The School of Fish is a shoal, awash at low water, which makes off 100 yards from shore southeastward from Fortberg Hill, western side of Hurricane Hole.

Anchorages. Besides the anchorages in the small bays mentioned above, there is an excellent anchorage in 11 fathoms, with Turner Point bearing 126° true (SE 3⁄4% E mag.) and Harbor Point 256° true (W by S mag.).

Coral Harbor, the northwestern arm of Coral Bay, is narrow and the deep part of the bay is restricted to a width of 100 yards or less by encroaching shoals from the sides and head of the harbor. The anchorage ground, although smooth with ordinary winds, is narrow, and being on a lee shore it is available only for small, handy vessels.

Fresh water may be obtained from a well at the head of Coral Bay, near a small boat wharf, at which there is a depth of 3 feet. Fortberg Hill, north of Harbor Point, is very nearly circular in shape, 425 feet high, covered with trees, and very prominent. Lagoon Point, the southern entrance point of Coral Harbor, is fringed by a coral reef 200 yards wide and bare at low water.

Freeze Bay and Johns Folly Bay are northward and southward, respectively, of Sabbat Point. The latter is almost filled with coral reefs, with a narrow boat channel to the beach. Drunk Bay, southward of Nanny Point, the southern point of Johns Folly Bay, is open to the eastward and the heavy swell makes landing along the beach difficult.

Ram Head, the southern point of St. John, is a remarkable bold headland, on which are two hills, the northern and highest being 288 feet. The eastern side of the point consists of rocky cliffs 100 to 150 feet in height. There is generally a heavy sea running off the point. Dangers. The only danger in the approach to Coral Bay for vessels of less than 18 feet draft is Eagle Shoal, which lies 5% mile southward of Buck Island. The shoal consists of two round patches of coral; the easternmost is 40 yards in diameter with a depth of 3 feet of water on it; the westernmost, with 12 feet of water, lies about 100 yards from it, and is a little larger. Close to and around them the soundings are 6 to 7 fathoms, and a little over 100 yards to the southward 13 fathoms.

Currents. The flood and ebb currents set across the entrance to Coral Bay, the flood to the southwestward, the ebb to the northeastward; both with a velocity of 34 knot. In the bay there is no current, and the range of tide is about 1 foot.

DIRECTIONS.-Approaching from westward.-From a position 2 mile southward of Ram Head, steer a 70° true (ENE 12 E mag.) course until Turner Point opens eastward of the eastern end of Buck Island. Then make good a 4° true (N 5% E mag.) course, heading for Moor Point, to a position 3 mile eastward of Buck Island, from which point a course may be shaped for the anchorages in Round Bay or Hurricane Hole avoiding the 32 and 4 fathom spots southward of Turner Point.

Leaving the bay, a sailing vessel may pass between Sabbat Point and Buck Island and to the leeward of Eagle Shoal, if advisable. In doing so, however, do not bring Sage Mountain on Tortola open eastward of the western hummock on Buck Island till southward of Eagle Shoal.

Between Ram Head and Cabrita Point, 14 miles west-northwestward, the shore is indented by several small bays. Booby Rock, 35 feet high, lies off the larger Saltpond Bay and 3% mile south-southeastward of Kiddle Point. This bight is shoal, with a coral ledge 3 feet above high water and another one awash. At the head of the bay is a salt pond. Cabrita Point is a well-defined projecting point, faced by high cliffs, back of which the land rises to a height of 280 feet.

Lameshur Bay, between Cabrita and White Points, is divided into three smaller bays by projecting points. In the eastern bay there is good shelter for small vessels in about 6 fathoms of water under the lee of Cabrita Point and about 400 yards offshore. Westward of White Point for 5 mile the shore consists of cliffs 150 feet high which on account of a white volcanic ash in them are quite conspicuous.

Reef Bay, westward of the "white cliffs," is a large open bight the shores of which are fringed by coral reefs, through which a passage leads to a small boat harbor protected by the outlying reefs.

Fish Bay, westward of Reef Bay, is only 200 yards wide between the reefs at the entrance, but nearly 800 yards in length. Within the bay the soundings gradually decrease from 4 fathoms to the shore. The head of Fish Bay is sandy, with sea grass bottom. The northeastern shore line is mangrove. Cocoloba Cay, 36 feet high, lies off the eastern point of the bay, but is connected to the shore by a submerged reef. Ditless Point is a bold promontory between Fish Bay and Rendezvous Bay. It terminates in rocky cliffs up to 100 feet in height.

Rendezvous Bay, 12 mile in extent, has depths of 5 to 6 fathoms and is open to the southward. Chocolate Hole, westward of Buhvun Point, is a small, shallow bight. Maria Bluff is the end of a projecting high point between Chocolate Hole and Great Cruz Bay, and forms the southwestern point of St. John. The cliffs are 100 feet high along the southern face of the bluff.

Great Cruz Bay, north of Maria Bluff, affords good shelter for small vessels; it is 300 yards wide at the entrance and 800 yards in length. There is 4 fathoms in the entrance, decreasing to less than 2 fathoms in the middle of the bay. One-half mile northward of Great Cruz Bay, is a projecting point which forms the north side of Turner Bay, a small shoal bight. Shoal water extends for a distance of 350 yards southwestward from the point. A patch awash at low water lies 200 yards from the point, and near the end of the shoal there is a depth of 6 feet.

Little Cruz Bay, a cove between Gallows Bay Point and Lind Point, is small and used only by local coasters. Durloe or Little Cinnamon Bay, 4 mile northeastward of Lind Point and 5% mile southward of Hognest Point is small and open to the westward.

ST. CROIX ISLAND.

St. Croix Island, the largest island of the American Virgin Islands, is 19 miles long, in an east and west direction, and has an area of 84 square miles. The southern side is nearly straight and generally low, particularly toward the western end. Westward of Salt River Point the island has an almost uniform width of 5 miles and becomes more

elevated on the northern side. Mount Eagle, the highest point on the island, 31⁄2 miles eastward of Ham Bluff, is 1,165 feet high. Southward from the mountain, St. Croix is composed of broad, fertile, undulating valleys. Modern farming methods are practiced, and some of the sugar estates employ machinery to advantage in the cultivation of sugar cane.

Sugar cane and cotton are the crops of most importance. The value reported for all crops at the census of 1917 was almost half a million dollars. Cattle raising is an important industry.

St. Croix is traversed by a network of roads, most of which are kept in very good condition, and the automobile is used extensively for interior communication.

The population of the island was 14,901 by the census of 1917. Winds. There is no regular land breeze at St. Croix, but when the trade wind is light during the day it generally falls calm in the night. From June to September, when the trade wind is generally light, occasionally strong winds from the southwestward blow across the island, with much rain. Northers, with the accompanying heavy ground swell, do not appear to reach this island.

Tides and Currents.-No perceptible tidal current has been observed at St. Croix. Between this island and St. Thomas there is usually a slight westerly current. The spring range of tide is about 1 foot, which may be increased by strong winds.

Communication.-St. Croix has communication by sailing vessels with St. Thomas. Steamships to and from the United States and Canada call regularly at Frederiksted. There is telegraphic communication by cable with Ponce, Porto Rico, and with St. Thomas; also with St. Lucia, thence to Granada and Trinidad. There is a telephone system connecting all points on the island.

NORTH COAST OF ST. CROIX ISLAND.

Ham Bluff, the northwestern extremity of the island, is a conspicuous cliff 100 feet high, back of which the land rises to elevations of 600 to 900 feet. Ham Bluff Light, 394 feet high, a group flashing white light (two flashes every 20 seconds), is exhibited from a white cylindrical tower, and is partly obscured from 53° to 62°. From Ham Bluff the coast trends in a general easterly direction for 5 miles to Baron Bluff, and consists of slightly jutting rocky points with sandy beaches between. The 100-fathom curve is not more than 11⁄2 mile from this part of the coast.

Baron Bluff eastward to Salt River the shore consists of low rocky cliffs. Westward of Salt River Point is a narrow passage, with a depth of about 10 feet, leading through the reef to an inlet into which Salt River discharges. The shores of the inlet are for the most part mangrove swamps through which there are several openings to higher ground which are used as boat landings. Salt River Point is situated 134 miles eastward of Baron Bluff, and from it the coast turns. abruptly to the southeast for 3 miles to Christiansted. In this vicinity the hills near the coast are covered with grass and low bushes. Salt River Point is prominently marked by a hill 121 feet high. White Horse, 400 yards northward of Salt River Point, is a rock over which the sea always breaks. There is a boat channel with a depth of about 12 feet between the rock and the point.

An isolated hill, 200 feet high, is close to the shore south-southeastward of Salt River Point, and 1/4 mile northward of this hill is a projecting point 100 feet high. A sugar-factory chimney is midway between the 200-foot hill and Salt River Point. The shore line to Christiansted is low and grassy, with a narrow sand beach. The hills are back 1/2 mile from the shore, with the area between in grass fields or planted in sugar cane.

CHRISTIANSTED HARBOR.

This harbor is on the north coast of St. Croix, 10 miles east of Ham Bluff and 734 miles west of East Point. The anchorage is in a basin protected from the sea by Long Reef and Scotch Bank. A tortuous channel leads in behind the reef to the anchorage. The greater portion of the harbor is shoal. The available anchorage space for vessels of about 17-feet draft is small, and the channels are so intricate that local information is needed to use them. A stranger should take a pilot.

Christiansted, with a population of 4,574, is the largest town on St. Croix, but it is not as commercially important as Frederiksted. It is picturesquely situated within an amphitheater of high hills. It is well laid out, with broad, clean streets, lined in places by fine buildings.

Prominent features.-The high hills in back of the town show up prominently from sea. Central Sugar Factory chimney, 34 mile northwestward of the town, is a large stack and very prominent. Mount Welcome, 125 feet high, heavily wooded on its sides, has a stone tower and the ruins of a sugar mill at the top. Protestant Cay, 38 feet high, is an islet in the harbor, 150 yards north of the town. The pilot station is on this islet. Fort Louise Augusta Light, fixed red, is exhibited from a white house with red roof on the point, but it is not prominent by day.

Wharves. Along the face of the town, south of Protestant Cay, there is a stone quay with 12 feet of water alongside, which is used as a loading pier for small vessels. There is a small wharf at the Central Sugar Factory for unloading coal barges.

Channels. The principal entrance to the harbor is by the channel between Long Reef and Scotch Bank. It is marked by two day ranges and buoys, and has a least charted depth of 21 feet. There is a passage with a depth of 13 feet of water over the southern portion of Scotch Bank, which is used by small vessels coming from the eastward, but it is not recommended for strangers. Schooner Channel, between Round Reef and Fort Louise Augusta, has 14 feet of water in it and is sometimes used by small vessels instead of going to the westward of Round Reef. It is marked by buoys.

Pilots.-There is a pilot station on Protestant Cay, and pilots will come to vessels upon signal.

The Lagoon with an entrance depth of only 2 feet is a shallow arm of the harbor, making into the island eastward of the town.

Dangers.-Long Reef is a very narrow strip of reef about 2 miles long east and west, and nearly awash in places. It forms the north side of the harbor. Its eastern end (Great Middle Ground) is marked by buoys, where it encroaches upon the entrance channel. Scotch Bank, which makes northeastward from Fort Louise Au

gusta, is a sand shoal 134 miles in length, with as little as 4 feet of water in places. It forms the eastern side of the harbor and approaches. Round Reef, 300 feet across and almost circular in shape, lies 370 yards eastward of Fort Louise Augusta. Near the center there is a spot bare at low water, and there are several soundings of 1 foot on the reef. The northeastern edge is marked by a red and black nun buoy, the southeastern edge by a red nun buoy, and the northwestern edge by a can buoy. The first two buoys also define the western side of Schooner Channel. Lagoon Bank is an extensive shoal making offshore northeastward of Gallows Bay and off the entrance to the Lagoon. A can buoy marks the northwestern extension of the 12-foot curve and another can buoy the southwestern extension. Little Middle Ground, a small spot with soundings of 8 to 11 feet, lies 480 yards north-northeastward of Protestant Cay. It restricts the deep anchorage area in this part of the harbor. Hans Sorensens Ground, with a depth of 5 to 8 feet, is the southeasterly extension of Long Reef. Shoal water makes northward from Protestant Cay.

Supplies.-Provisions, ice, ship chandler's stores in small quantities, and some lumber may be obtained at Christiansted. There is no coal in large quantities available. Water may be obtained.

Anchorage. Vessels of over 15 feet draft usually anchor about 250 yards northeastward of Protestant Cay in 4 fathoms. Small vessels anchor 200 yards eastward of the southern end of the cay on line with King Street, Christiansted, in 15 to 22 feet of water. Local sailing boats generally go to the stone wall in front of the town.

DIRECTIONS.-The channel into the harbor is so intricate that strangers are advised to take a pilot, and it should not be attempted at night without one. The turns are sharp and a vessel may have to drop anchor to assist in making them. Mooring buoys are planted at the turns to assist vessels, but these are frequently pulled out of position and are often found in the fairway.

Approaching the harbor from the northeastward vessels should keep Ham Bluffs open well northward of Baron Bluff, bearing less than 261° true (W 11⁄2 S mag.), in passing Buck Island, to avoid Buck Island Bar. When the western point of Buck Island bears 156° true (S by E 34 E mag.) distant 114 miles, make good a 241° true (SW by W 34 W mag.) course for 4 miles, when the entrance range beacons will be on. Bring them ahead on a 164° true (S by E mag.) course heading down the channel between the buoys to the first turn 320 yards northward of the front range beacon on Fort Lousia Augusta and westward of nun buoy No. 4. Haul sharply to the westward and steer 270° true (W 3% N mag.) with Great Middle Ground Range beacons on astern. When approaching nun buoy No. 6 haul southward, passing between it and the can buoy northwestward of Round Reef. Pass about 50 yards westward of the can buoy and head for the fort in Christiansted. Anchor as directed in the paragraph "Anchorage," preceding.

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Approaching from the westward, give the north coast of St. Croix a berth of 1 mile or more. From 1 mile northward of Salt River Point make good a 117° true (SE by E 14 E mag.) course for 3 miles, when the entrance range beacons will be on; then follow the directions preceding. As Scotch Bank is ahead on this course care must be taken not to overrun this distance.