times during protracted droughts or high tides when it becomes brackish.

Repairs. Ordinary repairs to the machinery of steamers can be made at Wilmington; there are two marine railways, the larger capable of hauling out vessels of about 1,000 tons registered. The draft that can be hauled out at high water is 9 feet (2.7 m) forward, and 18 feet (5.5 m) aft. There is a 500-ton floating drydock capable of accommodating vessels up to 150 feet in length.

Towboats can be had at Wilmington. There is wreckage and salvage equipment which will permit of limited operations.

Storm warnings are displayed at Wilmington and Southport. Public Health Service. There is a relief station at Wilmington. The nearest Public Health hospitals are at Norfolk, Va., and at Savannah, Ga.

Aviation fields.-Land planes make use of the municipally owned Bluethenthal Field. Seaplanes may land in the anchorage basin at the southern end of the harbor. The basin is approximately 3,000 feet long and 1,000 feet wide. Aviation gasoline, oil, and service are readily obtainable at Wilmington.

Freshets.-Low-water stages prevail in the rivers above Wilmington from 2 to 4 months during the summer, and freshets usually occur as often as once a month during the rest of the year, but with no regularity.

Tides. See the tide tables for the Atlantic Ocean in which the tides are predicted for every day at Wilmington. Proceeding toward the mouth of the river, the tides are earlier than at Wilmington. The mean range at the entrance is about 412 feet (1.3 m) and at Wilmington about 212 feet (0.7 m).

Currents.-The tidal currents on the bar run with considerable velocity, and as a rule set nearly in the direction of the channels, but on the last of the flood and first of the ebb they tend more or less across the shoals. In the river their set is generally in the direction of the channel, and during freshets the ebb has great velocity, sometimes entirely overcoming the flood. Abreast of Southport the estimated velocity of the ebb at strength of spring tides is about 212 knots. At ordinary times a strong flood is felt for a considerable distance above Wilmington, where it runs 514 hours to nearly 7 hours of ebb; going down the river from Wilmington the periods of flood and ebb become more nearly equal. On the bar slack water occurs about 1 hour after high and low water.

7. CAPE FEAR TO CHARLESTON ENTRANCE

CAPE FEAR TO WINYAH BAY

(Charts 1236, 1237, 428)

From Cape Fear the coast trends first in a northwesterly direction, then curves gradually westward and southward to the entrance of Winyah Bay. That part of the Atlantic Ocean bordering on this curved coast is known as Long Bay. The coast is 80 miles in length between Cape Fear and Georgetown Lighthouses and consists of a sand beach, with numerous small sand hills, separated from the heavily wooded mainland by small streams and marsh; from offshore the woods appear to extend to the water.

LOCKWOODS FOLLY INLET

139

The coast is clear and 3 fathoms (7.3 m) can be taken as close as 11⁄2 miles from the beach, except at Murrell Inlet, where a 16-foot (4.8 m) spot is found 2 miles offshore. Shallow-draft boats should not follow along too close to the beach on account of several pieces of old wreckage that have been reported outside of the ordinary line of breakers. The 10-fathom (18.3 m) curve is from 18 to 21 miles offshore, and inside of it the water shoals gradually as the shore is approached.

The section of the Intracoastal Waterway between Cape Fear River, N. C., and Winyah Bay, S. C., is now under construction. Upon completion, about April 1936, it will afford an inside passage with a controlling depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) at mean low water, and a bottom width of 75 feet, for a distance of 94.5 miles.

Passage is now possible in the completed section from Cape Fear River to Little River Inlet for vessels whose draft will permit crossing the bar at the inlet, thus shortening the outside run to Winyah Bay Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 WB to 482 miles. The controlling depth across the bar was 42 feet (1.4 m) in August 1935.

Lockwoods Folly Inlet is about 11 miles westward of Cape Fear River. There are no aids for entering and passage without local knowledge is not recommended, as the inlet is closed by breakers at practically all stages of the tide and wind. The controlling depth was 3 feet (0.9 m) at mean low water in November 1934. Two wrecks, both visible at low water, are located off the mouth of the inlet on the western edge of the channel. There is a high sand dune east of the inlet.

Lockwoods Folly River is navigable from the inlet to the Intracoastal Waterway and to Supply post office, a distance of 18 miles, where a bridge with a fixed span blocks navigation. The controlling depth of Lockwoods Folly River is 2 feet (0.6 m) at mean low water. The channel is narrow and bounded on either side by oyster bars that are covered at high tide.

The range of tide at Lockwoods Folly Inlet is about 41⁄2 feet (1.4 m) and 2 feet (0.6 m) at Supply.

Mary Inlet is reported to be practically bare at low tide. It is not used by boatmen.

Shallotte Inlet is about 181⁄2 miles westward of Cape Fear River. In November 1934 the controlling depth was 5 feet (1.5 m) across the bar. The channel, which is no longer buoyed, crosses the bar about 1/2 mile west of the entrance on a northerly course and then follows about 150 yards off the beach to the east side of the inlet. The inlet is only used by local fishermen. Strangers should have local information for crossing the bar.

Shallotte River is navigable to the Intracoastal Waterway and to the closed bridge at the town of Shallotte, a distance of about 8 miles from the inlet. The controlling depth to Shallotte is 312 feet (1.0 m) at mean low water. The river is used by local fishermen. The range of tide is about 42 feet (1.3 m) near the inlet and 3 feet (0.9 m) at Shallotte.

Tubbs Inlet, 5 miles westward of Shallotte Inlet has been reported to be practically closed.

Little River Inlet, S. C., is about 27 miles westward of Cape Fear River, and the western terminus of the now open section of the Intra

20712°-36- -10

coastal Waterway between the Cape Fear River and Winyah Bay. Vessels using this section of the waterway are required to go outside from Little River Inlet to Winyah Bay entrance, a distance of 47 miles.

The approach to this inlet is marked by Little River Inlet Lighted Bell Buoy 2 LR. The entrance is distinguished by a prominent, high, white sand dune on Waiter Island on the west side of the inlet. The main channel is close westward of Bird Island. The channel across the bar changes in depth and position and is marked by buoys which are shifted frequently. There was a controlling depth of 42 feet (1.4 m) at low water in August 1935. Entrance should only be attempted in favorable weather and with a rising tide. The mean range of tide is about 4.8 feet (1.5 m) at the inlet. Little River. The Intracoastal Waterway westward to Winyah Bay will follow the course of Little River and boats of 8-foot (2.4 m) draft can now go to the wharf at the lower end of Little River, a town about 32 miles above the inlet. Gasoline and some supplies are available at the town. There is highway and telephone connection to Wilmington and Georgetown. The river and Intracoastal Waterway are well marked by beacons and lights. A branch making eastward is known as Calabash Creek.

Directions, Little River Inlet to Winyah Bay.-From a position about 100 yards south of Little River Inlet Lighted Bell Buoy 2 LR steer a 2172° true (SW. 1⁄2 S. mag.) course for a distance of 4812 miles to a position about 100 yards southeast of Winyah Bay Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 WB. Then be guided by the directions given for Winyah Bay.

Vessels of 6 feet (1.8 m) draft may enter Winyah Bay by the North Jetty Channel. From a position about 100 yards south of Little River Inlet Lighted Bell Buoy 2 LR steer a 220° true (SW. 14 S. mag.) course for a distance of 50 miles to a position about 100 yards southeast of North Jetty End Buoy 2 N. Then be guided by the directions given on page 142.

Little River Inlet to Murrell Inlet.-The coast trends southwestward for a distance of about 311⁄2 miles, sweeping in somewhat from a straight line joining the two points. For about 5 miles west from Little River Inlet the coast is backed by a strip of marsh lying between it and the woods on the mainland, and the same is true for about the same distance to the northward and eastward of Murrell Inlet. For the rest of the stretch the woods rise immediately back of the beach, which shows the usual stretch of sand, with many hills more or less conspicuous. In this stretch of coast there are many inlets, but none with sufficient water to make them of any commercial importance.

Myrtle Beach is a summer resort with railroad and auto bus communication located on the beach on the east side at the mouth of Eight Mile, or Withers Swash, nearly 20 miles west-southwestward of Little River Inlet and 311⁄2 miles north-northeastward of Georgetown Lighthouse. There is a large hotel at Myrtle Beach, which with its tall central superstructure forms the most prominent landmark between Beaufort, N. C., and Winyah Bay.

An aeronautical light, lat. 33°43′44′′ Ñ., long. 78°50'06" W., of 2,000,000 candlepower has been installed in the cupola of a hotel

at the north end of Myrtle Beach. The light is 156 feet (47 m) above the sea, and makes 2 revolutions per minute. The main beam is elevated 10° above the horizon.

Murrell Inlet communicates with Main and Drunken Jack Creeks, which drain a considerable extent of swamp lying between the coast and mainland. It has been reported that there is about 6 feet (1.8 m) at mean low water in the channel over the bar. The bar is shifting and the channel changing, and strangers must use care in entering. Inside the inlet, where the channel turns sharply to the starboard around a sand spit, the tide rips are very strong at full ebb or flood tides. Good water can be found up this channel for about 134 miles to a launch landing. There is a small settlement here called Sunny Side.

The inlet should not be entered without local knowledge.

North Inlet, about 7 miles northward of Georgetown Lighthouse, is connected by both Town Creek and Jones Creek with Winyah Bay; Jones Creek, the southerly thoroughfare, is easier to follow and is good for 6 feet (1.8 m) at high tide. There is little water, however, in Winyah Bay and navigation is restricted to boats of shallow

draft.

Some fishermen use North Inlet, but strangers should not attempt to enter and make passage to Winyah Bay without local knowledge. There are two openings about one-half mile apart and the high sand dunes between them are the most prominent in this vicinity. The northern entrance is completely closed at low water. The southern entrance had a depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) on the bar and is the only one used. Entrance is only made in a smooth sea and on a rising tide and the appearance of the water is the best guide, as there is a line of breakers close to the north side of the channel, from the bar to the mouth of the inlet. A boiler of a wreck shows on the north side of the entrance.

WINYAH BAY

(Chart 428)

Winyah Bay is the first harbor southward of Cape Fear River navigable for vessels of moderate draft. The opening is between North and South Islands, and is marked by Georgetown Lighthouse, near the southern end of North Island. The entrance is marked by Winyah Bay Lighted Whistle Buoy 2 WB about 3 miles seaward of the outer end of the south jetty. The channel into the mouth of the bay is maintained by jetties, extending eastward from the southern tip of North Island and from a point on South Island southwest of the former. In July 1935 the controlling depths in Winyah Bay were as follows: Entrance Channel, 18 feet (5.5 m); Western Channel, 15 feet (4.6 m); and 1612 feet (5.0 m) in the Sampit River. This last depth was available to the principal docks at Georgetown.

Western Channel is the only one under improvement and is marked on its southwest and west sides by lights which are 250 feet from the middle of the channel.

There is another channel through the middle of the bay and close to Marsh Islands that is extensively used by local craft. It is not marked, but the wreck of the Harvest Moon forms a good day mark for use in passing through this channel.

On the south side of the Western Channel the entrance to the Intracoastal Waterway, the mouth of the Estherville and Minim Creek Canal, is marked by Canal Entrance Light No. 2 (group flashing red).

Boats drawing about 6 feet (1.8 m) of water or less may enter Winyah Bay by the North Jetty Channel, as follows: Pass about 100 yards southeast of North Jetty End Buoy 2 N at the east end of the north jetty, and on about a 243° true (SW. by W. 34 W. mag.) course, head for the South Jetty Channel rear range light. Hold this course until about 500 yards from the buoy and 250 yards south of the north jetty, to avoid a shoal area just south of this jetty. Haul to the westward and head for the Middle Ground Channel rear range light and hold this course until in the main ship channel.

The jettied entrance to Winyah Bay is dangerous of navigation for small craft except in favorable weather. Heavy tide rips prevail near the ends of the jetties, and in moderate to heavy weather very heavy seas are present. With the ebb tide, particularly with a north or northeast wind, there is a strong southerly set across the south jetty. The south jetty covers at about three-fourths tide.

Georgetown Lighthouse, lat. 33°13'21" N., long. 79°11'07" W., near the south end of North Island, east side of Winyah Bay, is a white tower and dwelling. The light is group-flashing white, every 15 seconds (flash 3 seconds, eclipse 2 seconds, flash 3 seconds, eclipse 7 seconds), 85 feet (25.9 m) above the water, and visible 15 miles. Storm warnings are displayed near the lighthouse.

Winyah Bay South Jetty Light is a black, pyramidal, skeleton tower on a mound at the end of the south jetty entrance of Winyah Bay. The light is flashing white (flash 0.5 second, eclipse 4.5 seconds), 30 feet (9.1 m) above the water, and visible 11 miles.