of the river, on account of its width and crooked course, being navigated by steamers. It is advisable for a stranger to take a pilot at Edenton.

DIRECTIONS.-After passing through the draw of the trestle across the sound steer 254° true (W. by S. mag.) for the can buoy in Batchelors Bay. From this point vessels approaching the limit of draft are advised to take a pilot. They may be obtained at Edenton. Mackey Creek is on the south side of Albemarle Sound just westward of the railroad trestle which crosses the sound. A channel 140 feet wide and 9 feet deep was dredged through the bar at the entrance, but it has narrowed and shoaled a little. It is marked on each side by rows of piles. There are stumps in places on the shoals. at the mouth of the creek. Mackeys is a post village 1⁄2 mile above the entrance. A railroad bridge (width of draw 35 feet) crosses the creek just inside the entrance and a highway bridge (width of draw 31 feet) crosses at Mackeys. The creek is navigable for vessels to a closed bridge 8 miles by water or 32 miles by land above Mackeys; to this bridge the creek is 180 to 90 feet wide and 20 to 12 feet deep. Above this bridge to a dam at the post office of Roper, a distance of 211⁄2 miles by water or 1/2 mile by land, the creek is 90 to 30 feet wide and 12 to 3 deep.

Bull Bay is the western part of the bight in the south shore of Albemarle Sound southeastward of Laurel Point lighthouse. A buoyed channel leads through the shoals which obstruct the entrance, but a stranger should sound out the channel before attempting it. Several small creeks empty into the western side of the bay, none of which is navigable for boats. A channel, with a depth of 8 feet when the water is high, leads through flats to the entrances of these creeks.

Scuppernong River empties into the eastern end of Bull Bay from southeastward. This river has been improved and is navigable for vessels of 7 feet draft a distance of about 20 miles to Spruill Bridge, and 5 feet can be carried 211⁄2 miles farther to the head of navigation at the town of Cherry. Columbia, to which a draft of 10 feet can be taken, is a village 412 miles above the mouth of the river. Columbia has communication by railroad and steamer, and some supplies, anthracite coal, and gasoline can be obtained. Storm warnings are displayed.

Four drawbridges cross the river between Columbia and Cherry, the two at Columbia having clear openings 39 feet wide, and those above 30 feet. A closed bridge 6 feet above low water crosses at Cherry. A channel 150 feet wide and 10 feet deep leads through the bar at the entrance from Bull Bay. This channel is marked by buoys and range lights. The buoy at the entrance of the channel lies 43% miles 134° true (SE. 14 S. mag.) of Laurel Point lighthouse.

DIRECTIONS.-Having come up on to the entrance range (see page 144) steer 132° true (SE. % S. mag.) through the dredged cut keeping Scuppernong River range lights in line ahead, and passing the buoys marking the eastern side of the cut at a distance of about 75 feet. Pass 100 feet northeastward of the front light, and steer 112° true (SE. by E. 5% E. mag.) for 11⁄2 miles. Round the point on the southwestern bank in mid-channel, slightly favor, if either, the west bank until the reach eastward is open, avoiding two shoals just before reaching the

change of course, and then pass in mid-channel northward of the old mill. Then favor the north bank, round the next point in mid-channel, and then favor the east bank to the draw of the highway bridge, which is close to the bulkhead at Columbia.

Alligator River is on the south side of Albemarle Sound, 11 miles westward of Croatan lighthouse. The entrance is full of shoals through which there is a channel, with a depth of 10 feet, marked by a buoy and Alligator River light. For a distance of about 18 miles above its mouth the river has a south direction, is 2 to 3 miles wide, and has general depths of 8 to 11 feet. Above this the river has a length of about 24 miles, is narrow and crooked, and has a depth of 6 feet or more nearly to its head, its upper part, however, being too narrow to turn in. Logs are towed from the river in barges and rafts. On the eastern side just inside the mouth of the river is the entrance to East Lake and South Lake, which have general depths of 6 to 8 feet. East Lake post office is a small settlement 314 miles southward of Alligator River light. It has boat communication with Manteo.

Little Alligator River empties into Alligator River from westward just inside the entrance. This river has a narrow, crooked channel with a depth of 612 feet. Fort Landing is a post village on the west bank of Little Alligator River about 2 miles above the mouth. A draft of 5 feet can be taken about 4 miles above Fort Landing.

From Whipping Creek there is a boat passage 14 miles long to Long Shoal River.

DIRECTIONS.-Having come up to a position 3 mile westward of Middle Ground buoy (see page 143 and 144), steer about 181° true (S. 11⁄2 W. mag.), and pass about 300 yards eastward of Alligator River light. Then steer 198° true (SSW. mag.), passing about 11⁄2 mile off Sandy Point and westward of Sandy Point Shoal, and be guided by the chart.

CROATAN AND ROANOKE SOUNDS.

Croatan Sound, west of Roanoke Island, connects Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and is used by vessels bound through the sounds. A channel of 12 feet has been dredged through Croatan Sound and is well marked. Strangers should not attempt to pass through Croatan Sound at night. Fish stakes and nets are numerous in season, especially at the northern and southern ends of the sound. For direc tions see page 151.

Roanoke Marshes is the name applied to the point and fishing station westward of Roanoke Marshes lighthouse. A crooked slough, from 50 to 100 yards wide, leads in a north and south direction across the point, and the fishing station with a number of small wharves is on this slough. A small vessel can enter either end of the slough and make fast to the steep banks or at the wharves, with good shelter. The least depth at either entrance is 7 feet, and the. depth in the slough varies from 12 to 16 feet. Both entrances are sometimes nearly blocked by fish stakes, but there is a narrow, clear passage. The north entrance is westward of the islet lying northward of the island on which the huts are located. A mid-channel course should be followed in the slough, and care is required when passing the opening between the islet and the island.

There is a good boat harbor in Peter Mashoes Creek, west-northwesterly of Croatan lighthouse. Gasoline and some supplies can be

obtained at Mashoes, just inside the entrance. Gasoline may be obtained at Manns Harbor, westward of Blockade Shoal light.

Wanchese is a post village near the south end of Roanoke Island, and has a landing near the mouth of Oyster Creek, 234 miles northeastward of Roanoke Marshes lighthouse. There are stores, and gasoline is obtainable. There is telephone communication from the dock. There is a railway on the creek for hauling out boats of 4 feet draft and 50 feet length. To enter bring Oyster Creek lighted beacon on range with Bodie Island lighthouse (high tower on outside beach) and pass 200 yards southward of the beacon. There is 9 feet off the end of the dock. There is a good anchorage for small craft.

Roanoke Sound lies between Roanoke Island and the outside beach (Bodie Island) which separates it from the ocean. A depth of 51⁄2 feet can be carried from Albemarle Sound, through the northern part of Roanoke Sound, and through a dredged channel, 100 feet wide, into Shallowbag Bay to the wharves of the village of Manteo. Shallowbag Bay is a good anchorage for small craft of less than 6 feet draft. There is communication by steamer with Elizabeth City and by power boats with the neighboring villages, and facilities for hauling out vessels of 20 tons weight and 4 feet draft.

Nags Head is a summer resort on the east side of Roanoke Sound, eastward of the north end of Roanoke Island. There is a depth of 6 feet at the end of the wharf.

There is a narrow channel, through which a draft of 4 feet can be carried close to the eastern side of Roanoke Island from Shallowbag Bay to Pamlico Sound. It is marked at its southern end, but is used considerably by local boats. The best water lies 150 yards off the island from Shallowbag Bay to the mouth of Broad Creek, and about 3⁄4 mile off from the south side of Broad Creek to the south end of the island.

Tides in Croatan and Roanoke Sounds depend entirely on the winds which may, under exceptional conditions, lower or raise the level as much as 12 feet from the normal; easterly winds lower the water, and westerly winds raise it. Strong northerly or southerly winds produce currents, which are especially marked when the wind shifts. suddenly to the opposite point.

DIRECTIONS. To enter Roanoke Sound from northward, pass northward of Collington Island Shoal light at a distance not greater than 1/4 mile, and steer 101° true (ESE. 12 E. mag.) for 5 miles to Nags Head light, giving Roanoke Island a berth of over 5 mile. Pass northward and close eastward of Nags Head light and steer about 162° true (S. by E. % E. mag.) for 11⁄2 miles to Baum Point light. Pass 50 feet eastward of the light and steer about 217° true (SW. 14 S. mag.) for 5% mile, then steer westward, passing close southward of a local beacon, and then northwestward to the wharyes. The channel is sometimes marked by bush stakes in addition to the lights. Strangers of 4 feet or less draft should have no trouble in entering. Anchorage can be had southeastward of the wharf at a distance not greater than 1/4 mile; also in the bay between the wharf and Ballast Point. A channel 100 feet wide has been dredged along the wharves.

Pamlico Sound is the largest body of water in North Carolina, and is separated from the Atlantic by a narrow beach extending from Bodie Island lighthouse to Cape Hatteras, a distance of about 35 miles, and thence in a west-southwesterly direction for about 35 miles. From Croatan Sound to the mouth of Neuse River the distance through the middle of Pamlico Sound is about 65 miles; the greatest width of the sound is about 24 miles. Oregon, New Hatteras, and Ocracoke Inlets pierce the narrow beach, giving access to the ocean; but all are blocked by inside bars with little depth over them. They are described in another part of this volume.

The northern and western shores of the sound are irregular, being broken by numerous small bays and by two large rivers, Pamlico River and Neuse River. The general depth of water in the middle of the sound is between 3 and 4 fathoms, but shoals in many places extend miles from the shore; northward of Ocracoke Inlet, Bluff Shoal, with 7 to 12 feet over it, extends completely across the sound. Strong winds from any direction raise in the exposed parts of the sound, a short, choppy sea, uncomfortable to small craft and even dangerous to open boats; but protected anchorage for small craft may be found in the many bays along the northern shore and along the southern shore in several sloughs which lead to sheltered berths in the lee of shoals. Middleton Anchorage and the anchorage in the bight formed by the hook of Royal Shoal can be made either day or night and are used.

Tides except at the inlets, where there is a rise and fall of about 2 feet, are due entirely to winds and are small, except under the influence of strong winds. Easterly and westerly winds produce the greatest change in water level, which rarely exceeds 2 feet. There are no noticeable currents except in the vicinity of the inlets.

DIRECTIONS, CROATAN AND PAMLICO SOUNDS.-From Croatan lighthouse to mouth of Neuse River, having come through Albemarle Sound as directed on pages 143 or 144 and being 125 yards westward of Croatan lighthouse (white house on pile, fixed white, red sector; fog signal bell), steer 135° true (SE. 2 S. mag.) for 41/4 miles to a position westward of a red nun buoy 1⁄2 mile south-southeastward of Blockade Shoal lighted beacon, passing westward of a number of red spars and the lighted beacon. This course is through a dredged channel 12 feet deep. Then steer 168° true (S. 11⁄2 E. mag.) for 5 miles through a dredged channel marked on its eastern edge by red spar buoys, to a position 50 to 100 yards eastward of Roanoke Marshes lighthouse.

Then bring Roanoke Marshes lighthouse astern on a 177° true (S. 14 W. mag.) course, passing eastward of a horizontally striped buoy and well westward of another horizontally striped buoy, and to a position between a red and a black buoy 11⁄2 miles southward of the lighthouse. Then steer 167° true (S. 5% E. mag.) for 52 miles, giving the shore a berth of about 12 miles, until Stumpy Point bears 254° true (W. by S. mag.). Then steer 178° true (S. 14 W. mag.) for 10 miles until Long Shoal lighthouse bears 310° true (NW. mag.) distant 23 miles.

Then make good a 225° true (SW. 12 W. mag.) course for 27% miles to a position 1/4 mile southward of Bluff Shoal lighthouse. Then make good a 246° true (WSW. 4 W. mag.) course for 12 miles

to a position 2 mile southward of Brant Island Shoal lighthouse. Then make good a 259° true (W. 5% S. mag.) course for 1011⁄2 miles to a position 1 mile westward of Point of Marsh light to the mouth of the Neuse River. On this course Neuse River lighthouse (house on piles) should be picked up ahead with Point of Marsh light a little on the port.

Leng Shoal River is a good anchorage for vessels of 8 feet or less draft. The entrance, which is about 1/2 miles wide, lies on the north shore of Pamlico Sound, 71⁄2 miles westward of Long Shoal lighthouse. Shoals with 1 to 2 feet over them lie on either side of the entrance and break the sea from southward. The channel has a depth of 9 feet to an anchorage above buoy No. 2, a depth of about 7 feet for 12 miles, and 5 feet for a distance of 3 miles above buoy No. 2. The eastern point of Pingleton Shoal is marked by a lighted. beacon, and the points of the shoals in the entrance are marked by buoys, and a stranger should have no difficulty in entering during the daytime.

DIRECTIONS. From eastward give Long Shoal lighthouse a berth of 214 miles when southeastward of it, and when it bears 321° true (NW. by W. mag.) steer 282° true (WNW. 2 W. mag.) for 9 miles, or vessels of 7 feet or less draft with a smooth sea can cross Long Shoal about 3 mile northwestward of the lighthouse, and from a position 3/4 mile westward of the lighthouse steer 272° true (W. 5% N. mag.) for 7 miles with the lighthouse a little on the starboard quarter. Either course will lead to a position 3 mile southward of red buoy No. 2 on the eastern side of the entrance.

Then steer 344° true (N. by W. mag.) and pass 200 yards westward of buoy No. 2 and the same distance eastward of black buoy No. 3. The course continued will lead in the best water until above the shoal which makes off from the eastern shore northward of Pains Bay, and then keep near mid-river. Anchor on the sailing line, the depths shoaling from 11 feet abreast buoy No. 2 to about 812 feet abreast buoy No. 3. Vessels of a greater draft than 7 feet should not go above buoy No. 3. There is also good anchorage, exposed only to southeasterly winds, southward of buoy No. 2 and eastward of Pingleton Shoal.

From westward pass 11⁄2 mile southeastward of Gull Shoal lighthouse and steer 25° true (NNE. % E. mag.) for 1134 miles. Pass about 3 mile southeastward and eastward of the lighted beacon marking the southerly end of Pingleton Shoal, and steer about 330° true (NNW. 14 W. mag.) for 1% miles to a position 200 yards westward of red buoy No. 2. Then steer 344° true (N. by W. mag.) as in the preceding paragraph.

Cape Channel, leading from Pamlico Sound through the shoals westward of the outer beach, separating the sound from the ocean, leads to the town of Buxton, 2 miles northward of Cape Hatteras. The channel is used a great deal by local fishermen. Buxton and Frisco are small towns near Cape Hatteras. There are no wharves, and anything but a light draft boat has to anchor well offshore. The channel for a distance of 3 miles from the entrance light has a depth of 8 feet or more.