with Ahogado Rock in line with Cardona Island lighthouse, and Muertos Island lighthouse midway in the opening between the two outer islets off Point Cabullon, in about 27 feet, soft bottom. The shoaling is regular to the shore, and there is no danger in the anchorage.

Muertos Island lies 41⁄2 miles off the middle of the south coast of Porto Rico. It is 12 miles long in a northeasterly direction, and covered with tangled scrub. The summit of the island, near its middle, is 243 feet high, and is marked by a Muertos Island lighthouse (gray cylindrical tower on flat-roofed dwelling). The light is fixed white, with a white flash of 9 seconds duration every 180 seconds. The southwest end of the island is very low, except its extreme southwest point, which is a round steep hill 170 feet high. Landing can be made on the western side of the island near a boathouse during ordinary weather.

The Hammock is a flat-topped island 1/4 mile long and 31 feet high, lying 200 yards from the southwest point of Muertos Island, with a reef between them. Its southern side should be given a berth of over 3% mile.

The water is shoal for some distance eastward of Muertos Island, the 5-fathom curve lying about 12 miles from its northeast point, descreasing to about 2 mile off its southwest point. A bank, with 12 fathoms near its end, extends about 3 miles southwestward from The Hammock. The least depth found on it is 634 fathoms at a point 214 miles 212° true (SW % S mag.) from Muertos Island lighthouse.

Anchorage.-The western side of Muertos Island is free from danger, and affords anchorage during ordinary weather with less swell than in Ponce Harbor. The best anchorage is from 3% to 12 mile westward of the southern half of the island in 6 to 12 fathoms, according to swinging room required. The slope of the bottom is somewhat steep, and the anchorage should be approached with care. Bar. From Muertos Island a bar trends northeastward and curving gradually eastward joins the shoaler water making westward from Berberia Island. The bar has a general depth of about 15 feet on its crest. The sea rarely breaks on it, and it is dangerous to approach. Southeastward of the bar the water seems to deepen gradually, although the bottom is irregular; but on its western and northern sides the bar is steep-to.

Berberia Island lies 311⁄2 miles east-northeastward from Muertos Island, and 24 miles from the shore northeastward. It is 5% mile long, and is low and covered with brush and mangroves. A shoal with 8 to 13 feet of water extends nearly 3/4 mile westward of the island to the bar (described above) which extends to Muertos Island. The northern edge of the shoal, the northern limits of which is marked by a can buoy, is steep-to, and lies about 1/4 mile northward of the island. A shoal with 4 fathoms or less extends 15% miles southward from Berberia Island; spots with depths of 15 feet were found 114 miles south-southeastward from the island. There is a fringing reef on the eastern side of the island on which the sea breaks, and this side of the island should be given a berth of 3⁄4 mile

or more.

The passage between Muertos and Berberia islands on the south and the coast has smooth water usually, and is generally used in the daytime by the smaller coasting vessels when bound eastward from Ponce or the reverse. There are a number of shoals with depths of 17 to 20 feet, and one with 15 feet, in the passage. Sailing directions through the passage from eastward for vessels of 17 feet or less draft are given on page 97. Strangers with a greater draft than 17 feet should pass outside of Muertos Island.

PONCE HARBOR

is on the south coast of Porto Rico, 32 miles eastward of Cape Rojo and 7 miles northwestward of Muertos Island. It is one of the three leading commercial ports of Porto Rico, and is frequented by both steamers and sailing vessels. The harbor affords shelter from the prevailing southeast trade winds, although there is always a swell in the anchorage; but it is exposed southward, and is dangerous during a hurricane. The nearest hurricane harbors are Guayanilla and Guanica westward, and Jobos eastward.

Ponce Harbor is the eastern part of an open bay, 3 miles wide between Point Carenero on the east and Point Cuchara on the west. Its southwestern side is formed by Cardona Island, with its surrounding reefs, and Cayito Reef. The harbor is nearly 1 mile long north and south, and averages about 5% mile wide, with depths of about 8 fathoms at the southern end, decreasing gradually toward the northern shore. On the eastern side are two bights, included between Gata Islets, Point Penoncillo, and Port Ponce. The shore and islands are low and covered with mangroves; the high land is 2 or 3 miles in the interior.

Port (Playa) Ponce, the town on the northeast side of the harbor, is the port of Ponce and the site of the customhouse. There are several small piers in front of the town to which lighters can go. The public landing is east of the customhouse. The municipal pier is located at Point Penoncillo and is the most conspicuous object on the water front.

Ponce is the second in commercial importance and population of the cities in Porto Rico. It lies about 2 miles inland from the Playa, with which it is connected by a highway and an electric railway. It has a system of waterworks and is lighted by electricity. The population in 1920 was 41,561.

Prominent features.-Muertos Island, 7 miles southeastward, and marked on its summit by a lighthouse, is the most prominent and unmistakable feature in the approach.

Cardona Island, small, low, and marked near its middle by a lighthouse (blue cylindrical tower on flat-roofed dwelling) is on the west side of the entrance and is the principal guide for entering. The light is fixed red.

Point Carenero, the eastern point at the entrance, is low and covered with mangroves. Gata Islets extend 1/4 mile westward from the point.

Point Penoncillo, the site of the municipal pier, is a small, low projection on the east side of the harbor, about 600 yards northward of Gata Islets.

Ponce Harbor range lights (occulting red) are in the northern part of the harbor, the front light in the water, and the rear light on the roof of the Capitania (port captain's office) just west of the customhouse. The range can not be seen in the daytime until in the harbor. Channels. The principal channel has a bearing of 355° true (Ng W mag.) for Cardona Island lighthouse, with a width of nearly 12 mile, and leads between banks with depths of 32 to 7 fathoms at the edges, dropping off abruptly to great depths in the channel. The channel then leads eastward of the shoal surrounding Cardona Island, between it and Gata Islets, with a width of nearly 11⁄2 mile, and thence northward into the harbor.

There is a deep channel into the harbor from eastward between Tasmanian Shoal and Gata Islets, which is frequently used in the daytime by steamers of about 17 feet or less draft passing northward of Berberia Island. There are a number of detached shoals, with depths of 20 to 24 feet, in the approaches.

Coasting vessels of as much as 21 feet draft frequently enter over the southern part of the bank on the west side of the channel, shaping the course for Tasmanian Shoal bell buoy, and passing over 1/4 mile westward of it.

The channel between Cardona Island and Cayito Reef is 400 yards wide, and is used to some extent by vessels of about 12 feet or less draft with local knowledge.

Pilotage is compulsory for certain vessels. Pilots come out in small boats if not too rough, and meet vessels near Cardona Island. The rates of pilotage, and extracts from the rules and regulations relating to pilots and pilotage, are given in the Appendix.

Anchorage. The usual anchorage is westward of the harbor range line, and from 3% to 5% mile off the playa, in 3 to 51⁄2 fathoms, according to draft. Large deep-draft vessels sometimes anchor farther southward in 6 to 7 fathoms.

Small vessels, with cargo to discharge or load and not going to the pier, generally anchor east of the range line and inside Point Penoncillo. Small craft and lighters are anchored near the shore from Point Penoncillo to the playa. There is always some swell at these anchorages, but it does not prevent vessels from discharging or loading by lighters.

Pier. The municipal pier is located at Point Penoncillo. It is 427 feet long and 110 feet wide, and is almost entirely covered by a pier shed and with two towers and a mast and yard at the inner end. The shed is painted a light straw color and can be picked up at sea before either Cardona lighthouse or the city can be seen. Pipe lines for both fuel oil and water are on the dock and tracks extend the entire length of the pier on the western side. A road and electric railway connect the pier with the city. There is a depth of 25 feet at mean low water alongside the pier.

Quarantine. National quarantine regulations are enforced. The quarantine officer is in the customhouse. Vessels subject to inspection are required to fly the letter "Q" of the International Code at the foremast head from the time of their entrance into the harbor until pratique is given by the quarantine officer.

Supplies. Provisions, ice, lumber, and some ship chandler's stores can be obtained. Fuel oil and water may be obtained from pipe lines on the municipal pier.

Repairs. There are machine shops, and small repairs to machinery can be made. The nearest dock for vessels is at St. Thomas.

Winds. The prevailing winds are the easterly trades, which vary from northeast to southeast, the most common being about eastsoutheast; these are generally fresh during the day. At night, the trade wind generally dies down, and a light northerly breeze comes off the land. The heaviest gales are to be expected in the summer and fall; southerly gales do the most damage, and are dangerous.

Dangers. Tasmanian Shoal is the northern and shoaler part of an extensive bank on the eastern side of the entrance to the harbor. It is about 1 mile long, and has a number of spots on which depths of 16 to 18 feet were found. A red bell buoy marks the western limit of the shoal water and is located 1 mile south-southeastward from Cardona Island lighthouse; vessels should pass 200 yards or more westward of the buoy. A detached rock, with 17 feet of water in a surrounding depth of 12 fathoms, lies northward of the shoal, and 7% mile east-southeastward from the lighthouse.

The bank on the western side off the entrance extends about 12 miles southward of Cardona Island and Hojas Bank. In general, depths of 6 to 8 fathoms were found on it, but spots with 28 to 30 feet of water were found near its southern and eastern edges, which drop off abruptly to great depths. The northern and shoaler part of the bank extends 5% mile southward from Hojas Bank, with depths of 18 to 23 feet in spots. Depths of 25 and 26 feet were found 1/2 mile south-southwestward from the lighthouse. Hojas Bank, lying 34 mile westward of the lighthouse, is about 4 mile in diameter and awash at its shoalest point.

Cardona Island Shoal extends 600 yards east-southeastward from the island, with depths of 12 to 17 feet, and is marked at its eastern end by a can buoy. A reef, bare in places at low water, and on which the sea always breaks, extends 300 yards northeastward from the island, and depths of 11 to 13 feet are found for a distance of 200 yards farther in the same direction.

A reef, bare at low water and steep-to, extends about 300 yards westward and southwestward from Gata Islets, and is marked at its western edge by a nun buoy. The sea always breaks on the outer side of the reef.

Cayito Reef lies northwestward and northward of Cardona Island, and is 34 mile long in a northeasterly direction. A small patch near its southwest end is awash. Eastward and northward of this spot the reef has depths of 6 to 11 feet, and is steep-to. Its northeastern point is marked by a can buoy, lying 34 mile westward of Point Penoncillo, and the same distance from Cardona Island lighthouse. The channel between the reef and Cardona Islands is about 400 yards wide, and is used to some extent by vessels of about 12 feet or less draft with local knowledge.

A detached rock, with 11 feet over it and 30 feet close-to, lies 14 mile from the north shore of the harbor and 1 mile westward of the port.

The 18-foot curve is about 3 mile from the shore at the port and the depths decrease regularly toward the beach.

DIRECTIONS, PONCE HARBOR.-Approaching from either direction bring Cardona Lighthouse to bear 355° true (N 1% W mag.) and steer for it until about 1 mile off and nearly 1/4 mile westward of

Tasmanian Shoal bell buoy. Then steer 22° true (NNE % E mag.) heading for the municipal pier on Point Penoncillo and pass eastward of Cardona Island Shoal can buoy. When Cardona Island lighthouse bears about 280° true (WNW 34 W mag.) steer 357° true (N mag.) into the harbor and select anchorage according to draft, off the range.

At night, or when the range can be seen.-Steer for Cardona Island lighthouse on a 355° true (N 18 W mag.) course until Ponce Harbor Range lights are sighted and then stand in on the range passing nearly 1/2 mile eastward of Cardona Island lighthouse. Select anchorage according to draft, westward of the range line.

If going to the municipal pier, vessels leave the range line when eastward of the nun buoy off Gata Islands reef. A shoal lies northwest of the inshore end of the pier, and vessels when docking on the west side are liable to be carried upon it by excessive headway, or blown down on it by the wind.

From Ponce to Point Guayanilla, a distance of about 72 miles, there are a number of outlying low cays and reefs, inside of which there is a passage for launches and other small craft with local knowledge. There are narrow fringing reefs close to the shore in places and landing is difficult.

Point Cuchara, 22 miles westward of Cardona Island lighthouse, is low for 2 mile back to the railroad, which skirts the foot of the higher land.

Ratones Islet, lying 1 mile south-southwestward from Point Cuchara, is low, covered with brush and mangroves, and is prominent. A bank extends 3 miles westward of the islet and about 2 miles offshore; the least depth found on it is 28 feet, and it is steepto on its south and west sides. Ratones Reef extends 1 mile eastsoutheastward from Ratones Islet. It is bare at low water, and has a few scattered mangrove bushes, for a distance of 1/2 mile from the islet; and there is a depth of 17 feet on its eastern end, which lies 134 miles westsouth westward from Cardona Island lighthouse. Arenas Cay is small, and lies between Ratones Islet and Point Cuchara. There is a crooked channel with 10 to 15 feet of water between Arenas Cay and Ratones Islet and Reef, and another with 10 to 11 feet of water between Arenas Cay and Point Cuchara, but these channels are exposed to the prevailing southeast sea and are used by small local craft only.

Tallaboa Bay extends nearly 3 miles eastward of Point Guayanilla. It is formed on the south by Maria Langa and Caribe islands and the extensive reefs surrounding them, and there are several islands and shoals in the bay. It is of no commercial importance, and should be avoided by strangers. There is anchorage with good holding ground for small vessels behind some of the islands, with some shelter from the prevailing southeast wind and sea; but there are no aids, and only small local craft have occasion to enter the bay. Guayanilla and Ponce are better anchorages and easier of access. There is a prominent cliff about 100 feet high on the shore 34 miles eastward of Point Guayanilla.

GUAYANILLA HARBOR.

This harbor is on the south coast of Porto Rico, 25 miles eastward of Cape Rojo, and 72 miles westward of Ponce Harbor. It is the