(28) MORGAN CITY TO PLAQUEMINE

263

current through this waterway during the dry season, but during high water in the spring the current often attains a velocity of from 2 to 3 knots.

The Government lock at Plaquemine, on the Mississippi River 98 miles above New Orleans, connects this route with the Mississippi River. The lock has an available length of 260 feet, width 55 feet and a low-water depth over the sills of 10 feet (3.0 m).

Supples of all kinds can be secured at Plaquemine. Gasoline and provisions can be obtained at Indian Village and at Martins Store, 6 and 9 miles, respectively, below Plaquemine. There are facilities for making repairs to hull and machinery of vessels at Martins Store and at Plaquemine. No supplies or repairs can be obtained between Martins Store and Plaquemine along this route.

Bayou Grossetete, emptying into Bayou Plaquemine 611⁄2 miles below the lock, has a controlling depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) for a distance of 24 miles above its mouth and 42 feet (1.4 m) for 2 miles farther to the head of navigation. It is used principally by barges carrying cane and by log rafts.

Directions. From Morgan City, head northward through that part of Atchafalaya River known as Berwick Bay. Pass to the westward of Rabbit Island, the small island at the entrance to Flat Lake. A light marks the northwest point of Rabbit Island. Beyond the light, head for the passage between the two pile and brush dykes to the northward; a light marks the south end of the western dyke. The passage between the dykes bears to the northeastward, approaching the east side of the lake. There is a light near shore, beyond the end of the dykes. Keep south of this light, passing about the north end of the eastern dyke and bearing southeastward into Bayou Long.

Follow Bayou Long for 214 miles to the junction with Bayou Milhomme. Take the left hand (northern) branch and continue for one-half mile to the junction with Little Bayou Sorrel. Take the righthand branch here and continue for 334 miles to Belle River. Bayou Magazille branches to eastward here and Belle River to westward. Follow Belle River for 311⁄2 miles to an island in the river. Pass to eastward of this island and continue for 42 miles to the junction of Old River (entering from westward) and Bayou Godelle (entering from northward). Follow Bayou Godelle for 5 miles to Bay Nachez.

The channel through the widest part of Bay Nachez is marked on the easterly side by piles. There are two islands in the bay; the first about midway and the second near the northerly end. Pass to eastward of the first island and to northward of the second, keeping always to westward of the row of piles. About 1 mile beyond the first island, Lake Nachez Pass branches to northward forming a long point in the river covered with willows. Take the west branch and follow the Lower Grand River. Bayou Postillon branches to southward here. Take the north branch, which is Lower Grand River.

Pass to westward of the island in Lower Grand River, 1 mile above Bay Nachez, and to eastward of the island about 1 mile further on. Bayou Pigeon branches to westward about 22 miles above the second island. Take the north branch and pass to westward of two small islands 1 mile farther on. About 7 miles above these two is

lands, Bayou Sorrel branches to westward. Continue in Lower Grand River (northerly branch) for 4 miles to the junction of Upper Grand River from westward, and Bayou Plaquemine from northward. Martin's Store is on the east bank of the river at this junction.

Follow Bayou Plaquemine for 21⁄2 miles to its junction with Bayou Grossetete, opposite Indian Village. Follow Bayou Plaquemine to eastward to the town of Plaquemine. There are two drawbridges at Plaquemine before reaching the lock.

THE TECHE AND ADJACENT WATERWAYS

Bayou Teche is a waterway of southern Louisiana having its source in St. Landry Parish and flowing southeastward, parallel to and 35 miles westward of the Mississippi River, for 110 miles, to the point where it joins the lower Atchafalaya River about 10 miles above Morgan City. It is navigable for a depth of 71⁄2 feet (2.3 m) to New Iberia, 512 feet (1.7 m) to Breaux Bridge and 6 feet (1.8 m) to Arnaudville 103 miles above Morgan City and within 17 miles of the head of the bayou. The Teche is crossed by numerous pontoon and swing bridges with a minimum horizontal clearance of 562 feet to New Iberia and of somewhat less but ample width above that point. Keystone Lock, 160 feet long and 36 feet wide, is 63 miles above the mouth of the Teche and about 73 miles above Morgan City.

The main State highway between New Orleans and Lake Charles follows close along the west side of Bayou Teche, passing through the principal towns on the bayou. There is regular boat service between New Orleans and points on the Teche as far as New Iberia. The principal commerce consists of rice, sugar, logs, and shell. Provisions and some supplies can be obtained at the larger towns, viz, Patterson, Franklin, Jeanerette, and New Iberia. The shipyard at Garden City can haul and repair heavy craft up to 115 feet long and 6 feet (1.8 m) draft. Small boats can be hauled and limited repairs made at Patterson and New Iberia. There is a commercial airport at Patterson.

Directions.—The Atchafalaya River leads to westward 12 miles above Morgan City. The passages to the east and west of Drew Island lead into Flat Lake (the Plaquemine route of the IntraCoastal Waterway) and Sixmile Lake respectively. Nine miles above Morgan City, Bayou Teche leads westward from the Atchafalaya River, the river continuing about 2 miles farther into Sixmile Lake. There are shoals through the entrance and for about 2 miles up the Teche which are usually marked by piles. Farther up the bayou no directions are necessary other than to follow the center of the bayou and be careful to avoid old piling, which are quite numerous. Hanson Canal leads from Bayou Teche at Garden City into Bayou Portage which connects with the Intracoastal Waterway along Bayou Bartholomew about 11⁄2 miles east of The Jaws. From the Intracoastal Waterway, the entrance to Bayou Portage is the northerly of two passages entering the waterway just east of Beacon 3. Å depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) can be taken through this route. The lock, just inside the canal is 937 feet long. Three fixed bridges cross

(28) MORGAN CITY TO VERMILION RIVER

265

the lock; the controlling horizontal clearance is 261⁄2 feet, and vertical clearance is 9 feet (2.7 m) at low water.

Sixmile Lake and Grand Lake, with depths of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m) are connected with Bayou Teche by the Atchafalaya River and with the Plaquemine route of the Intracoastal Waterway by Little Pigeon Bayou and Big Pigeon Bayou. There is a short route from Morgan City into Sixmile Lake to the westward of Drew Island. There are lights at the Atchafalaya River entrance, on Stout Point opposite the north end of Drew Island; at the south end of Bayou Boutte; on the east side of Cypress Island; on Windy Point to the north of Bayou Boutte; and on Pigeon Point between Big Bayou Pigeon and Little Bayou Pigeon. These waterways are used considerably by local boats of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) draft.

MORGAN CITY TO VERMILION RIVER

(Charts 199 and 1277)

About 22 miles south of Morgan City, the Intracoastal Waterway leads westward into Little Wax Bayou. The entrance is marked by a lighted beacon. The course of the bayou has been straightened by several short cut-offs. The waterway follows the bayou for 3 miles, to a 14-mile land cut passing north of Wax Lake and leading into Bayou Bartholomew. From Bayou Bartholomew, the waterway contines westward through land cuts passing just north of Cote Blanche Island, around Weeks Bay and the north side of Vermilion Bay to the Vermilion River, crossing en route several passages connecting with the coastal bays. These passages are successively, The Jaws, Bayous Weeks and Carlin, and Avery Canal and Bayou Petite Anse, distant 21, 35, and 41 miles, respectively, from the Atchafalaya River. They, together with Weeks and Avery Islands, have already been described on page 253.

Directions. The route of the Intracoastal Waterway across all intersecting streams is well marked and the above paragraph covers all necessary directions. A single track railroad swing bridge, with a horizontal clearance of 75 feet, crosses the waterway at North Bend Plantation, 12 miles west of the Atchafalaya River. Highway cable ferries cross the waterway at the following points: (a) just west of the railroad bridge; (b) about due north of Cote Blanche; and (c) just west of the conspicuous stack at Cypremont, about 31⁄2 miles west of Cote Blanche. Such bridges as are constructed to replace these ferries will have 75 feet horizontal clearance.

Depths into and up the Vermilion River have been given on page 254. The principal river traffic consists of sulphur tows.

Intracoastal City is a small settlement on the north bank of the Vermilion River just west of the point where the Intracoastal Waterway joins the river from the eastward. There are several small basins for the storage of small boats and marine ways capable of hauling boats up to about 40 feet long and 4 feet (1.2 m) draft. Gasoline, oil, and water (in very limited quantities) are available. Provisions can be secured from Abbeville, 16 miles distant by highway.

Abbeville (population 4,356 by 1930 census) is 21 miles up the Vermilion River from the Intracoastal Waterway. There are numerous stores for securing provisions and some supplies, a machine shop, and a marine service station where gasoline, oil, and water can be secured. Boats up to about 50 feet long and 42 feet (1.4 m) draft can be hauled and some repairs made. There is an improved highway and a railroad to New Iberia and a highway to Lafayette.

VERMILION RIVER TO MERMENTAU RIVER

Between these rivers, the Intracoastal Waterway follows a land cut running in a general northwesterly direction for 371⁄2 miles. The waterway enters the Mermentau River about half a mile above Grand Lake and about 14 miles below the town of Lake Arthur.

The Vermilion Lock is located about 2 miles west of Vermilion River. This lock has an available length of 1,182 feet, width of 56 feet, and 12 feet (3.7 m) depth over sill. This lock is only operated as necessary to prevent the water beyond the locks becoming brackish. The waterway follows the Vermilion river for 1/2 miles and the Mermentau river for 1 mile; on each river, the junction points of the river and the Intracoastal Waterway are marked by beacons.

Three cable ferries cross the waterway at 62, 82, and 102 miles, respectively, west of Vermilion Lock. There is a gasoline service station near the first ferry.

Directions. No directions are necessary other than the above. Depths into and up the Mermentau River have been given on page 255.

The channel in the Mermentau River to the north of the Intracoastal Waterway is marked by numerous aids. Below Lake Arthur there are several local buoys, marking the west side of the channel. One mile above the western junction with the Intracoastal Waterway, there is a cutoff on the north side of the river marked by four beacons. Across the lower portion of Lake Arthur, a long straight channel is marked by beacons along the east side and by ranges at either end. Just north of this range, the channel passes through the constriction a little more than halfway up the lake. Across the upper portion of the lake, the channel is marked by several successive ranges. The controlling depth in the river is 9 feet (2.7 m) across Lake Arthur.

Lake Arthur (population 1,602 by 1930 census), located on the northwest side of Lake Arthur and 13 miles above the Intracoastal Waterway, has an improved highway to Jennings and Lake Charles and railroad connection to Lake Charles. There are several small stores. Provisions and supplies can be secured in Jennings or Lake Charles if not available locally. A depth of about 6 feet (1.8 m) can be taken to the boat landings. There is a boat yard, with machine shop, capable of hauling and repairing boats up to about 60 feet long and 4 feet (1.2 m) draft. Gasoline, oil, and excellent water are available.

At Mermentau, on the upper river 16 miles above Lake Arthur, there is a boat yard capable of hauling and repairing any heavy craft which can enter the river.

(28) WHITE AND GRAND LAKES ROUTE

267

Inside Route through White and Grand Lakes.-Just west of the Vermilion River, two canals lead from the Intracoastal Waterway to Schooner Bayou. The first leaves the waterway half a mile west of the river and joins Schooner Bayou about half a mile inside its mouth, both junctions being east of the locks in the respective waterways. The second canal (North Fork Canal) leaves the waterway about 4 miles west of Vermilion Lock and joins Schooner Bayou about half a mile west of Schooner Bayou Lock. These canals are about 5 feet (1.5 m) deep and provide traffic connections between the Intracoastal Waterway and points on White and Grand Lakes and connecting waterways. A depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) can be carried through this route from Schooner Bayou to the junction of the Mermentau River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Schooner Bayou has been described on page 254.

Schooner Bayou Canal leads from Schooner Bayou into White Lake.

White Lake is 12 miles long, 6 miles wide, and has depths of 5 feet (1.5 m) or more and mud bottom. Each entrance from the lake, into the canal at either end, is marked by a beacon and a light, both on the north side of the channel. The course across the lake is about W. 11⁄2 N. (mag.), passing about half a mile off the point in the middle of the north shore of the lake; the channel is not marked.

Approach the east entrance with the line of the Schooner Bayou Canal in range ahead. The channel is narrow and the spoil bank on the south side is marked by stakes.

At the west end of the lake, pass about 100 yards south of the light and 10-15 yards south of the beacon just off the canal entrance.

Turtle Lake is nearly round, with a diameter of about 3/4 mile. The lake is shallow but there is a narrow 5 foot (1.5 m) channel across it, marked at each end by a beacon on the northeast side. This channel leads directly from about 100 yards south of one beacon to 100 yards south of the other beacon, with a spoil bank along the south side. A long earth dyke reaches off the south side of the east entrance; the channel is but 5-10 yards off this dyke.

Alligator Lake is about the same size and depth as Turtle Lake. A narrow 5-foot (1.5 m) channel has been dredged across the southern part of the lake and is marked by a beacon at either end, the channel passing about 100 yards south of the beacons. At the east end of the lake, the channel from the canal into the lake turns sharply to westward. The shoalest depths along this route are through Alligator Lake.

Collicon Lake is 3 miles long, 1 mile wide and from 2 to 3 feet, (0.6 to 0.9 m) deep. A narrow 5-foot (1.5 m) channel has been dredged across the lake and is marked by a beacon on the north side at either end. Stakes are set across the lake 10-15 yards southwest of the channel. On the west side of the lake an earth dyke extends along the north side of the channel; keep close to this dyke, within 5-10 yards.

Grand Lake is from 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m) deep but the entrances are subject to shoaling. At the southeast end of the lake, the entrance to the canal to Collicon Lake leads close (5-10 yards) along

57738°-36-18