Dry Tortugas lighthouse is a conical tower, lower half white, upper half black. The light is flashing white (light 1.0 second, eclipse 19.0 seconds), 151 feet above the water and visible 18 miles.

HAWK CHANNEL.

The navigable passage inside the Florida Reefs from Cape Florida to Key West, a distance of about 127 miles, is known as Hawk Channel. It varies in depth from 10 feet to 54 fathoms and is 1/4 mile wide at its narrowest part.

Vessels drawing 10 feet, bound southward and westward, may use this channel with great advantage, avoiding entirely the adverse current of the Gulf Stream and finding comparatively smooth water in all winds, except when passing the large openings between the reefs in southerly winds; these openings are principally between Alligator Reef lighthouse and American Shoal lighthouse. Steamers, or sailing vessels with a leading wind, may run the courses through this channel without difficulty. Sailing vessels drawing more than 7 feet are advised not to try to beat through without a pilot.

Pilots can generally be found by anchoring off Miami and sending a boat up to the city, or they may be had at Key West and from the small vessels which will sometimes be found cruising among the reefs.

Strangers using this channel must anchor at night, which can be done where the bottom is soft. Where the bottom is hard the holding ground is bad, and vessels are liable to drag if it blows freshly. Following is a description of the anchorages, given in their order when approaching from northward:

Cape Florida Anchorage is a good anchorage for vessels of about 9 feet draft, and especially for small craft, just inside Cape Florida. To enter, follow the beacons of the Biscayne Channel (see directions for Biscayne Bay) until about 1 mile above Cape Florida Shoal light and the channel begins to bend westward, and then steer about 313° true (NW. 14 W. mag.). Anchor about 250 yards westward of the south end of Cape Florida, with the disused light tower bearing northward of 69° true (ENE. mag.), in a depth of 12 to 20 feet.

Fowey Rocks Anchorage is about 114 miles westward of Fowey Rocks lighthouse, is fairly well sheltered, and can be reached by vessels of about 14 feet draft. Vessels of this draft may follow the directions for entering Hawk Channel and anchor 1/4 mile westward of Fowey Rocks beacon (spindle V); or, from outside, pass close to the bell buoy 23% miles northward of Fowey Rocks lighthouse and steer 288° true (WNW. 11⁄2 W. mag.) for Cape Florida Shoal light in range with Biscayne Channel light for 114 miles until up with a perpendicularly striped buoy. Then steer 182° true (S. mag.) to the anchorage.

Legare Anchorage lies between the reefs westward of Triumph Reef and 7 miles southwestward of Fowey Rocks lighthouse. The bottom is mostly hard, but there are some soft spots on which vessels may anchor and ride out a moderate gale. The entrances are not marked, and the anchorage is not used.

Bowles Bank Anchorage, with depths of 14 to 16 feet, soft bottom in places, is good in all winds, and lies 1/4 to 1/2 mile north-northeast

ward of Bowles Bank south buoy (nun, No. 4 B B), lying eastward of the north end of Elliott Key.

Caesar Creek Bank Anchorage, with depths of 10 to 12 feet, soft bottom, is good in all winds, and lies on the west side of the channel between Margot Fish Shoal and Caesar Creek Bank.

Key Largo Anchorage.-Northward and westward of the perpendicularly striped buoy off the north end of Key Largo, with Carysfort Reef lighthouse bearing about 150° true (SSE. 34 E. mag.), soft bottom in 14 feet will be found and vessels may here anchor in safety without regard to the direction of the wind.

Turtle Harbor is a well-sheltered anchorage between the reefs lying northwestward of Carysfort Reef lighthouse. The entrance from the Straits of Florida is marked by buoys, and in smooth water a vessel of 15 feet draft should have no trouble in entering. The depth in the approach ranges from 4 to 6 fathoms and at the anchorage from 4 to 42 fathoms. The sea buoy (nun, red, No. 2 " Turtle Harbor") lies 43/4 miles 30° true (NNE. 1⁄2 E. mag.) of Carysfort Reef lighthouse. From the sea buoy a 274° true (W. 14 N. mag.) course for 21% miles will lead to a perpendicularly striped buoy. Then steer 220° true (SW. 5% S. mag.) for about 1 mile, pass about 100 yards westward of can buoy No. 1 and the same distance eastward of nun buoy No. 2. A south-southwesterly course will then lead about midway between nun buoy No. 4 and can buoy No. 3, and then steer about 215° true (SW. by S. mag.) to an anchorage in the vicinity of a perpendicularly striped buoy.

Tavernier Key Anchorage.-Anchorage with soft bottom, in 16 to 20 feet, will be found with Tavernier Key bearing between west and northwest, distant from 3/4 to 1 mile, or anchor in 13 to 15 feet from 1/2 to 3/4 mile westward or northward of Triangles beacon.

Long Key Anchorage.-Soft bottom, in from 15 to 18 feet, will be found 3/4 mile westward of Long Key Shoal buoy (nun, red, No. 12), but this anchorage is exposed to southerly winds.

Turtle Shoal Anchorage.-Fair anchorage in fine weather will be found in 42 fathoms, soft bottom, 12 mile northwestward of East Turtle Shoal buoy (can, black, No. 11 E T), and also 1⁄2 mile northwestward of West Turtle Shoal buoy (nun, red and black horizontal stripes), in from 4 to 6 fathoms.

Knights Key Anchorage. This is a good anchorage about 34 mile southwestward of Knights Key, but it is exposed to southwesterly winds. To make this anchorage, bring Sombrero Key lighthouse astern on a 343° true (N. by W. 5% W. mag.) course; anchor in 3 to 5 fathoms, sticky bottom. The westerly edge of a red sector in Sombrero Key lighthouse leads to the anchorage. The west side of Knights Key should be given a berth of about 1/2 mile.

Hog Key. A narrow channel with a least depth of about 6 feet has been dredged to Hog Key, and affords a secure harbor for launches and small craft. The entrance is about 3% mile southward of Knights Key, and is marked by private beacons. The color of the banks is the best guide in the narrow channel.

Moser Channel, with a least depth of 7 feet, leads from Hawk Channel through a drawbridge (106 feet opening) into Florida Bay. A strong current may be found in the vicinity of the bridge, sometimes reaching a velocity of about 4 knots at strength.

Bahia Honda Harbor is now abandoned as an anchorage for vessels, and the aids are removed. The currents through the bridge have a velocity of 3 to 4 knots.

Loggerhead Key Anchorage, with a depth of 15 feet, soft bottom, is about 3/4 mile eastward of Loggerhead Key and about 1 mile northward of nun buoy No. 12LK. This is a fair anchorage in all but southerly winds. When going to the anchorage pass at least 4 mile eastward of the buoy.

West Washerwoman Anchorage, with a depth of 334 fathoms, soft bottom, lies 1 miles 295° true (WNW. mag.) of Nine-Foot Shoal light.

Saddle Hill Anchorage, with a depth of 44 fathoms, soft bottom, lies 1 mile 268° true (W. % S. mag.) of Pelican Key buoy (can, No. 19 PK). Between here and Key West there are no anchorages.

DIRECTIONS.-The following directions are good for a draft of 9 feet with daylight and moderately smooth sea. A draft of 11 feet has been taken through Hawk Channel, but it requires local knowledge and a smooth sea. A detailed description of the dangers in Hawk Channel is impracticable as well as useless. The navigator must rely wholly upon the charts and aids. The beacons and buoys can not always be distinguished by their color, as they are soon discolored by the sea birds which alight on them. There are also a number of beacons (spindles with vanes) which are intended for the guidance of vessels skirting along outside the reefs. The flood current has a northwesterly or northerly set, and the ebb a southerly or southeasterly set. The normal velocity of the currents is about 1⁄2 knot, but this may be increased considerably by strong winds. The currents have their greatest velocity abreast of the openings between the keys.

Biscayne Shoal to Fowey Rocks, 15 miles.-Pass 11⁄2 mile eastward of Biscayne Shoal gas and bell buoy No. 2, lying 114 miles offshore and 54 miles northward of Miami Entrance, and steer 187° true (S. 1/2 W. mag.) for 9 miles, passing about 1/2 mile westward of Miami gas and bell buoy, and to a perpendicularly striped can buoy, which lies 2% miles 54° true (NE. 5% E. mag.) of Cape Florida disused light tower. Then steer 185° true (S. 3% W. mag.) for 64 miles, passing close to a perpendicularly striped buoy lying 1 mile east-southeastward of Cape Florida Shoal light, and to a perpendicularly striped buoy lying 11⁄2 miles westward of Fowey Rocks lighthouse.

Fowey Rocks to Basin Hill beacon, 25 miles. From the perpendicularly striped buoy, 11⁄2 miles westward of Fowey Rocks lighthouse, steer 188° 30′ true (S. 5% W. mag.) for 2 miles to nun buoy No. 2. Then steer 195° true (S. by W. 14 mag.) for 3 miles, leaving can buoy No. 3 about 100 yards on the port hand and to a position 100 yards eastward of nun buoy No. 4. Then steer 207° true (SSW. 14 W. mag.) for 1 miles to nun buoy No. 4 BB; Bache Shoal beacon (black, white slats) will then be over 3% mile distant on the port beam.

From nun buoy No. 4 BB steer 195° 30' true (S. by W. 14 mag.) for 614 miles; leave nun buoy No. 6 MF about 150 yards on the starboard hand, a red and black can buoy, marking a 7-foot shoal, 200 yards to port, a perpendicularly striped can buoy close-to, and nun buoy No. 6 about 150 yards on the starboard hand. From nun buoy

No. 6 steer 202° true (S. by W. % W. mag.) for 23% miles to nun buoy No. 6 OR. From nun buoy No. 6 OR steer 214° true (SSW. % W. mag.) for 91% miles; leave a perpendicularly striped can buoy closeto, and Basin Hill beacon (black structure, white slats) about 100 yards on the port hand.

Basin Hill beacon to Hen and Chickens Shoal buoy, 22 miles.Passing 100 yards westward of Basin Hill beacon steer 210° true (SSW. 12 W. mag.) for 9 miles, leaving Grecian Shoals buoy (can, No. 5) about 3/4 mile on the port hand. On the course Mosquito Bank light (black, white slats) should be ahead. When the light is 1 mile distant, steer 224° true (SW. 14 S. mag.) leaving it about 1/4 mile on the port hand. Continue the course for 12 miles from Mosquito Bank light, leaving Triangles beacon (black structure, white slats) about 200 yards on the port hand, and Hen and Chickens Shoal buoy (nun, No. 8 HC) about 300 yards on the starboard hand. Vessels should keep northward of a line joining Mosquito Bank light and Triangles beacon to avoid a 6-foot spot about halfway between.

Ilen and Chickens Shoal buoy to East Washerwoman Shoal Light, 522 miles. Leaving Hen and Chickens Shoal buoy 300 yards on the starboard hand, steer 238° true (SW. by W. mag.) for 1534 miles, leaving Alligator Shoal buoy (can, No. 11) about 3/4 mile on the port hand passing close to Lower Matecumbe Key buoy (white and black can), and passing Indian Key buoy (nun, No. 10 IK) and Long Key Shoal buoy (nun, No. 12) each about 1/4 mile on the starboard hand.

From Long Key Shoal buoy steer 246° true (SW. by W. 3⁄44 W. mag.) for 85% miles, passing close to Duck Key buoy (nun, perpendicular stripes), and leaving East Turtle Shoal buoy (can, No. 11 ET) about 400 yards on the port hand. Then steer 238° true (SW. by W. mag.) for 5 miles, to a position close to Jacobs Harbor Head buoy (black and white can); leave West Turtle Shoal buoy (nun, horizontal stripes) about 3/4 mile on the port hand, then steer 254° true (WSW. W. mag.) for 334 miles to a position 1/2 mile northward of East Washerwoman Shoal (a light is to be reestablished on this shoal).

East Washerwoman Shoal to Key West-44 miles.-Passing 1/2 mile northward of East Washerwoman Shoal continue the 254° true (WSW. 34 W. mag.) course for 1214 miles past the shoal, passing close to Pigeon Key Bank buoy and Bahia Honda Key buoy (perpendicular stripes).

From Bahia Honda Key buoy steer 258° 30' true (WSW. 3⁄4 W. mag.) for 2814 miles, leaving Newfound Harbor Keys buoy (black and white can) close aboard, Logger Head Key buoy (nun, No. 12 LK) about 3 mile on the starboard hand; West Washerwoman Shoal buoy (can, No. 17) about 1/2 mile on the port hand; Pelican Key buoy (can, No. 19 PK) about 1 mile on the port hand; Boca Chica buoy (black and white can) close aboard, and Hawk Channel Turn buoy (can, perpendicular stripes) close to.

Then steer 286° true (WNW. 34 W. mag.) for 2 miles. Give Whitehead Point Spit gas buoy a berth of 100 yards in rounding it, and steer 2° true (N. mag.). Pass about 100 yards westward of nun buoy No. 8 and then shape the course to give the breakwater and wharves a berth of about 100 yards.

KEY WEST HARBOR.

This harbor is large and commodious, and one of the best anchorages for large vessels south of Chesapeake Bay. It lies northward of a broken line of the Florida Reefs in latitude 24° 33′ N. and longitude 81° 49' 30" W. On the eastern side of the harbor is the city of Key West, which is of some commercial importance. It 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 Railway, 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 greatest draft of vessels coming to the port is 2612 feet and the average draft about 14 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 south westward of Key West lighthouse. East Triangle beacon (red) is midway between the Entrance buoy of the Main Ship Channel and Key West lighthouse, and can be readily distinguished from outside the reefs. Northwestward of the harbor is a disused tower, formerly Northwest Passage lighthouse.

Channels.-There are several channels or approaches to the harbor, leading between the reefs and coral banks which surround it. These channels are easy to follow in a sailing vessel in the daytime with a leading wind, but it not safe for a stranger to attempt to beat into the harbor.

Southeast Channel is marked by buoys and at night by the easterly edge of a red sector in Key West light. It leads over lumpy bottom with 16 to 18 feet over the coral heads and it is not recommended for vessels of over 15 feet draft. The course through the channel is 321° true (NW. % N. mag.) for Key West lighthouse.

Main Ship Channel has a depth of 30 feet and a least width of 300 feet. Is well marked by buoys, lights, and the main ship channel range. This channel is used by the deeper-draft steamers and by strangers.

Southwest Channel is convenient for vessels approaching from southwestward. It has a navigable depth of 24 feet if closely followed and is marked by several buoys. Vessels of 16 feet draft can make one course nearly to the anchorage on a bearing of Key West lighthouse in the daytime and by standing on the edge of a red sector of that light at night, and this is about the deepest draft of the vessels using the channel. Strangers should not attempt it at night.

Northwest Channel has been improved and in June, 1921, had a depth of 18 feet and width of 230 feet. It can be used by vessels of 16 feet draft. This channel affords a short cut from Key West Harbor to the Gulf of Mexico and is well marked.