316

TURNING ISLAND TO TWIN ISLAND-DIRECTIONS.

MacGregor Rock, with 11 feet on it (in low stages there may be 4 feet less), is a small lump lying 300 yards southward from the southeastern extremity of Grave Island. The eastern extremity of Mackey Island touching the west side of Turning Island, bearing about 1° (N. 3 E.), leads just clear of this rock.

Note. For vessels drawing over 10 feet there should be a buoy placed on this rock.

Nadeau Island has been already alluded to in connection with Middle Reach, and marks the junction of it with Shawanaga Bay. Midway between Nadeau and Grave Islands is a small partially wooded Island about 20 feet high, called Chowne Island off which the water is deep.

Directions Turning Island to Twin Island.—Having passed, as before recommended, about 100 yards west of Turning Island, Twin Island will be seen between Grave and Lloyd Islands. Steer for it so, with the west end of Turning Island in range with east end of Mackey Island, bearing about 1° (N. E.). This range leads 100 yards east of Grave Island, and when past MacGregor Rock keep Turning Island its breadth open east of Grave Island bearing 4° (N. by E. E.).

This mark should be kept on astern, the vessel heading for about the northwestern extremity of Twin Island. When 440 yards from the latter a vessel will be midway between Jack Reef with 5 feet and Pease Rock with 10 feet over it, and the northwest Oak Island of Shebeshekong Bay a little open eastward of Twin Island, when the course may be altered to pass about 150 yards eastward of Twin Island.

Beacon.-A red beacon surmounted by a white cross is erected on the southeastern extremity of Twin Island.

Twin Island to Point au Baril.-Pass 150 yards eastward of Twin Island Beacon, and coast along its northeast side, keeping the northwest Oak Island in sight until Turning Island appears its own breadth eastward of Grave Island. Keep the islands in this position bearing 4° (N. by E. E.), with the northwest point of Twin Island astern. When nearing MacGregor Rock, and not wishing to pass over it, keep the northeastern extremity of Mackey Island touching the west side of Turning Island, bearing about 1° (N. 3 E.) until up to the latter.

Pass 100 yards west of it, steering northward until the north fall of the wooded bluff in Indian Cove comes northward of Turning Island the breadth of the latter. Keep these objects in this position astern, with Pym Rock Beacon ahead, bearing about 304° (NW. † W.). When 200 yards from the latter the south points of Abbot and Passage Islands will be seen in range with Sedgewick Point. These should be kept so in order to lead north of Ripple Rock, usually

marked by a red spar buoy. Pass between Abbot Island and that next eastward of it and follow the line of the red beacons and white beacons, taking care to pass northeastward of the sunken rock in the bight northeastward of the eastern Lauder Island by keeping the Sing Narrows Range Beacons in range astern, bearing about 112° (SE. by E. E.).

When Sidney Island is reached Point au Baril will be seen and may be steered for, passing close to the north point of Double Island to avoid the rock with 4 feet water over it, and usually marked by a red spar buoy, lying midway between Double Island and the main shore. Pass close to the front lighthouse and bring the lights in range astern to lead out into the bay.

Anchorage.-Excellent anchorage will be found eastward of Double Island, by dropping anchor in 6 fathoms with the front lighthouse over Double Island and farther distant from Double Island than Johnny Rock.

CHAPTER IX.

GEORGIAN BAY-McCOY ISLANDS TO MOOSE POINT, WITH PARRY SOUND.

The low water of 1895 (597 feet above mean tide at New York) was 2 feet below the datum used for this chapter.

Outer portion of the shore southeastward from McCoy Islands and Southwest Island.-McCoy Shoal, with 11 feet least water over it, lies 590 yards west from the northwest part of Southwest Island. As remarked in connection with Kenneth Patches, a depth of 12 fathoms will be found close to the shoal.

Bassett Rock, with 7 feet water on it, is situated 1 mile southsoutheast from Southwest Island.

Mink Islands.-Elm Tree Island, 16 feet high, with a conspicuous elm tree on it in 1891, is a large island situated near the northwestern end of the string 4 miles in length called, generally, Mink Islands or The Minks. This string, together with McCoy Islands, form a chain 9 miles in length, and through which there is no passage fit for any but light draft fish tugs.

This chain, together with the adjoining shallow water, makes an excellent breakwater to the part of the inside passage between Twin Island and Red Rock Lighthouse.

A group of small islands lies 440 yards northwestward from Elm Tree Island, and from these islets a very shallow bank extends in the same direction nearly 880 yards.

Solomon Rock, with 10 feet of water on it, lies 590 yards westward of Elm Tree Island, and a patch with 18 feet on it lies 590 yards farther in the same direction.

Chief Rock, with 9 feet of water on it, lies a little more than 590 yards southward of the same island, and between Chief and Solomon Rocks are to be found two other patches, with 9 and 11 feet of water on them, the smaller of the two called James Rock being the nearer to Chief Rock.

Green Island, situated in the middle of Mink Islands, is conspicuous on account of its not yet having parted with its timber (1891), hence its name; this round little island is 13 feet high.

Isaiah Rock, with 7 feet of water on it, lies 1,320 yards westward from Green Island, being one of the most outlying shoal spots on the west side of The Minks.

320

MINK ISLANDS ANCHORAGE-CLEARING MARKS.

Boucher Island, long, narrow, wooded, and 18 feet high, is situated nearly midway between Green Island and the fishery establishment. A steep bare rock 27 feet high, lies 440 yards southwestward from the southeast end of Boucher Island.

Mink Island Fishery.-Near the southeastern extremity of the whole string, is situated the highest and largest island of the group 30 feet high, on which is erected a small wharf, ice house (still standing, 1914), and huts in connection with the fishing business undertaken during the summer. The island and its attendant rocks afford good shelter in all winds for fishing boats, and the small wharf on the east side of the island can generally be approached for the purpose of embarking the fish.

Anchorage. The surveying steamer Bayfield, during the progress of the survey in 1890, 1891, frequently anchored about 250 yards northwestward of the wharf in 5 fathoms good holding ground, with just room to swing with 25 fathoms of chain, sheltered in northerly winds by the two groups of rocks, dry and sunken, known as Harbor Rocks and Dixon Bank.

A strange vessel of heavy draft, if seeking shelter under The Minks, should anchor in 11 fathoms muddy bottom, 1 miles from the ice house bearing about 248° (WSW. W.). If the weather be clear, from this position the south side of Bateau Island should be touching the north side of Little Snake Island-the leading mark for this part of the inside channel.

Old Tower Island, 16 feet high, is the southern one of the whole chain and upon it stood the building which, before the erection of the lighthouse upon Red Rock, contained a light.

Red Rock. From Old Tower Island shoal water extends to a rock 14 feet high, called by the not uncommon name on this shore, Red Rock.

Red Rock Light, occulting white, 60 feet above water, visible 3 miles, is shown from a red, polygonal lantern on a concrete building at the entrance to main channel to Parry Sound.

Note. The usual breadth and coloring of this lighthouse renders it by far the most conspicuous object in this locality where prominent features are so rare.

Fog signal. The fog signal is made on a diaphone.

Lawson Rock, with 4 feet of water on it, lies nearly 1,175 yards westward from Red Rock Lighthouse; another shoal head with the same depth on it, is situated 200 yards northeastward of Lawson Rock. Both these spots break in a moderate sea.

Clearing marks.-The whole of Green Island open west of the nearer Mink Islands, bearing 338° (N. by W. 3 W.), leads southwest, and the south side of Franklin Island in range with Red Rock Lighthouse bearing 76° (E. N.), leads south.