Margarita Reef lies about 134 miles southward of Point Tocon, and its western end 35% miles east-southeastward from Cape Rojo lighthouse. The south side of the reef is mostly bare at low water, and the sea always breaks on it. This part of the reef is about 2 miles long in an easterly direction, and there is a prominent old boiler on it 1/4 mile from its west end. Depths less than 23 feet are found in a distance of 1/2 mile west of the reef. A ridge with 24 to 28 feet of water over it extends 2 miles westward, and another with the same depths extends 1/2 mile eastward, from the reef.

Point Molino, nearly 2 miles northeastward from Cape Rojo, is the western point of a bluff nearly 1 mile long east and west, and 25 to 30 feet high. For a distance of 211⁄2 miles southward of the point the depths are irregular, the bottom having ridges, with 32 to 5 fathoms over them, and deeper water between.

Sucia Bay extends northward about 2 miles on the eastern side of Cape Rojo, and is nearly 134 miles wide between the cape and Point Molino. It is exposed to the prevailing southeast wind and sea. Ola Rock, partly bare, lies about 1/2 mile from the southwest side of the bay, and bears 7° true (N by E mag.) from the eastern side of Cape Rojo. The shore of the bay is low and rather swampy.

Cape Rojo, the southwest end of Porto Rico, is a low neck, 14 miles long, at the southern end of which are two hills with bluff faces. The eastern hill is 118 feet high. The western hill is 75 feet high, and is marked on its summit by Cape Rojo lighthouse (gray hexagonal tower on flat-roofed dwelling). The light is a fixed white with a white flash of 1.3 seconds duration every 10 seconds.

DIRECTIONS, SOUTH COAST OF PORTO RICO.

OFFSHORE.

Point Tuna to Muertos Island.-From a position south-southeastward of Point Tuna lighthouse make good a 246° true (WSW % W mag.) course for 91/4 miles to a position 4 miles south-southeastward from Point Figuras lighthouse. Then make good a 264° true (W 14 S mag) course for 2812 miles to a position 3 miles southward of Muertos Island lighthouse.

Muertos Island to Ponce. From a position 3 miles southward of Muertos Island lighthouse make good a 302° true (NW % W mag.) course for 72 miles to a position 211⁄2 miles southward of Cardona Island lighthouse. Then follow the directions under the heading "Ponce Harbor," page 86.

Muertos Island to Guayanilla Harbor.-From a position 3 miles southward of Muertos Island lighthouse make good a 293° true (NW by W 5 mag.) course for 15 miles, to a position 11⁄2 miles southward of the entrance to Guayanilla Harbor. Then follow the directions under the heading "Guayanilla Harbor," page 89.

Muertos Island to Guanica Harbor. From a position 3 miles southward of Muertos Island lighthouse make good a 281° true (WNW 34 W mag.) course for 22 miles, to a position 2 miles southward of Guanica Harbor entrance. Then follow the directions under the heading "Guanica Harbor," page 92.

Muertos Island to Cape Rojo.-From a position 3 miles southward of Muertos Island lighthouse a 272° true (W 1⁄2 N mag.) course made

DIRECTIONS, SOUTH COAST OF PORTO RICO.

97

good will lead to a position 4 miles southward of Cape Rojo lighthouse.

INSHORE.

Point Tuna to Jauca Islands. From a position 2 miles southward of Point Tuna lighthouse make good a 251° true (WSW 5% W mag.) course for 10 miles to a position 3 miles southward of Point Figuras lighthouse. Then a 267° true (W mag.) course made good for 10/2 miles will lead to a position 1 mile southward of the eastern end of Barca Islands, with the prominent smokestack of Aguirre Central bearing 358° true (N 14 E mag.). If bound for Jobos Harbor follow the directions under the heading "Jobos Harbor," page 79; otherwise steer a 272° true (W 12 N mag.) course to a position 1 mile south-southwestward of Jauca Islands.

From Jauca Islands to Ponce.-When the two Jauca Islands close, haul northward to a 302° true (NW 34 W mag.) course, heading for a prominent chimney east of Ponce. Continue this course for 414 miles to a position 300 yards northward of the can buoy marking the reefs off the northern end of Berberia Island. Then make good a 266° true (W mag.) course for 414 miles to a position 250 yards southward of Frio Island buoy. Then steer a 280° true (WNW 34 mag.) course for 514 miles, heading for Cardona Island lighthouse, to a position 1/4 mile eastward of Cardona Island Shoal buoy, passing 100 yards southward of Cabullon Point buoy. If bound for Ponce Harbor steer northward into the harbor. (See p. 86, "Ponce Harbor.")

From Ponce to Cape Rojo.-From a position 4 mile eastward of Cardona Island Shoal buoy steer a 212° (SW % S mag.) course, with the west end of Gata Islets astern, to a position 121⁄2 mile westward of Tasmanian Shoal bell buoy. Then steer 263° true (W 4 S mag.), with the bell buoy astern, for a distance of a little over 15 miles to a position 21/2 miles southward of Guanica lighthouse. From this position a 268° true (W 14 S mag.) course made good for 12 miles will lead to a position 2 miles southward of Cape Rojo lighthouse, clearing the old boiler marking Margarita Reef by 1 mile.

WEST COAST OF PORTO RICO.

Cape Rojo, the southwest end of Porto Rico, is a low neck 11/4 miles long, at the southern end of which are two hills with yellow bluff faces. The eastern hill is 118 feet high. The western hill is 75 feet high and is marked on its summit by Cape Rojo lighthouse. The coast from Cape Rojo to Point Melones is low.

Salinas Bay is on the west side of Cape Rojo, between it and Point Aguila. The sea from southeastward makes into the bay and it usually affords little shelter except for small craft. The salt works (yellow buildings with red roofs) on the north side ship some salt in boats and small lighters. There is a small boat landing at the southeast end of the bay. The 18-foot curve is fairly close to Cape Rojo, but lies 5% mile from the north side. The shoaling is fairly regular, though somewhat abrupt in places, toward the north shore; a rock with 4 feet of water over it lies 900 yards southeastward from Point Aguila.

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Point Aguila, 134 miles northwestward of Cape Rojo, is two small bluff heads with lower land behind them. A shoal with depths of 12 to 16 feet extends 1 mile westward from the point. A windmill and some buildings of salt works are about 3⁄4 mile northward of the point, and there is a boat landing near them off which lighters and small craft anchor to load salt.

Casabe Shoal makes off from the shore 1 mile at Point Aguila, % mile at Point Moja Casabe, and 1/4 mile at Point Melones. Off the last two points there are depths of 15 to 16 feet near the western edge of the shoal, and the 12-foot curve is about 3% mile from shore. There are depths of 4 to 7 fathoms near the western edge, which is fairly steep-to. A nun buoy lying 14 miles westward of Point Aguila marks the western limit of Casabe Shoal. A shoal with 334 to 414 fathoms extends westward from the southern part of Casabe Shoal, its western end lying about 21⁄2 miles west-northwestward from Point Aguila.

Point Moja Casabe, 134 miles northward of Point Aguila, marks a small change in the direction of the coast. A reef, partly bare at low water, extends 1/4 mile off the point.

Point Melones is the western end of a range of hills, 200 to 260 feet high, which extends eastward. There is a detached, partly cleared hill, 230 feet high, on the point. The coast from Point Melones to Cape Rojo is low.

Mariquita Hill, the highest at the southwest end of Porto Rico, is a prominent ridge nearly flat on top, and its summit is not well marked. The highest point, 990 feet, lies 6 miles northeastward from Cape Rojo.

Point Guaniquilla, the north point at the entrance to Boqueron Bay, is sharply projecting and prominent. It is a narrow grass-covered ridge over 35 feet high, with trees at the water, from which a higher wooded ridge extends northeastward. From southward the end of the point shows as a low brown bluff.

BOQUERON BAY.

This bay is on the west coast of Porto Rico about 12 miles southward of Mayaguez and 6 miles northward of Cape Rojo. It is a good harbor for vessels passing through the Guanajibo Channel and is easily entered, but it is rarely used except by small local craft. Owing to the protection afforded by the reefs at the entrance the bay may be a good anchorage in a hurricane, although there is no report of its

use as such.

The bay is 21⁄2 miles wide at its entrance between Point Guaniquilla and Point Melones, and extends eastward for 2 miles to its head, where it is 1 mile wide. Enmedio and Palo shoals extend across the entrance, through which two channels lead into the bay. For a distance of 5% mile inside Enmedio Shoal the depths range from 27 to 35 feet. A ridge, with depths of 19 to 23 feet, extends in a north and south direction near the middle of the bay between Roman and Ramito shoals. The depths east of the ridge decrease gradually from 26 feet to 12 feet, the latter depth being found about 200 yards from the head. The south shore of the bay is clear; the north shore is fringed with mangroves, which should be given a berth of 300 yards or more.

Boqueron is a small settlement with a store on the north side at the head of the bay.

North Channel leads into the bay between Point Guaniquilla and the north end of Enmedio Shoal. It has a least width of about 350 yards, with depths of 21 to 28 feet. The channel has an east-southeasterly direction, and its northern edge is about 125 yards south of the point. Owing to its nearness to the shore this channel is easily followed and is the better one for strangers.

South Channel leads into the bay between Enmedio and Palo shoals. It is 350 yards wide between the 30-foot curves, with depths of 36 to 40 feet in the middle. The shoals on the sides of the channel are fairly steep-to, there being 7 to 13 feet close to its north side and 12 to 13 feet near its south side. The middle of the channel is 3⁄4 mile from the south side of the bay.

A pilot for the bay can be obtained at Boqueron.

Anchorage can be had with soft bottom anywhere in the bay, except on the shoals where the bottom is hard.

Dangers. Enmedio Shoal extends across the mouth of the bay for a distance of 1 mile, and has a width of about 350 yards at its south end and 600 yards at its north end. Small patches near the middle of the shoal are nearly awash at low water, and there are numerous heads with 5 to 6 feet, except toward its north end, where the depths are 10 to 12 feet. The shoal is steep-to, especially its west side, and its full extent, as indicated by the color of the water, shows only under favorable conditions. Point Ostiones, open westward of Point Guaniquilla, bearing 10° true (N by E 1% E mag.), leads westward of the shoal; and the summit of the hill on Point Melones, bearing 189° true (S by W % W mag.), leads eastward of it. A nun buoy marks the northern end of the shoal and a can buoy the southern end.

Palo Shoal extends nearly 34 mile northward from the south shore of the bay, between 3% and 34 mile northeastward of Point Melones, and is separated from Enmedio Shoal by South Channel, 350 yards wide. A depth of 5 feet is found on Palo Shoal about 600 yards from shore, and north of this the water deepens gradually from 8 feet to 13 feet at its north end. The west side of the shoal is steep-to. Roman Shoal is a small patch on which the least depth found is 18 feet, with a surrounding depth of 27 feet. It lies about 3% mile from the north shore and 1 mile from Point Guaniquilla.

Ramito Shoal is a small spot with a depth of 8 feet and 20 to 24 feet close-to. It lies about 1/2 mile from the south side of the bay, and 134 miles northeastward from Point Melones. It is marked by a nun buoy.

A ridge with depth of 19 to 23 feet extend 12 mile northward of Ramito Shoal. The least depth (19 feet) is found nearly in the middle of the bay, and there is a spot with 20 feet of water over it 400 yards eastward of the 19-foot spot.

Velasquez Rock, which should be avoided by all vessels, lies nearly 1/4 mile westward from the village of Boqueron.

DIRECTION, BOQUERON BAY.-To enter by the North Channel— Steer to pass 250 yards southward of Point Guaniquilla and about 100 yards northward of the nun buoy marking the 21 foot spot off Enmedio Shoal on a 105° true (ESE 12 E mag.) course. When 5% mile inside the point, the hill on Point Melones bear

ing 193° true (S by W 1⁄2 W mag.), haul southward and select anchorage as desired inside Enmedio Shoal in depths of 28 to 33 feet, sticky bottom. Or, to anchor off Boqueron, bring the houses of the town to bear 87° true (E mag.) and steer for them. This course will lead 250 yards southward of Roman Shoal. Anchor with Boqueron bearing east-northeastward and distant from 3% to 11⁄2 mile, in 17 to 19 feet sticky bottom. The lead is a good guide.

To enter by the South Channel.-Vessels coming up from southward steer for Point Guaniquilla bearing 20° true (NNE mag.) with Point Boca Prieta on line, until the hill on Point Melones bears 140° true (SE 34 S mag.) Then steer 69° true (ENE 3% E mag.) heading for the houses of Boqueron and passing 150 yards southward of the can buoy marking the southern end of Enmedio Shoal. When the hill on Point Melones bears 193° true (S by W 12 W mag.) haul northward, and select anchorage as desired inside of Enmedio Shoal in 28 to 33 feet of water sticky bottom. If bound to an anchorage off Boqueron, follow the directions in the preceding paragraph.

Offshore shoals.-An extensive bank makes off from the west coast of Porto Rico, the 100-fathom curve lying nearly 15 miles westward of Point Guanajibo and about 8 miles westward of Cape Rojo. The principal dangers are described below. On the western edge of the bank there is a ridge with depths of 434 to 512 fathoms which extends 7 miles north-northwestward from Gallardo Shoal gas buoy. This part of the bank will be avoided by keeping Desecheo Island bearing northward of 350° (N 5% W mag.) while Buenta Vista Hill bears between 91° true (E 3 S mag.) and 72° true (ENE 34 E mag.). Depths of 43% to 8 fathoms lie on the outer part of the bank 1⁄2 to 21/2 miles southward of Gallardo Shoal gas buoy.

The 100-fathom curve is 3 miles southward of Cape Rojo. A rocky patch with a depth of 42 fathoms lies near the south edge of the bank 4 miles west-southwestward from Cape Rojo. Other patches lie 2 miles off the cape in the same direction.

Gallardo Shoal has a least depth of 15 feet and lies 91% miles westnorthwestward from Cape Rojo. It is marked by a gas buoy, showing a flashing white light.

Resuello Shoals lies off the entrance to Boqueron Bay. They consist of three shoals separated by channels having depths of 4 to 6 fathoms; the southern extremity of the shoals is westward from Point Melones and is marked by a can buoy.

Corona Larga Shoal consists of two shoals, with 41/2 to 9 fathoms of water between. The northwest shoal is 111⁄2 miles long and lies 412 miles westward from Point Guaniquilla and has a least depth of 12 feet at its north end. The southeast shoal is 1 mile long and has depths on the coral heads of 16 to 18 feet.

Las Coronas consists of a shoal of numerous heads with depths of 9 to 14 feet, the south end of which is 12 miles northward of Corona Larga Shoals and 4 miles west-northwestward from Point Guaniquilla. The eastern end of the shoal is a narrow ridge with depths of 15 to 17 feet lying 15% miles westward of Point Ostiones. A shoal with 12 to 15 feet of water lies between Las Coronas and Corona Larga Shoal. There are passages 3% to 1/2 mile wide north and south of it.