Port Diablo, 1/2 mile southwestward of Cucaracha Rock, affords neither anchorage nor shelter even for small craft, but a boat landing can sometimes be made in good weather. Cucaracha Rock is two small rocks, close together, and about 3 feet high. It lies nearly 3% mile from shore and the depths inside it are 6 to 14 feet.

Cano Hondo extends 5% mile eastward of Cucaracha Rock to Yalli Islet and the reefs forming Port Salinas. It is open northward and has depths of 3 to 7 fathoms. There is no sheltered anchorage except for small craft, which can anchor at its southeast end, on the southwest side of Yalli Islet; boats can generally land here. Yalli Isiet, lying 250 yards from shore, is about 15 feet high; there is a narrow channel south of it, with a depth of 8 feet in the middle, leading into Port Salinas.

Port Salinas, 214 miles westward of East Point, has an anchorage space 4 mile in extent, with depths of 12 to 24 feet. It affords good shelter for small craft with local knowledge, but should not be attempted by strangers. The port is protected on the north by a reef 5% mile long, the highest part of which is awash at high water. There is an entrance from westward a little over 100 yards wide between the reef and Yalli Islet and another from eastward between the reef and reefs which fringe the shore. About 3/4 mile eastward of Yalli Islet there is a high, bluff point, just eastward of which are bare white cliffs with strata dipping eastward.

East Point is moderately low and grassy, with rocky bluffs at the water. A boat landing can generally be made in the bight on its north side. A reef extends nearly across and the entrance is close to the bare rocks at the western point of the bight.

Salina del Sur, on the south coast, 2 miles westward of East Point, is a bay about 1/2 mile in diameter and affords a boat landing with the wind northward of east. Alcatraz Rock is low and bare and has several rocks on it 10 to 15 feet high; it lies off the bay, 3 mile from the points at the entrance. A larger islet, about 40 feet high and wooded on top, with a large bare rock close to its southeast end, lies 1/4 mile off the western point at the entrance. There is anchorage in the western half of the bay in 3 or 4 fathoms, sheltered from winds northward of east. The clearer entrance is between Alcatraz Rock and the island off the western point of the bay. For a distance of 1 mile westward of the island shoals with 18 feet and less extend nearly 1/2 mile from shore.

Ensenada Honda, on the south coast, 6 miles westward of East Point, is a bay about 114 miles in diameter, in which are several bare rocks and reefs awash. The bay is rough with southeasterly winds, but with the wind northward of east it affords good boat landings on the sand beaches. Owing to the foul ground in the bay it should be avoided by vessels without local knowledge. A reef, bare at low water, lies 14 to 3% mile southward of the western point of the

entrance.

A reef with 2 to 18 feet of water over it extends nearly 11⁄2 mile from shore 3/4 to 1/4 miles eastward of Port Ferro lighthouse.

Port Ferro is a boat harbor 9 miles westward of East Point. Its entrance is 250 yards wide, with high land on both sides, and is prominent. There is a wreck, partly showing above water, a little inside

the narrowest part of the entrance and the least depth (6 to 8 feet) in the entrance is found just inside the wreck. Port Ferro lighthouse (white tower on square-roofed dwelling) stands on the summit of a rocky bluff 1/4 mile southward of the entrance to Port Ferro.

Port Mosquito is a boat harbor, the entrance to which is narrow with a depth of 2 to 3 feet, and lies 1 mile westward of Port Ferro lighthouse.

Ensenada Sombe is on the south coast of Vieques Island 21/4 miles westward of Port Ferro lighthouse. It is about 5% mile in diameter and affords anchorage in 3 to 4 fathoms exposed to winds from southeast to southwest. A shoal extends 200 yards westward from the eastern point of the bay and a shoal with 16 feet over it lies westward of the middle of the entrance. The depths in the southern half of the bay are 3 to 4 fathoms.

Port Real, on the south coast 3 miles westward of Port Ferro lighthouse, is a good anchorage with the wind eastward of southeast, but is exposed to southerly and westerly winds. Steamers occasionally call to load sugar. The port is protected on the east by Real Cay, 14 mile long and about 80 feet high. A head, similar to Real Cay, lies 300 yards eastward of it, and is connected with the shore by a low spit.

The channel into Port Real has depths of over 5 fathoms until up. with Real Cay. The anchorage is from 200 to 400 yards northwestward of Real Cay, in 3 to 5 fathoms.

The principal outlying danger is a shoal, with 14 to 17 feet and 5 to 8 fathoms around it, lying 34 mile from shore and % to 1% miles westsouthwestward from the south end of Real Cay; its eastern end is marked by a can buoy and its western end by a nun buoy. A spot with 24 feet lies 800 yards southwestward from the southern end of Real Cay. A shoal with 15 feet of water lies 1/4 mile from shore and 5% mile west from the north point of Real Cay.

Point Vaca lies 3 miles westward of Port Real, and has outlying rocks a short distance off it.

Point Arenas, the northern point at the western end of Vieques Island, is low and covered with a scrubby growth, and there is a white spit at its end. There are three salt-water ponds on the point. There are no dangers south of the point, but Arenas Bank extends 34 miles north-northwestward.

There is a smooth anchorage, except with southeasterly winds, at the west end of Vieques Island southward of Point Arenas. Steamers occasionally call to load sugar. About 700 yards southeastward of Point Arenas, there are a warehouse, and a small wharf at which the lighters land. A sugar railroad leads to Playa Grande, a sugar mill 234 miles westward of Port Real. Point Boca Quebrada, 1 mile southward of Point Arenas, is low and wooded, and terminates in a dry ledge outside of a white sand beach.

To anchor southward of Point Arenas, steer for the warehouse on a 64° true (ENE mag.) course, and anchor when about 3/4 mile from it, with Point Boca Quebrada bearing 131° true (SE mag.), in 30 feet of water.

Mosquito Landing, 311⁄2 miles eastward of Point Arenas, consists of a few small houses on the beach, and a sugar mill a little westward. The beach is a hard sand, and boats can generally land. For a distance of 2 to 5% mile off the landing the bottom is irregular with

depths of 6 to 12 feet, and the 6-fathom curve is about 1 mile from shore. Coasting steamers occasionally anchor off the landing to load sugar.

Mosquito Reef. During ordinary weather there is a fairly smooth anchorage 1/4 mile south of Mosquito Reef, in 61⁄2 fathoms, sandy bottom. There are a number of spots with 14 to 17 feet in the approaches to the anchorage, and vessels of a greater draft than 12 feet should not use it without local knowledge.

VIEQUES SOUND

extends from the east coast of Porto Rico to Virgin Passage, between Cordilleras, Hermanos, and Barriles reefs and Culebra Island on the north, and Vieques Island on the south. It has a length of 20 to 22 miles east and west, and a width of 8 to 15 miles north and south. The eastern part of the sound is clear, with the exception of Grampus Shoals, and has general depths of 10 to 17 fathoms. The western. part has numerous shoals and reefs, some of which lie some distance from shore.

With a heavy sea outside, vessels from San Juan bound to Culebra Island or St. Thomas frequently enter through San Juan Passage and go through Vieques Sound, thus taking advantage of comparatively smooth water; this route is good for vessels of any draft. The route along the east coast of Porto Rico has a depth of 28 feet, and is used by vessels of 22 feet or less draft when coasting around the island; sailing directions for this passage are given on page 70. Large deep-draft vessels, bound from San Juan to the south coast of Porto Rico, enter through San Juan Passage, pass through Vieques Sound, and around East Point of Vieques Island. Vessels from northeastward, bound for the southeast or south coasts of Porto Rico, usually go through Virgin Passage and south of Vieques Island; but, entering from Virgin Passage or through Barriles Passage, the route through Vieques Sound and Vieques Passage has a depth of 30 or 31 feet, and may be taken in the daytime by vessels of 24 feet or less draft.

Anchorages. The best anchorages in Vieques Sound for large, deepdraft vessels are Fajardo Roads, between Palominos Island and Cape San Juan, and the anchorage between Southwest Cay and Culebra Island. These are easy of access for both steamers and sailing vessels. There is no desirable anchorage on the south side of Vieques Sound; Port Mulas is an exposed roadstead, and is used only by vessels which call to discharge or load. Ensenada Honda, on the east coast of Porto Rico, is a good harbor, but is of no commercial importance and little used. These anchorages are described elsewhere in this volume.

Port of entry.-San Juan is the port of entry for Porto Rico. The subports for Vieques Sound are Playa de Fajardo for Culebra Island and Playa de Humacao for Vieques Island.

Supplies. Some provisions can be had at Fajardo and Port Mulas. Good fresh water can not be conveniently obtained in Vieques Sound. Provisions, water, ice, and ship chandler's stores can be had at San Juan and Ponce, and coal and fuel oil at San Juan.

Repairs.-Ordinary repairs to machinery can be made at San Juan and Ponce. The nearest dock for vessels is at St. Thomas.

Communication by telegraph may be had at Fajardo and Port Mulas, and by wireless telegraph with San Juan.

For winds, tides, currents, variation of the compass, and other general information, see pages 23 to 31.

Islands and shoals.-Palominos Island, 311⁄2 miles southeastward of Cape San Juan, is 11⁄2 mile long north and south, 165 feet high, and shows as a smoothly rounded, grassy hill, somewhat flat on top. The northwest point of the island is narrow, rocky, and low where it joins the island. A reef, partly bare at low water, extends 250 yards off the north side of the point, and a shoal extends to a distance of 1/4 mile north from the point. Reefs extend 600 yards westward from the south end of the island, and southward to Little Palominos. Shoals, with little water and steep-to, extend 1/2 mile eastward from Palominos and Little Palominos islands.

There is a smooth anchorage for small vessels during ordinary weather on the west side of the northern part of Palominos. A good berth is with the northwest point bearing north, distant 350 to 400 yards, the low neck where the point joins the island bearing northeast and the south end of the first sand beach south of the neck bearing east, in 6 to 7 fathoms, sandy bottom. Care should be taken to give the shore a berth of over 200 yards and to avoid two rocks, with 4 and 5 feet of water on them, which lie 350 and 500 yards from the island.

Little Palominos Island is low, sandy, and partly covered with a scrubby growth. It is surrounded with shoals to a distance of about 400 yards.

Largo Shoals are narrow ridges 134 miles long in a general north and south direction, and steep-to on all sides. The southern end of the shoals lies 17 miles east-southeastward from Ramos Cay, and the northern end 1 mile west-southwestward from Little Palominos Island. The southern half of the shoals is awash at low water, and the sea always breaks on it; the northern half has depths of 5 to 15 feet, and the sea rarely breaks on it. The line of Mount Pirata on Vieques Island and the summit of Cabeza de Perro leads about 1/4 mile westward of the shoals. At night the breakers show as a line of white and are easily distinguished.

Blake Shoal, with a least depth of 21 feet, lies 134 to 21/4 miles eastward from Palominos Island, and % to 114 miles southward from Diablo Cay. It is marked by two buoys, a red nun at its north end and a black can at its south end. The line of the north side of Palominos Island and the high hill on Cape San Juan southward of the lighthouse, bearing 278° true (W by N mag.) leads close northward of the shoal, and the southern high head of Palominos Island in line with the same high hill, bearing 285° true (WNW % W mag.) leads southward of it.

A shoal area, 114 miles long east and west, lies southward of Largo Shoals. There are spots on this area with 26 feet, and a least depth of 23 feet was found at its western end. The line of Mount Pirata and the eastern end of Cabeza de Perro leads westward of it. The western extremity is marked by a can buoy.

Lavandera Rocks.-West Lavandera, nearly 114 miles northeastward from the eastern end of Cabeza de Perro, consists of two rocks, close together, about 1 foot above high water, and on which the sea always

breaks. It is near the middle of the west side of a shoal about % mile long and 14 to 3% mile wide, with depths of 14 to 17 feet, but a rock with 412 feet was found 400 yards north of West Lavandera. A narrow shoal, marked by a can buoy, with 21 feet of water on it, lies 3% to 3/4 mile northwestward from West Lavandera. East Lavandera Rock, awash at low water and on which the sea always breaks, lies 11% miles eastward from West Lavandera and 1/2 mile westsouthwestward from Inner Piraguas Rock. A shoal with 17 to 23 feet of water extends 1/4 mile northward from East Lavandera.

Inner Piraguas Rock, lying 11⁄2 mile east-northeastward from East Lavandera Rock and 234 miles east-northeastward from Cabeza de Perro, is an irregular rock 15 feet high, which shows as two rocks, close together, connected by a ledge above water. Vessels should keep northward of the rock and give it a berth of over 300 yards.

Outer Piraguas Rock, lying 114 miles westward from Inner Piraguas Rock, is a pinnacle 15 feet high, with a rock awash about 60 yards southeastward of it. Vessels should pass eastward and northward of the rock, giving it a berth of over 200 yards.

North Chinchorro Shoal is a narrow ridge with 11 feet of water on it lying 5% to 11⁄2 miles southward from Outer Piraguas Rock.

South Chinchorro Shoal lies 134 to 25% miles southward from Outer Piraguas Rock. There is a patch awash at low water near the middle of the shoal on which the sea always breaks.

A broken line of shoals with 20 to 28 feet of water extends southward from South Chinchorro Shoal. The southern end of these shoals is marked by a nun buoy lying 6 miles 184° true (S 5% W mag.) from Outer Piraguas Rock.

Hodgkins Shoal is a narrow ridge 11⁄4 miles long north and south, and has a least depth of 28 feet. This depth lies 2 miles east-southeastward from Outer Piraguas Rock.

Descubridor Rock or Shoal, 111⁄2 miles eastward from Cabeza de Perro, is 3% mile long north and south. It has depths of 16 to 20 feet, but a depth of 6 feet is reported.

A shoal, with a least depth of 9 feet, lies 15% miles 148° true (SSE 1⁄2 É mag.) from the eastern end of Cabeza de Perro. It is about 600 yards long north and south and is marked at its north end by a black gas buoy (flashing white). A shoal with 11 feet of water on it lies nearly 1/2 mile northeastward, and another with 9 feet of water lies about 1/2 mile east-southeastward from the buoy. A small patch with 24 feet of water lies 134 miles south-southeastward from the eastern end of Cabras Island, and 15% miles northeastward from the gas buoy off Arenas Bank.

Arenas Bank is a continuation northwestward of a shoal which fringes the north side of Vieques Island to a distance of about 1 mile nearly eastward to Port Mulas. The western edge of the shoaler part of the bank extends 31/4 miles north-northwestward from Point Arenas to its outer end, where it is marked by a gas buoy (occulting white). There are spots with depths of 5 feet on the bank for 34 mile northward of Point Arenas, and thence to the gas buoy the depths are 9 to 12 feet. For a distance of 11⁄2 miles inside the buoy the bank is steep-to with about 7 fathoms on both sides. The 4-fathom curve on the west side of the bank extends nearly 2 miles northwestward from Point Boca Quebrada, and then extends north