UNITED STATES COAST PILOT

PACIFIC COAST-CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON

GENERAL INFORMATION

This volume covers the western coast of the United States between the Mexican boundary on the south and the international boundary between British Columbia and the United States on the north, including Juan de Fuca Strait and tributary waters within those limits.

The coast, as a rule, is rugged and mountainous, the high land in many places rising abruptly from the sea. Southward of San Francisco Bay the mountains are usually bare or covered with chaparral and underbrush. Northward of San Francisco Bay they are generally well timbered, and in some places, especially northward of the Columbia River, the timber is particularly dense and heavy.

There are few outlying dangers, the principal ones being Bishop Rock, southward and westward of Point Loma; Noonday Rock and the Farallones, in the approaches to San Francisco Bay; Blunts, St. George, Rogue River, Orford, and Umatilla reefs, northward of San Francisco. These are described under separate headings in their appropriate place in the detailed description of the coast. The islands off the southern coast of California are the largest and most prominent and, except the Farralones, the farthest offshore of any along the coast.

The depths in approaching the coast are too great for the ordinary vessel to obtain soundings until within a short distance of the shores; the slope from the 100-fathom (183 m.) curve to greater depths is very abrupt, as is the case in many places from the 30fathom (55 m.) curve to 100 fathoms (183 m.) The 100-fathom (183 m.) curve lies at an average distance of less than 10 miles offshore, but this distance is increased in several cases, as in approaching San Francisco Bay, in the vicinity of Heceta Bank, off the mouth of the Columbia River, and at the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait. In thick weather the greatest caution should be exercised and soundings taken frequently.

Kelp grows on nearly every danger having a rocky bottom and is particularly heavy at various points in the Santa Barbara Channel and in the vicinity of San Diego Bay. It will be seen on the surface of the water during the summer and autumn months; during the winter and spring it is not always to be seen, especially where it is exposed to a heavy sea. Kelp should always be considered a sign of danger and no vessel should pass through it unless the spot has been carefully examined and sounded. There are, however, many rocks not marked by it; a heavy sea will occasionally tear the kelp

1

away from.rocks, and a moderate current will draw it under water so that it will not be seen. When passing on the side of a patch of kelp from which the stems stream away with the current, care should be taken to give it a good berth. Dead, detached kelp floats on the water curled in masses, while live kelp, attached to rocks, streams away level with the surface.

In

Anchorage, affording shelter from the severe northwesterly winds of summer, may be had in a number of places along the coast. southeast and southwest weather there are few places where shelter may be had; San Diego Bay, Los Angeles Harbor, the lee side of the islands off the southern coast, and Monterey Bay are the only places south of San Francisco Bay. North of San Francisco, Humbolt Bay, Coos Bay, Tilamook Bay, Columbia River, Willapa Bay, and Grays Harbor afford good shelter, but most of these places must be made before the sea rises, as afterwards the bars become impassable. Neah Bay, just inside the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait, is used considerably by vessels in westerly or southerly weather.

Aids to navigation. These are numerous, and there are few places along the coast where a vessel is not in sight of one or more lights. Lightships are placed off: San Francisco Entrance, Blunts Reef near Cape Mendocino, the mouth of the Columbia River, Umatilla Reef, and Swiftsure Bank off the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait. The dangers are buoyed as a rule and generally marked by kelp. The buoyage accords with the system adopted in United States waters. The lightships and principal coast lights are described in the text of this volume. For a complete description of all lighted aids see the Light List, Pacific Coast of the United States, published by the Lighthouse Service, which can be obtained from the Division of Publications, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. The light lists are priced 30 cents each and the buoy lists 20 cents each.

All lightships and some light stations are equipped to give radio fog signals, and there are numerous radiocompass stations located along the coasts and particularly in the vicinity of the entrances to the main ports.

System of buoyage.-In conformity with section 4678 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, the following order is observed in coloring and numbering buoys in United States waters, viz: In approaching the channel, etc., from seaward, red buoys, with even numbers, will be found on the starboard side.

In approaching the channel, etc., from seaward, black buoys, with odd numbers, will be found on the port side.

Buoys painted with red and black horizontal stripes will be found on obstructions, with channel ways on either side of them, and may be left on either hand in passing in.

Buoys painted with white and black perpendicular stripes will be found in mid-channel, and must be passed close-to to avoid danger. All other distinguishing marks to buoys will be in addition to the foregoing, and may be employed to mark particular spots.

Perches, with balls, cages, etc., will, when placed on buoys, be at turning points, the color and number indicating on what side they shall be passed.

Nun buoys, properly colored and numbered, are usually placed on the starboard side and can buoys on the port side of channels.

Day beacons (except such as are on the sides of channels, which will be colored like buoys) are constructed and distinguished with special reference to each locality, and particularly in regard to the background upon which they are projected.

Buoys maintained by the United States Army Engineers for dredging purposes are painted white with the top painted dark green for a distance of 2 feet.

Bridge regulations.-Regulations for lighting bridges over navigable waters, also for lights on sheer booms, piers, dams, and similar obstructions to navigation are prescribed by the Department of Commerce. A copy of these regulations will be sent free of charge to any shipmaster, pilot, or bridge owner upon application to the Division of Publications, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. The lighthouse inspectors have immediate authority over lighting of structures in their respective districts and are charged with the enforcement of the regulations.

Regulations for the operation of drawbridges, and for the navigation of certain sections of the inland waterways, are prescribed by the Secretary of War for many places; extracts from the regulations are given in some cases under the description of the waters affected. Communication is by regular lines of coasting steamers, by rail, and by telegraph, telephone, and radio. A number of the light stations are equipped to receive messages by the international signal code, and transmit them by telegraph. There are several lines of trans-Pacific steamers, and a number of transcontinental railroads. There is an improved highway along the coast from border to border.

Supplies.-Vessels usually obtain their supplies in either San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Columbia River, or Puget Sound. Coal can be obtained at a number of points. Fuel oil can be obtained at all the principal ports. Ship-chandler's stores can be had at San Diego, San Pedro, San Francisco, Humboldt Bay, Coos Bay, Columbia River, and Puget Sound, and in limited quantities at several other places.

The majority of vessels on the Pacific coast are now oil burners, and in general the facilities for bunkering with fuel oil are much superior to coal.

Repairs.-Extensive repairs to large vessels can be made only in Los Angeles Harbor, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Minor repairs to machinery can be made at a number of places, but those mentioned are the only ports provided with dry docks.

The following table shows the dimensions of the largest dry docks available at the various ports:

Pilots will be found cruising off the port of San Francisco and off the mouth of the Columbia River. Pilots are available at most of the other ports, but do not cruise off the entrances. Vessels desiring pilots are urged to radio ahead, and state probable time of arrival off the entrance. Extracts from the laws governing pilotage will be found under the headings of the various localities.

Towboats are available at all the principal ports, but as a rule no longer cruise off the entrances. Arrangements for towboats should be made by radio or telegraph.

Navigation laws of the United States are published by the Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce, at intervals of 4 years, the present edition being that of 1923. A supplement is issued after every session of Congress. The volume and supplements can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., price, $1 for the volume and 5 cents each for the supplements.

Rules of the road.-International and inland "Rules to prevent collisions of vessels," lines within which the inland rules apply, and "Regulation of motor boats" are published by the Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce, and are included in the appendix to this volume.

Pilot rules for certain inland waters of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico are published by the Steamboat Inspection Service in Form 804.

Copies of these pamphlets are furnished by the officers of the Steamboat Inspection Service, and can also be had from the Division of Publications, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. The following special signals for surveying vessels of the United States employed in hydrographic surveying, have been prescribed:

A surveying vessel of the United States, under way or at anchor in a fairway and employed in hydrographic surveying, may carry where they can best be seen, but in any case well above the running lights prescribed by law for preventing collisions, three lights in a

vertical line one over the other and not less than 6 feet apart. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be green, and the middle light shall be white, and they shall be of such a character as to be visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles. In the case of a small vessel the distance between the lights of such special code may be reduced to 3 feet if necessary.

By day such surveying vessel may carry in a vertical line, not less than 6 feet apart, where they can best be seen, three shapes of not less than 2 feet in diameter, of which the highest and lowest shall be globular in shape and green in color, and the middle one diamond in shape and white.

QUARANTINE

Quarantine at all United States ports is enforced in accordance with the requirements of the United States Public Health Service. Copies of the quarantine regulations will be found at stations of the Public Health Service and will be furnished to vessels on application either by officers of the service or by the bureau at Washington, D. C. Each vessel should be provided with a copy of the quarantine regulations. Port sanitary statements are issued by the Public Health Service and may be obtained at the stations of the service or from collector of customs in all ports of the United States. The following are the quarantine boarding stations within the limits covered by this volume:

A fumigation station with a medical officer of the Public Health Service in charge, is maintained at Seattle.

Medical relief.-American merchant seamen are entitled to free medical relief at the expense of the Government, through the United States Public Health Service at its established relief stations. A list of such stations on the Pacific coast is given below. An American merchant seaman is defined as one engaged on board in the care, preservation, or navigation of any registered, enrolled, or licensed vessel of the United States, or in the service, on board, of those engaged in such care."

Relief stations of the Public Health Service are located at the addresses given, in the following ports:

California:

San Diego (306 Federal Building).

San Pedro (Out-patient office, Appraisers' Building).

(111 West Seventh Street).

Los Angeles (544 Wilcox Building).

San Francisco (Marine Hospital No. 19, Fourteenth Avenue and Lake Street).

Eureka (407 First National Bank Building).

Oregon :

Marshfield (Irving Building).

Newport (Hurlburt Street).

Astoria (408 Spexarth Building).

Portland (320 Park Building).