draft of 4 feet (1.2 m.) can be taken to the head of navigation at high water.

Three sloughs empty into Coos Bay between Coos River and Marshfield. Coalbank Slough is unused and has bridges across it near the mouth. Isthmus Slough has been improved by dredging to a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m.) to a point above Bay City. Most of the lumber from the bay is shipped from sawmills on this slough. Catching Slough is navigable for several miles by light-draft vessels and is used mainly for logging operations.

Empire is situated on the eastern shore of the bay 4 miles above the entrance. At present the place is of little commercial importance.

There is a prominent oil tank at Empire, and the Government has constructed a dock for the use of the seagoing dredge employed in dredging the bar.

North Bend, 411⁄2 miles above Empire, is located on the eastern side of North Point. It is a prosperous town with sawmills, factories, and a small shipyard. Considerable lumber is shipped from here.

Marshfield, on the western shore near the head of the bay, is the principal town. It is the port of entry for the collection district of southern Oregon, a deputy collector being stationed there. It is the distributing center for a considerable section of country devoted to lumbering, coal mining, dairying, and agriculture. A commercial radio station is located here.

There are ample wharfage facilities with depths of 9 to 18 feet (2.7 to 5.5 m.).

Marshfield and North Bend now form practically one continuous settlement, extending along the shore from North Point to the mouth of Coalbank Slough.

Prominent features.-Coos Head, Umpqua River Lighthouse, and Cape Arago Lighthouse are good guides in making the entrance to the bay; the sand dunes northward toward the Umpqua River are also a noticeable feature.

Guano Rock lies on the south side of the entrance channel, about 250 yards northwestward from Coos Head. This rock now shows only at extreme low water, the top having broken off. It is marked by a buoy placed in 23 feet (7 m.) of water, 100 yards northwestward from the rock.

Anchorage may be had at almost any point inside the bay, dependent upon the draft. Outside the entrance vessels with local knowledge have ridden out southeast gales by anchoring close under Cape Arago in 5 to 6 fathoms (9.1 to 11 m.), but this is dangerous if the wind shifts to southwest.

Pilots are available, and can be arranged for by radio with the port of Coos Bay, or can be had by signal to the Coast Guard Station. Pilot charges are $50 each way for steam schooners; $200 for vessels of up to 3,000 gross tons (sea to sea), and $300 (sea to sea) for vessels of over 3,000 gross tons.

Towboats.-The port of Coos Bay owns, a towboat, but in 1925 it was laid up, and could not be had on short notice.

Port Terminal.-Midway between North Bend and Marshfield the port of Coos Bay owns and operates a dock 1,005 feet long with

cargo-handling gear and rail connections. Ample depths alongside are maintained for the vessels that can reach the dock. In 1925,

21 feet (6.4 m.) was the usual maximum draft to which vessels were loaded at Marshfield. Full effect of the tide can not be had, for vessels must leave their berths before high water in order to reach the bar on the tip of high water.

Marine hospital.-A relief station of the Public Health Service, in charge of a service officer, is located at Marshfield.

Quarantine.-Regulations of the Public Health Service are enforced by the service officer at Marshfield. Vessels with communicable disease on board should not pass Empire until boarded by the quarantine officer. Facilities are available for fumigation by sulphur only.

Customs.-Marshfield is the port of entry for southern Oregon, embracing the following ports: Umpqua, Siuslaw, Bandon, Port Orford, and Gold Beach (Rogue River). Vessels subject to customs inspection are boarded in the upper harbor.

Storm warnings, day and night, are displayed by the United States Weather Bureau from a steel tower at Marshfield.

Supplies.-Fuel oils, coal, water, provisions, and ship chandlers' stores can be obtained at Marshfield and North Bend. The city water is reported to be of poor quality, but is suitable for boilers. Repairs.-There are no facilities for extensive repairs. Machine shops are available, but there are no dry-docking facilities except for scows and small' gas boats.

A Coast Guard station is located on the south point at the entrance, 1/4 mile eastward of Coos Head.

Communication is by rail to the interior and by regular lines of steamers plying between Columbia River, Coos Bay, Humboldt Bay, and San Francisco. There is also considerable local traffic in smaller vessels to various local points north and south. Communication may be had by telegraph and telephone. There is a naval radio station, call letters NPF, located at Marshfield.

Currents. The following statement concerning the currents at the entrance has been furnished by the master of the Government bar dredge:

The time of slack water varies with the height of tide. The ebb runs from 1 to 12 hours after low water, and the flood from 2 to 4 hour after high water. During long runouts I have found an ebb current of 5 knots at Guano Rock, and up to 7 knots at the bell buoy, same buoy being run under at times in winter months. Flood current-maximum velocity, 31⁄2 knots.

From the bell buoy to the outer end of the north jetty the ebb generally sets west (mag.), with a strong tendency toward the south spit. From midway between the end of the jetty and the black buoy, and well out across the bar, the ebb invariably sets strong to south, from 1 to 3 knots. At times I find it necessary while dredging on W. 1⁄2 N. course to haul up to northwest to overcome it.

Entering in rough or heavy weather this should be especially guarded against. With the run of the sea and the set a ship is more likely to be set upon the south spit than upon the jetty.

The present ranges are good guides when visible. The current never sets north at the whistling or channel buoys except under a continued spell of strong southerly winds.

DIRECTIONS, COOS BAY

From northward or southward the course should be shaped for the whistling buoy. From seaward Cape Blanco and Cape Arago are the prominent features, and at night their lights furnish an excellent means for determining a vessel's position, after which a course can be laid for the whistling buoy. In thick weather advantage should be taken of the radiocompass station, call letters NPF, and located 18 miles northward from the north jetty on the outside coast line.

Approaching from any direction in thick weather, great caution is essential. The currents are variable and uncertain. Velocities of 3 to 3.4 knots have been observed at the light vessels between Blunts Reef and Swiftsure Bank, and velocities considerably in excess of these amounts have been reported. For detailed information regarding the conditions which may be encountered and the precautions to be observed see the statement on coastwise navigation beginning on page 25.

Under the above conditions particular care is necessary in this locality. The depths should not be shoaled to less than 50 fathoms (91 m.) until the fog signal on Cape Arago has been made.

Strangers should not attempt to cross the bar unless the entrance range can be seen, and not then unless the bar is smooth enough so that a speed can be maintained sufficient to have the vessel under full control at all times. The fact that the outer end of the jetty is submerged should be borne in mind. The most favorable time for crossing the bar is on the last of the flood current, and on many occasions it is passable only at this time. Vessels entering Coos Bay are usually light, and therefore are not often bar-bound outside, but when loaded with lumber outward bound, a fairly smooth bar has to be selected, and bar-bound vessels inside, especially during the winter months, are not uncommon.

Vessels of 20 feet (6.1 m.) or less draft, having crossed the bar shortly before high water, should have little difficulty in reaching the wharves at North Bend or Marshfield, as the dredged channels are well marked by ranges, lighted beacons, and buoys. The chart is the guide, and no other directions are necessary.

UMPQUA RIVER

(chart 6003) has its entrance 20 miles northward from Cape Arago Lighthouse. Considerable lumber, the output of several salmon canneries, and farm and dairy produce are shipped; general merchandise is received. The port of entry is at Coos Bay.

The south point at the entrance to the river is marked by sand dunes, partly covered with trees and reaching elevations of 300 feet (91 m.). About 1 mile below the entrance is a bright bare spot in the dunes that shows prominently among the trees.

Umpqua River Lighthouse is situated on the south entrance point. The light shows 2 white and 1 red flash every 15 seconds (each flash 2 seconds and each eclipse 3 seconds duration), is 165 feet (50 m.) above the water, and visible 19 miles. Trees surround the lighthouse and only the lantern shows over their tops.

The north point at the entrance consists of shifting sand dunes, extending northward for 3 miles. These are bare as a rule, and on the river side reach elevations of 100 to 124 feet (30.5 to 38 m.).

The entrance is under improvement by the construction of a jetty from the north entrance point. This work is being carried on jointly by the Government and the port of Umpqua. The bar is a shifting one, and in 1925 the conditions were bad, and the pilots had difficulty in getting vessels of 13 feet (4.0 m.) draft over the bar. When the jetty is finished it is thought that the channel will become more stable and better water will result.

Inside the entrance the channel has been improved to Reedsport, and in 1925 there was a controlling depth of about 13 feet (4 m.) at mean lower low water. At high tide the river is navigable by vessels of 6 feet (1.8 m.) draft to Scottsburg, 23 miles above the entrance. The channel to Gardiner is no longer marked, and in 1925 there was no shipping from that point. The channel to Reedsport is marked by lights and buoys. Just above the mouth of Schofield Creek this channel is crossed by a railway drawbridge with openings of 150 feet clear width on either side of the central pier. The signal for opening the draw is one long blast of the whistle, followed quickly by one short and one long blast. During foggy weather an answering signal of one long blast from the whistle on the bridge will indicate that the draw is open for the passage of boats, and a succession of short blasts will indicate that there will be some delay in opening the draw.

A channel from Gardiner to Reedsport, which is commonly used by launches carrying freight and passengers from the railway station to Gardiner, follows the eastern shore to the cannery 11⁄2 mile above Gardiner, then leads through the flats and around the north and west sides of Bolon Island. A post light marks the crossover. Winchester Bay is a small open cove on the east bank just inside the entrance to the river.

A rocky reef, bare at extreme low tide, lies 600 yards southward from the south point of Winchester Bay. The reef is about 100 yards offshore.

Ork Reef, a patch of rocks and sand awash at half tide, lies abreast the northern end of Winchester Bay. Depths of 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m.) extend 350 yards southwestward from the reef.

Gardiner is located on the north bank of the river 712 miles inside the entrance. In 1925 the sawmill was shut down, and there was no shipping at Gardiner. There is a ferry service (passenger, freight, and automobile) with Reedsport.

Reedsport is a station on the railway, and the principal_town on the lower river. The sawmills here are in operation, and considerable lumber is shipped by water. There is ample water at the wharves for vessels that can cross the bar.

Supplies. Provision, water, gasoline, and fuel oil for launches may be obtained.

Pilots and towboats.-Pilots may be obtained by making a signal to the lighthouse or Coast Guard station. There is a 90horsepower gas tug available for work on the bar.

A Coast Guard station is located on the north bank of the river, 1 mile inside the entrance.

repairs to hulls or machinery can be made. Carpenters are available, and there is a machine shop at the lumber mill. There are no facilities for docking vessels.

Communication is by rail to the interior, or to Coos Bay and thence by steamer. The vessels calling here for lumber do not carry passengers. There is communication by telegraph and telephone.

The Roosevelt Highway connecting all ports along the Oregon coast is being constructed through Reedsport and Gardiner..

No directions that would be of value to a stranger can be given.

SIUSLAW RIVER

(chart 6023) enters the ocean 42 miles northward of Cape Arago Lighthouse, and 71⁄2 miles southward from Heceta Head Lighthouse. The river is in the Oregon collection district; the port of entry is at Marshfield, on Coos Bay.

The south entrance point is a narrow spit of high, shifting sand dunes. The north point consists of a low, flat sand beach, backed by rocky, wooded cliffs of 50 to 100 feet (15.2 to 30.5 m.) elevation.

Cannery Hill, 145 feet (44 m.) high and wooded, is situated on the eastern shore just inside the entrance, and is prominent from seaward.

The entrance has been improved by the Government by the construction of jetties. These confine the channel which, prior to their construction, was subject to extensive changes in position. The approach is marked by a whistling buoy.

The bar is narrow, but the depths are subject to change. In 1925 there was a controlling depth of 14 feet (4.3 m.) at mean lower low water on the bar, and a least depth of 17 feet (5.2 m.) between the jetties. The controlling depth to Florence was about 9 feet (2.7 m.). In 1925 most of the mills were shut down, and there was no shipping in the bay. Lumber products were shipped by rail.

Light-draft vessels can ascend the river to Mapleton, but the channel is narrow and crooked.

Florence is a small town on the north bank of the river, 4 miles inside the entrance. The sawmill here is closed and there is no commerce. There is an improvised automobile ferry between Florence and Glenada.

Glenada, on the south bank of the river, opposite Florence, is a small town of no commercial importance.

Cushman (Acme), on the north bank of the river 2 miles above Florence, has lumber and shingle mills. The product from these mills is shipped by rail.

About 1 mile above Cushman, the river is crossed by a railway drawbridge, with a clear opening of 100 feet on either side of the central draw span. The signal for opening is 1 long blast of the whistle, followed quickly by 1 short and 1 long blast. During foggy weather, an answering signal of 1 long blast from the bridge indicates that the draw is open for the passage of boats, and a succession of short blasts indicates that there will be some delay in opening the draw.

Pilots and towboats.-Neither pilots nor towboats are available. Stranger desiring a pilot might obtain the services of fishermen with local knowledge by signaling the Coast Guard station.