NORTHPORT BAY AND HARBOR.*

Northport Bay is a large bay opening from the southeastern end of Huntington Bay. The western part of Northport Bay has good anchorage in 4 to 8 fathoms of water; the eastern end is shoal, having a depth of 8 to 11 feet. The entrance to Northport Bay from Huntington Bay is through a narrow buoyed channel having a least depth of 20 feet.

Centerport Harbor is a shoal bight in the south shore of Northport Bay, just to the eastward of the entrance. Little Neck (a hilly point, covered with trees) is on the eastern side of the harbor. The village of Centerport, at the head of the harbor, is of no commercial importance.

Duck Island Harbor is a small shallow cove in the northern part of Northport Bay, opposite Centerport Harbor. A channel with 9 feet of water leads into this cove between Duck Island Bluff on the east and Winkle Point on the west, but it is only used by very small craft as the cove itself is very shallow.

Northport Harbor is a cove in the southeastern part of Northport Bay, with numerous oyster beds, and has from 7 to 10 feet of water, shoaling gradually toward its head to 1 foot.

Northport is a village on the eastern shore near the head of Northport Harbor. It has some water-borne trade, consisting of coal, lumber, oysters, sand, gravel, fire clay, and produce, carried partly by strangers. The greatest draft taken to Northport is 14 feet, the usual draft 8 to 12 feet, and 6 feet can be taken alongside the wharves at low water. Northport is on the line of the Long Island Railroad, and has a steamer running to New York in summer.

Vessels anchor anywhere in the harbor in 7 to 10 feet, low water; the bottom is soft mud.

Strangers sometimes take a pilot; making signal while in Huntington Bay will bring a pilot from the shore, or from one of the oyster boats in the vicinity.

Repairs to vessels can be made at Northport; there are three shipyards with marine railways, the largest of which is capable of hauling out vessels of 500 tons.

Anthracite coal in limited quantities and water through pipe and hose can be had at Northport alongside the wharves. Provisions and ship-chandler's stores can be obtained.

Ice closes Northport Harbor about two months each winter; there is no danger from drift ice.

SAILING DIRECTIONS, HUNTINGTON BAY.

Approaching and Entering from the Eastward.-Pass a little over 1 mile north of Eatons Neck Lighthouse, steering about W. S., and leaving Eatons Point Shoal buoy (can, black, No. 13) about mile on the port hand. When mile to the westward of this buoy, steer SW. until the bay is fully opened out, when the course should be changed to about S. by W., keeping the eastern shore a little the best aboard, but giving it a berth of not less than mile.

Anchor according to draft and the direction of the wind. Vessels drawing less than 18 feet can anchor with Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse bearing W., distant from 3 to 14 miles; if of deeper draft, anchor before Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse bears W. Vessels sometimes anchor with Eatons Point Lighthouse bearing from ENE. to NE., coming to in 5 or 6 fathoms of water.

If bound to Northport, see section 2.

At night.-Vessels drawing less than 14 feet can bring Old Field Point Light (see table, page 12) to bear E. & S. over the stern, and steer W. N., passing about 14 miles north of Eatons Neck Light. When Norwalk Island Light bears N. E., steer S. W., keeping § Norwalk Island Light on the bearing. Anchor as already directed.

Or, such vessels can bring Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light to bear E. by N., and steer W. by S., keeping the bearing. This leads nearly 14 miles to the northward of Eatons Neck Light. When Norwalk Island Light bears N. E., steer S. W., keeping the bearing. Anchor as already directed.

Vessels drawing 14 feet or more should keep a mid-sound course, steering about W. § S., with Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light bearing E. N. until Norwalk Island Light bears N. E., and then steer S. W., keeping the bearing as before.

Remarks. When passing Eatons Point in the daytime, Huntington Bay will be opened out and Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse (square white tower with attached white dwelling, see page 12) will be made on the western shore near the head of the bay; several large bowlders near the western shore to the northward of this , price $0.20; 116, scale

Shown on Coast and Geodetic Survey charts 368, scale 1

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lighthouse will show conspicuously. Entering the bay, steering S. by W., the houses and gravel dredges at Port Eaton (on the eastern shore, nearly 2 miles to the southward of Eatons Point) will be conspicuous; to the southward of Port Eaton the entrance to Northport Bay will be opened out.

Dangers. To the northward of Eatons Point there are outlying shoal spots with 16 to 21 feet over them, lying to the northward of the sailing line. They are described on page 66, with directions to avoid them.

Eatons Point Shoal makes out to the northward and northeastward of Eatons Neck Lighthouse. A depth of 6 feet is found mile to the northeastward of the lighthouse. Off the northern end of the shoal is a buoy (can, black, No. 13), but immediately to the southward and also to the westward are spots with only 16 feet over them.

The middle of Huntington Bay is free from dangers, but the 18-foot curve extends mile from the eastern shore, and about & mile from the western shore to the northward of Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse. A long narrow spit with 16 to 18 feet of water makes & mile to the northward from the south shore, about midway between the eastern shore and Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse.

1 A.

Approaching and Entering from the Westward.-Pass about 1 mile N. of Lloyd Point, leaving Lloyd Point Shoal buoy (bell, black) & mile on the starboard hand, and steer SE. by E. & E., heading about midway between Eatons Neck Lighthouse and the houses of Port Eaton. When Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse opens out bearing SW. by S. steer S. by W., and anchor according to draft and direction of wind (see section 1, foregoing).

If bound to Northport, see section 2, following.

At night.—Pass Lloyd Point, keeping Eatons Neck Light bearing to the southward of E. by S. When Stamford Harbor Light (see table, page 12) bears NW. N., steer SE. † S., keeping the light on the bearing until Lloyd Harbor Light bears SW. ‡ W. (abeam), then steer S. by W., and anchor as already directed.

Remarks. By day, on the SE. by E. & E. course, the north shore of Lloyd Neck will be left about mile on the starboard hand. Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse will be opened out a little abaft the starboard beam. Steering S. by W., give both shores a berth of not less than & mile.

Lloyd Point Shoal is described on page 66; for reference to other dangers see section 1, foregoing.

2.

Having entered Huntington Bay bound into Lloyd Harbor or into Northport Harbor.Light-draft vessels bound into Lloyd Harbor can steer for Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse, bearing W., and pass about 250 yards to the southward of the lighthouse, anchoring when the lighthouse bears NE., distant mile.

If bound to Northport Harbor, continue to the southward as directed under sections 1 and 1 A, foregoing, until Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse bears WNW., when shape course about ESE., heading for the black spar buoy at the entrance to Northport Bay.

Pass about 30 yards to the southward of West Beach Flats buoy (spar, black, No. 1) and steer about E. & N., heading for West Beach Flats buoy, east end (spar, black, No. 3), leave this buoy 30 yards on the port hand and Great Neck Flats buoy (spar, red, No. 2), about 50 yards on the starboard hand. When abreast of the latter buoy, steer about NE. by E., and pass between Little Neck Point and Duck Island Bluff, keeping the latter a little the best aboard; the depth should not be less than 20 feet. When on a line between Little Neck Point and Duck Island Bluff, steer about SE. by S., and give the western shore a berth of about 350 yards. Anchor according to draft off the wharves of Northport. The channel from Huntington Bay into Northport Bay is too narrow for a sailing vessel to beat through, and the currents here have considerable velocity.

Remarks. Standing on the ESE. course, West Beach Flats, south end, buoy (spar, black, No. 1) will be made ahead. The channel leads about 120 yards from the south shore abreast the old brickyard.

When on a line between the northern end of Little Neck and Duck Island Bluff, and heading SE. by S., the village of Northport will be right ahead.

Dangers. West Beach Flats make to the southward from West Beach for over mile; this shoal ground has from 1 to 11 feet of water, and shoals abruptly on its southern side. The shoal is marked by a buoy at its southwestern end (spar, black, No. 1) and by a buoy on its southern end (spar, black, No. 3).

Great Neck Flats make § mile to the eastward from the old brickyard, on the point at the south side of the entrance, and shoal abruptly on the northern side; at the northeastern end is placed Great Neck Flats buoy (spar, red, No. 2).

Little Neck Point Shoal makes mile to the northward from Little Neck Point; it has from 5 to 16 feet of water, and is not marked.

A shoal with only 4 feet of water over it makes out about 700 yards in an ESE. direction from Winkle Point.

The eastern shore of Little Neck should not be approached nearer than 350 yards.

FIVE MILE RIVER.*

This is a narrow inlet on the north shore of Long Island Sound about 14 miles NW. by W. from Norwalk Island Lighthouse. It is about 1 mile long and from 100 to 300 yards wide. About 4 mile above its mouth it runs dry at low water; at the mouth the depth is about 3 feet at mean low water.

A dredged channel 8 feet deep at mean low water, and about 100 feet wide extends from the 8-foot curve in the sound to the lower wharves in the harbor; this depth has slightly decreased in spots. The river is used mostly by oystermen. The channel is not marked, and local knowledge is necessary to follow it to the wharves.

Tides. See heading "Westport Harbor."

GENERAL DIRECTIONS, APPROACHING FIVE MILE RIVER.

Follow the directions sections 1 and 1 A (pages 101-102) for Sheffield Island Harbor, until Greens Ledge bell buoy bears S. W., then bring it over the stern and steer N. E. Use the lead and anchor in 8 to 11 feet off the mouth of the river.

mile N. §

Dangers. A shoal spot with 2 feet over it lies about mile W. S. from Norroaton Point and W. from Greens Ledge bell buoy in a surrounding depth of 14 feet. On the N. E. course it will be left about 400 yards on the port hand.

Ballast Reef, a cluster of rocks, dry at low water, lies 400 yards W. S. from Pine Point. These, on the course given, will be left 350 yards on the starboard hand.

DARIEN RIVER.*

This is a small shallow stream, 3 miles to the westward of Norwalk Island Lighthouse, entering Long Island Sound between Long Neck Point on the east and Norroaton Neck on the west. At low water about 24 feet can be carried into the river, and 7 feet is the greatest draft that can enter at high water.

Darien, a village on the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad, is situated just above the entrance. Vessels of 6 feet draft or less, partly strangers, are engaged in the carrying trade, which consists of cargoes of coal and oysters.

Ring End, a small settlement about 1 mile above the mouth of the river, is the head of navigation; to it 6 feet can be taken at high water.

Strangers take a pilot; if one is not found outside, they anchor between Long Neck Point and Smith Rock and get one from Darien.

Ice in winter forms to Long Neck Point.

Tides. See heading "Sheffield Island Harbor."

SAILING DIRECTIONS, DARIEN RIVER.

about

1.

From the Eastward.-Passing mile south of Norwalk Island Lighthouse steer W. S. for about 2 miles, until to the southward of Long Neck Point mile to the eastward of Smith Rock buoy (spar, red, No. 22). Then a NW. by N. course will lead fair between Smith Rock buoy and Long Neck Point; steer that course for a little over mile, and anchor in 20 to 24 feet of water, soft bottom, with Long Neck Point bearing about NE. by E., distant mile.

Remarks. In approaching from the eastward, Great Reef spindle and Greens Ledge bell buoy (see page 62) will he left on the starboard hand. Long Neck Point will be made on the starboard bow; shoal water extends in a southerly direction for 500 yards from Long Neck Point. Smith Rock buoy (spar, red, No. 22) will be made almost directly ahead, and Stamford Harbor Lighthouse will be a little on the port bow.

1 A.

From the Westward.-Passing south of the red buoy on The Cows (nun, No. 24), steer NE. by E. E., with Norwalk Island Lighthouse a little on the starboard bow. When the red buoy on Smith Rock (spar, No. 22) bears well abaft the port beam, haul to the northward and anchor as directed above, between Long Neck Point and Smith Rock buoy.

Remarks. The Cows (see page 63), about 1 mile SE. by E. from Stamford Harbor Lighthouse, and marked by a red buoy (nun, No. 24), should be left on the port hand. Smith Rock, marked off its southern end by a red buoy (spar, No. 22), lies about 3 mile SW. W. from Long Neck Point; a cluster of rocks extends mile in a northerly direction from the buoy.

STAMFORD HARBOR.*

This small harbor, on the north shore of Long Island Sound, is about 5 miles to the westward of Sheffield Island Harbor. It is shoal and much obstructed by ledges and sunken rocks, and is of no importance as an anchorage. At the head of the harbor is the mouth of Mill River, a shallow stream. A little to the eastward of Mill River entrance is the “Ship Canal," a dredged channel also leading to Stamford, and having a depth of about 9 feet and width of 50 to 100 feet; this channel is not marked.

Stamford, a town on the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad, is near the mouth of Mill River, and has some trade by water. The deepest draft of the vessels which go to Stamford by river is about 15 feet at high water. The principal cargo is coal, brought from New York in tows. The depth alongside wharves at low water is about 7 feet.

Mill River has a general course about N. from the upper part of the harbor, but the channel is crooked. About 1 mile above its mouth the river is dammed at Oliver Street bridge. A channel 150 feet wide and 7 feet deep has been dredged from the wharves to the deeper water at the entrance to the river; this channel is well marked by a lighted beacon and a number of buoys.

Shippan Point, the eastern

Prominent objects. Stamford Harbor Lighthouse is in the middle of the entrance. point at the entrance, is distinguished by a large and prominent structure on the western shore of the point. Pilots are necessary for strangers, who should make signal and anchor to the southward of the lighthouse. Towboats can not be obtained ordinarily. Sometimes a small oyster steamer can be employed. Repairs. Minor repairs to the machinery of small steamers-light work only-can be made at Stamford. South Norwalk has better facilities for such work (see heading "Sheffield Island Harbor ").

Tides. (See heading "Sheffield Island Harbor.") The tidal currents have little velocity.

Ice generally obstructs navigation from January to March, frequently extending down to the lighthouse, and sometimes beyond.

1.

SAILING DIRECTIONS, STAMFORD HARBOR.

From the Eastward.-Passing mile to the southward of Norwalk Island Lighthouse, steer WSW. W. for about 5 miles, passing about 400 yards to the southward of the red, buoy (nun, No. 24) on the southern end of The Cows. When Stamford Harbor Lighthouse bears NNW. W. steer for it, and anchor in 26 feet water about 300 yards SSE. from the black buoy (can, No. 1) on Harbor Ledge. Make signal and wait for a pilot if bound to Stamford.

Remarks. On the WSW. W. course, Stamford Harbor Lighthouse will be made well on the starboard bow, and the red buoy on The Cows (nun, No. 24) will be a little on the starboard bow.

The Cows are described on page 63.

Harbor Ledge is marked by Stamford Harbor Lighthouse; black buoy No. 1 is off the southeastern end of the ledge.

1 A.

From the Westward.-Passing

mile to the southward of Great Captain Island Lighthouse, steer ENE. E., passing mile to the southward of Greenwich Point. When Stamford Harbor Lighthouse bears NNE., steer NE., so as to pass to the southward of the black buoy (can, No. 1) on Harbor Ledge. Anchor as directed

above.

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Remarks. On the ENE. † E. course, Captain Harbor will be passed. Greenwich Point will be on the port bow, and Stamford Harbor Lighthouse will be opened out to the southward of Greenwich Point.

Shoals and rocks make out from the southeastern end of Greenwich Point for mile, the shoals extending all along the south shore of the point to that distance. The bight between Stamford Harbor Lighthouse and Greenwich Point is comparatively free from dangers while keeping the lighthouse bearing to the northward of E. N. and giving it a berth of over 300 yards.

OYSTER BAY.*

This bay, on the south side of Long Island Sound, about 5 miles to the westward of Eatons Neck Lighthouse, is separated from Huntington Bay by Lloyd Neck; the entrance is between Lloyd Point on the east and Center Island Point on the west, and is about 1 miles wide at its narrowest part. From the middle of the entrance Stamford Harbor Lighthouse bears N. by W., distant nearly 5 miles.

Oyster Bay and the adjacent waters afford excellent anchorage, but the channel being narrowed by Center Island Shoal, causes difficulty in entering or passing out without a leading wind. Vessels from 300 tons down to small sloops anchor in the bay, mostly during the summer.

Adjacent waters.-Settlements.--Oyster Bay Harbor is a long crooked arm on the western side of Oyster Bay, running to the westward between Center Island and Cove Neck. Good anchorage, sheltered from all winds, in from 10 feet to 6 fathoms of water, is found in this harbor. The village of Oyster Bay is on the south shore of Oyster Bay Harbor. During the summer a steamer running to New York and intermediate places stops at the village.

Cold Spring Harbor is the southern end of Oyster Bay, and extends about 2 miles south of Cooper Bluff. This harbor is free from dangers, and the depth is regular, 15 to 18 feet, to near its head. Cold Spring is a village on the eastern shore near the head of the harbor. Vessels of 12 to 15 feet draft can go up as far as Cold Spring at low water; there is a depth of 6 to 8 feet alongside the wharves. A depot of the Port Jefferson branch of the Long Island Railroad is 2 miles above the head of the harbor.

Prominent features.-Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse (see Table of Lights, page 12) is near the eastern extremity of the shoal making out over 14 miles to the eastward from Center Island Point. Northwest Bluff (high and covered with trees) is about 1 miles to the southward of Lloyd Point, on the eastern shore and about mile to the northward of Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse. Cooper Bluff (the northeastern point of Cove Neck, and showing a high barefaced sand bluff) is a prominent feature seen when entering; it is 14 miles SSW. from Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse. There is a wharf on the eastern shore, to the eastward of Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse, which is readily distinguished when entering. The Brickyards is a cluster of houses and long sheds on the eastern shore, east of Cooper Bluff. A low gray stone tower is on the southern end of Plum Point about 1 mile SW. W. from Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse.

Channel. The channel is about 300 yards wide at its narrowest part, between Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse and the eastern shore.

Anchorages. Anchorage in 18 feet to 7 fathoms of water, sheltered against easterly winds, will be found between Lloyd Point and Northwest Bluff, about to mile off the shore. Good anchorage in 15 to 24 feet of water, sheltered against all but northerly winds, will be found anywhere in Cold Spring Harbor, south of the wharf on the eastern shore, by keeping 250 yards from the shore and giving the north shore of Cove Neck a berth of 550 yards. An excellent anchorage in 10 feet to 6 fathoms of water will be found in the channel in Oyster Bay Harbor, but sailing vessels seldom enter it on account of the difficulty in leaving, unless with a favorable wind.

Pilots and towboats.-Pilots are sometimes employed by strangers, but are not necessary. Towboats are seldom used; they may be had from New York by telegraph in case of necessity.

Ice. During two months in the winter ice usually extends the whole length of the bay, and in exceptionally severe winters it extends out into the sound.

Tides. See page 22.

The tidal currents have moderate velocity, and are dangerous to vessels only when near Center Island Shoal; they set across this shoal with considerable velocity during both ebb and flood.

Description of lighthouses, with other general matters, will be found on pages 9-24; also see pages 48-53.

*Shown on Coast and Geodetic charts 367, scale

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price $0.20; 116, scale

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price $0.50.