300 to 600 yards wide, and with a general depth of 8 to 10 feet, makes southward from the southwestern end of Greenwich Bay. On the western shore of the cove is the town of East Greenwich. The narrow channel into the cove has a depth of 10 feet, and there are depths up to 12 feet at high water to some of the wharves.

SAILING DIRECTIONS, GREENWICH BAY.

The following directions lead in a depth of about 10 feet to the entrance of Greenwich Cove, but 8 feet is about the deepest draft that can anchor with swinging room in the cove.

Pass 4 mile southward of Warwick lighthouse, steer 302° true (NW mag.), and pass about 150 yards northward of buoy No. 1. Then steer 279° true (WNW mag.) to a position 75 yards northward of buoy No. 3. Then steer 244° true (WSW % W mag.) for buoy No. 2, pass close southward of it, and continue the course with buoy No. 5 on the port bow. Pass 75 yards northward and close westward of buoy No. 5, and steer about 156° true (S by E mag.) into the cove. Keep in the middle of the cove, and anchor not more than 1⁄2 mile above the entrance, in 10 to 13 feet.

Remarks and dangers.-The dangers eastward of Potowomut Neck are described on page 98.

A number of sunken rocks lie 200 yards or less off the south and southwest sides of Warwick Neck.

Sandy Point Shoal buoy (spar, black, No. 1), lying nearly 1 mile west-northwestward from Warwick lighthouse, marks the northern edge of the extensive shoal, with 7 feet over its outer part, which makes off from Sandy Point. Sally Rock, with 5 feet over it, lies nearly 4 mile northward of Potowomut Point (the north point of Potowomut Neck), with foul ground between; the rock is marked by a buoy (spar, black, No. 3).

Chippanogset Island is the small island, with yellow bluff facing eastward, in the extreme western part of the bay, and northward of the entrance to Greenwich Cove. From this island shoals, with little water over them, make off 500 yards northward and 250 yards eastward and southeastward; the southeastern extremity is marked by a buoy (spar, red, No. 2).

Shoals make out northward and northwestward for a distance of about 300 yards from Long Point, the northwestern point of Potowomut Neck. The western end of the shoals is marked by a buoy (spar, black, No. 5).

A shoal extends 110 yards off the mouth of a stream on the west side of Greenwich Cove 250 yards above buoy No. 5. WICKFORD HARBOR,1

in the west shore of Narragansett Bay, westward of the northern end of Conanicut Island, comprises an outer and inner harbor. The outer harbor is a broad bight between Quonset Point on the north and Wild Goose Point on the south; between these points it is about 2 miles wide, but the northern part is full of rocks and shoals which extend nearly 14 miles in a south-southwesterly direction from Quonset Point; the middle and southern parts have good anchorage in 14 to 17 feet.

The entrance to the inner harbor is a little more than 4 mile wide between Sauga Point on the north and Poplar Point on the south, but the shoals making out from these points leave only a narrow channel, marked by, and lying just northward of, Wickford Harbor lighthouse, which is on Old Gay Rock, about 300 yards northeastward from the disused light on Poplar Point. The entrance channel between the points leads to the common junction of three coves, Fishing Cove making northward, Mill Cove making northwestward, and Wickford Cove making southwestward. The first two of these coves are shallow and of no importance.

Wickford Cove has a depth of about 10 feet in a narrow dredged channel, which leads between flats that are mostly dry at extreme low water. Strangers should not go above the wharves at the entrance without a pilot, who may be had by making signal while eastward of the lighthouse. The town of Wickford, on the west side of Wickford Cove, is of little commercial importance; cargoes of coal are brought to it in vessels of 12 feet draft, and a steamer runs to Newport, connecting at Wickford with the railroad. The depth at low water at the steamer wharf, on the easterly side of the entrance, is 10 feet, and at those on the westerly side about 7 feet.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of tides is 4.1 feet.

Ice. In severe winters the inner harbor is closed by ice, but the outer harbor is usually open, although drift ice is occasionally encountered.

SAILING DIRECTIONS, WICKFORD HARBOR.

The following directions are safe for vessels of 12 feet draft to an anchorage 14 mile or more southeastward or eastward of Wickford Harbor lighthouse.

From a position 4 mile eastward of Plum Beach lighthouse steer 341° true (N 1⁄2 W mag.) and pass 1/4 mile eastward of Fox Island; or from a position 4 mile northward of Conanicut Island lighthouse steer 252° true (W 1⁄2 S mag.) and pass southward of General Rock bell buoy; or passing 1/4 mile or more eastward of Quonset Point, and eastward of the black buoy off the point, steer 202° true (SW % S mag.) and pass eastward and southward of General Rock bell buoy.

Then steer for Wickford Harbor lighthouse on any bearing between 313° true (NW by N mag.) and 286° true (NW by W % W mag.), and anchor 4 mile or more southeastward or eastward of the lighthouse, in 14 to 15 feet, soft bottom.

A depth of 10 feet can be taken to the steamboat wharf, on the easterly side of the entrance to the inner harbor, by passing 200 feet northward of Wickford Harbor lighthouse, and the same distance southward of Charles Rock buoy, on a 285° true (NW by W 1⁄2 W mag.) course. When the entrance to the inner harbor is open, steer 203° true (SW 34 S mag.), heading to favor the wharf on the easterly side. Small craft or a few small vessels can anchor in the channel from Charles Rock buoy to abreast the entrance of the inner harbor.

Remarks and dangers.-All dangers off the southern shore of the harbor will be cleared by giving Fox Island a berth of over 300 yards when eastward of it, and keeping eastward of a line joining Fox Island and Wickford Harbor lighthouse.

A shoal, with numerous ledges and rocks, extends nearly 14 miles southwestward from Quonset Point. A number of these rocks and ledges are buoyed, and 7 feet may be taken across the shoal; but strangers should pass southward of General Rock, the southernmost, which has 10 feet over it, and is marked by a bell buoy. James Ledge has 2 feet over it, and is marked by a buoy (can, black, No. 1). Brig Ledge, with 12 feet over it, is marked by a buoy (spar, red and black horizontal stripes). These three are the easternmost of the dangers, and lie from 5% to nearly 14 miles south-southwestward from Quonset Point.

South White Rock, marked by a granite beacon, is the southwesternmost of the rocks southwestward of Quonset Point, and is 3 mile north-northwestward from General Rock.

Charles Rock, with 4 feet over it, is at the south end of the shoals making out from Sauga Point, and is marked by a red spar buoy which lies nearly 300 yards north-northwestward from Wickford Harbor lighthouse.

A shoal extends from Wickford Harbor lighthouse to the steamboat wharf, on the easterly side at the entrance of the inner harbor, and makes out 200 to 300 feet just eastward of the wharf. The westerly edge of the shoal is on or just eastward of the line of the westerly face of the wharf. The channel at the entrance of the inner harbor is about 150 feet wide westward of this shoal.

DUTCH ISLAND HARBOR

lies in the Western Passage of Narragansett Bay about 3 miles above Beavertail, and is a semicircular indentation 1⁄2 by 1 mile in extent making into the western side of Conanicut Island. Dutch Island is on the western side of the harbor, which may be entered by passing either northward or southward of the island. The harbor affords excellent anchorage in 2 to 8 fathoms, sticky bottom, is easy of access, and is frequently used as a harbor of refuge by coasters. The southern entrance is good for a depth of over 6 fathoms; but the northern entrance has a few spots with 314 fathoms over them, and should not be used by vessels of over 18 feet draft.

Dutch Island lighthouse is on the extreme southern end of Dutch Island, and is the guide for vessels coming up the Western Passage and entering Dutch Island Harbor by the southern entrance.

SAILING DIRECTIONS, DUTCH ISLAND HARBOR.

FROM SOUTHWARD.-Steer 4° true (N by E 1⁄2 E mag.) for Dutch Island lighthouse until 4 mile or less from it. Then steer 43° true (NE by E mag.) into the harbor, leaving the black buoy southward of the lighthouse on the port hand, and red spar buoy No. 2 on the starboard hand. Select anchorage according to draft.

FROM NORTHWARD.-Steer 186° 30' true (S by W 34 W mag.) for Dutch Island lighthouse until about 1⁄2 mile past Plum Beach lighthouse, and then steer 157° true (S % E mag.) into the harbor with Plum Beach lighthouse astern. Give the northeastern end of Dutch Island a berth of over 100 yards, and select anchorage according to draft.

Remarks and dangers.-In seeking anchorage, if of over 18 feet draft, give the eastern shore of the harbor a berth of at least 3% mile; if of less than 14 feet draft, the eastern shore may be approached as close as 300 yards and closer in places, the general depth being 15 to 17 feet. The eastern shore of Dutch Island should be given a berth of 100 yards.

A narrow spit makes out about 150 yards south-southwestward from Dutch Island lighthouse, and has 6 feet near its end, where it is marked by a buoy (spar, black, No. 1).

On the south side of the entrance is a high point known as Fox Hill, which terminates in a bluff, rocky face northward, known as Beaverhead. From it a shoal makes out 200 yards westward and 350 yards northward. At its northern extremity the shoal rises abruptly from 81⁄2 fathoms to 7 feet, and is marked by a buoy (spar, red, No. 2). In the southeastern part of the harbor there is a shallow cove which makes southeastward about 11⁄2 mile, and is only separated from Mackerel Cove by a narrow neck of land which joins Beavertail peninsula to the main body of the island.