the islet; and there is a depth of 17 feet (5.2 m.) on its eastern end, which lies 134 miles west-southwestward 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 (3.0 to 4.5 m.) of water between Arenas Cay and Ratones Islet and Reef and another with 10 to 11 feet (3.0 to 3.3 m.) 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 (30 m.) high on the shore 314 miles eastward of Point Guayanilla.

GUAYANILLA HARBOR (CHART 928)

This harbor (see views, page 86) is on the south coast of Porto Rico, 25 miles eastward of Cape Rojo, and 72 miles westward of Ponce Harbor. It is the largest and one of the best hurricane harbors in Porto Rico and is available for vessels of any draft. The reefs and islands to the southeastward break the sea but not the wind. Some dragging should be expected and allowed for. The harbor lies between Point Verraco on the west and Point Guayanilla on the east, and is protected at its entrance by extensive reefs, which extend about 1 mile offshore. The entrance channel between these reefs is about 111⁄2 miles long, nearly 3 mile wide, and has general depths of over 15 fathoms (27.4 m.) at its southern end, decreasing to 9 fathoms (16.4 m.) abreast Mata Islet.

Point Guayanilla is low and wooded, and forms the eastern side of the harbor. Point Gotay is the western end of Point Guayanilla. There are several low islands, covered with mangrove and brush, southward and eastward of Point Guayanilla, the southwestern one of which is Maria Langa Island. In approaching from southward and westward, these islands and the point are made out with difficulty until near them.

Point Pepillo (see view below), on the northeast side of the harbor, is the western end of a hill 130 feet (39 m.) high; there are higher hills close northward of it, and the railroad and highway run between. About 1/4 mile north of Point Pepillo the cuts for the railroad and highway show as a prominent rocky bluff on the east side at the head of the harbor.

This point is the site of the Texas Oil Co. plant. Fuel oil in large quantity is kept in two large tanks on the top of the point. They are painted, one black, one white, and are the most prominent landmarks in the bay. A dock 525 feet (160 m.) long with depth of 24 feet (7.3 m.) at the end extends out from the point. Mooring buoys and dolphins enable large ships to go alongside.

Two prominent molasses tanks of the Porto Rico Mercantile Co. are situated a little west of the oil dock. There is also a small wharf at this place with 10 feet (3.0 m.) of water at the end. Small molasses tankers go alongside.

On the beach near Port Guayanilla there is a small dock belonging to the Rufina Central. It has a depth of only 5 feet (1.5 m.) at the end and is used by small lighters.

There is usually a little surf at the north end of the harbor and, if. neither of the docks is used, the best landing for lighters is near the north end of the rocky bluff 5% mile eastward of the central.

No supplies can be obtained here except gasoline and fuel oil. The mill, stacks, and a few houses can be seen when in the harbor. Calderon Mountain and Calichosa Hill are shown in the view of Guayanilla entrance and are easily recognized.

Point Pepillo, from anchorage off point with end of dock in range with bluff

Guayanilla, a town of 1,434 population, is about 2 miles inland, on the railroad which runs from Ponce to Mayaguez, Aguadilla, and

San Juan.

The anchorage is about 1 mile in extent, with depths of 6 to 8 fathoms, (10.9 to 14.6 m.) soft bottom. A good berth, convenient to the shore, for vessels of moderate size is in the north end of the harbor between Point Pepillo and the playa, in 24 to 28 feet (7.3 to 8.5 m.) of water. There is no current in the harbor, and vessels swing to the wind.

Point Verraco forms the west side of the entrance to Guayanilla. Harbor, and is included between a shallow arm of the harbor and the sea. From a little northeast of Toro Hill it extends about northeastward for 1 mile, and is a nearly level ridge, about 80 feet (24.4 m.) high near its north end. There are numerous low bluffs on its southeast side. Reefs extend over 1 mile southeastward of the point. Point Ventana lies 234 miles westward of the entrance. From Guanica a high, nearly level, brush-covered ridge follows the coast to the point where it ends in a high, prominent, rocky bluff. A low break separates the point from Toro Hill, 1/4 mile northeastward.

Toro Hill has a bluff head, about 100 feet (30 m.) high, at its western end, and a gentle slope northeastward to the low part of Point Verraco. There is a bright yellow spot in the bluffs on its southeast side. This hill and Point Ventana generally show well.

Winds. The prevailing winds are the southeasterly trades, which are generally fresh during the day. At night the trade wind usually dies down near the coast, and a light breeze comes off the land.

Dangers.-Guayanilla Reef, on the west side of the entrance, forms the south side of the reefs which extend 1% miles southeastward from the shore between Toro Hill and Point Verraco. It is 114 miles long east and west, mostly bare at low water, and the sea always breaks on it. The 5-fathom (9.1 m.) curve is about 1/4 mile from its south side, and the slope is abrupt to great depths.

Unitas Reef extends about 1 mile northeastward from the north side of Guayanilla Reef to the west side of the channel about 3 mile west-northwestward from gas buoy No. 2. It is mostly bare at low water, and the sea always breaks on it. Detached shoals with 10 to 18 feet (3.0 to 5.5 m.) of water extend over 11⁄2 mile southward from the eastern end of Únitas Reef; the channel with depths of over 30 feet (9.1 m.) is nearly 1/4 mile wide between these shoals and buoy No. 2. Patches of 27 to 30 feet (8.2 to 9.1 m.) lie westward of the fairway.

The north end of the reefs on the west side of the channel is partly bare at low water, and there is generally a break on it. It lies a little over 1/2 mile westward of Point Gotay.

Maria Langa Island is surrounded by reefs on which the sea breaks. The 5-fathom (9.1 m.) curve is a little over 1/4 mile southward, and nearly 5% mile east-southeastward from the island, and the slope is abrupt to great depths.

Fanduco Reef is the southwest end of the shoals which extend 5% mile southward of Point Guayanilla and 3⁄4 mile westward of Maria Langa Island. It is partly bare at low water, and the sea always breaks on it. The west side of the reef is marked by a gas buoy.

A shoal with a depth of 13 feet (3.9 m.) at its end extends 1/4 mile south-southwestward from Point Gotay, and is marked on its west side by a nun buoy.

A shoal with little water on it extends from Point Gotay to Mata Islet. Its west side, nearly 1/4 mile southwestward from the Islet, is marked by a nun buoy. The bay eastward of a line from Mata Islet to Point Pepillo is shoal.

The bay is shoal westward of a line from Point Verraco to the playa, and shoals extend 1/2 mile eastward of the point.

Lumps with 12 to 14 feet (3.6 to 4.2 m.) of water extend 1/4 mile westward from Point Pepillo, and there is one with 18 feet (5.5 m.) of water, marked by a red nun buoy, nearly 3% mile from the point on the same line.

The 18-foot (5.5 m.) curve is about 400 yards from the north shore between Point Pepillo and Guayanilla River.

Directions, Guayanilla Harbor.-Vessels approaching from either direction during the daytime can follow the coast at a distance of 211⁄2 miles, when between Guanica and Ponce, until the entrance of Guayanilla Harbor is recognized. Bring the black oil tank on Point Pepillo to bear 3° true (N. 12 E. mag.) and steer for it, which will lead to a position a little westward of the entrance buoy.