about 4 feet (1.2 m) from St. Helena Sound to Port Royal Sound; but this passage is rarely used.

Pilots for the sound can be had by writing or wiring to Beaufort, S. C.; Charleston pilots will sometimes take vessels into the sound. Pilotage is compulsory for certain vessels. For pilot rates, see page 172.

Towboats. The nearest place to obtain a towboat is either Charleston or Savannah. Vessels sometimes tow to St. Helena Sound from Charleston and Savannah.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of tides on the bar and entrance to St. Helena Sound is about 6 feet (1.8 m).

COAST FROM ST. HELENA SOUND TO TYBEE ROADS

(Charts 1240, 436, 571, and 440)

The general trend of this part of the coast is southwesterly and its length 30 miles. It presents the same characteristic features when viewed from seaward as that to the eastward. It is broken by one opening of importance, Port Royal Sound, situated about midway between St. Helena and Tybee, and four shallow and unimportant inlets, Fripp, Skull, Pritchard, and Trenchard.

Fripp Inlet is obstructed by shoals at its mouth, over which but 3 or 4 feet (0.9 or 1.2 m) can be taken in the smoothest weather. Harbor River, entering into the inlet at its head, connects with St. Helena Sound to the eastward, and Story River connects to the westward with Trenchard Inlet.

Between Fripp Inlet and Trenchard Inlet, Fripp Island, Pritchard Island, and Capers Island form the seacoast. They appear to be densely wooded, except the last mentioned, near Trenchard Inlet, where it is low and marshy, with a white sandy beach, with sand dunes 15 feet (4.5 m) high. Skull Inlet, which separates Fripp Island from Pritchard Island, is a narrow passage, with very little water on the bar. Pritchard Inlet, separating the island of that name from Capers Island, is a stream of the same description.

Trenchard Inlet is of but little importance. Its bar extends about 3 miles from shore and had by the last survey (1921) a least depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) in a narrow unbuoyed channel. There is a swash channel, close under the western point of Capers Island, which carries a depth about 6 feet (1.8 m) into the inlet. There is also a shoal channel to Port Royal Sound, south of Phillips Island to Bay Point. Station Creek connects this inlet with Port Royal Sound to the westward.

Phillips Island forms the west bank of Trenchard Inlet and extends as far as Port Royal Sound. It is wooded in the vicinity of the former and also in the vicinity of Bay Point, its western extremity, but between these the land is low and marshy.

To the westward of Port Royal Sound is Hilton Head Island. It is over 10 miles in length and is nearly 5 miles in width on its northern face, tapering to a rounded point at its western end. It is heavily wooded over most of its surface, but there are some cleared and cultivated farms in the vicinity of Skull Creek. The towers of the old Hilton Head range show on its seaward side. Inside this island Skull Creek and Calibogue Sound form a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway between Port Royal Sound and Tybee Roads.

PORT ROYAL SOUND

PORT ROYAL SOUND

(Chart 571)

169

is the largest and best unimproved harbor on the coast of South Carolina; between Bay Point on the northeast and Hilton Head on the southwest the entrance is about 2 miles wide. Shoals extend 8 miles in a general south-southeast direction from the entrance, forming a bar at the outer part, through which there are two channnels. Southeast Channel is the principal one and is marked by buoys, and by the last survey had a least depth of about 21 feet (6.4 m). South Channel is not marked and is not used.

Port Royal Sound Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy PR is moored in 42 feet (12.8 m) and marks the channel entrance into Port Royal Sound. The buoy shows a short-long flashing white light (a short flash of about 0.4 second, and a long flash of 4 times that duration, such groups repeated about 8 times a minute). There is a whistle on the buoy.

Beaufort River empties into the sound from the northward and just inside of Bay Point. It is the approach to Beaufort, Port Royal, and the United States Marine Training Station, and with Brickyard Creek forms a part of the principal inside route passage. Beaufort is about 10 miles above the mouth of the river and can be reached with local knowledge at low water by vessels of 13-foot (4.0 m) draft; there are depths of 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 m) alongside the wharves.

Station Creek empties into Beaufort River from eastward at its mouth; with Story and Harbor Rivers it forms an inside route passage, with a least depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m), between Port Royal Sound and St. Helena Sound. There is a group of prominent palmettos on the north shore near the mouth of the creek.

Chowan Creek (Johnsons River) empties into Beaufort River from eastward 5 miles above Bay Point and at its head connects with Morgan River; passage through this waterway to St. Helena Sound is now completely blocked by shoals and a fixed highway bridge.

Battery Creek empties into Beaufort River 7 miles above Bay Point; just inside its entrance is the town of Port Royal, a railroad terminus. A draft of 21 feet (6.4 m) can be carried to the dock in Battery Creek from Beaufort River. There is a depth of 17 feet (5.2 m) alongside the dock at Port Royal. A light is established at the end of the shoal making off the north entrance point to Battery Creek.

Archer Creek is a narrow passage leading westward from the mouth of Battery Creek to Broad River. It is an alternate route of the Intracoastal Waterway with a controlling depth of 4 feet (1.2 m). No maintenance work is being done to keep this waterway to project depth. The eastern entrance north of the small island is closed at low water. The western entrance is marked by Archer Creek Beacon No. 1 which is left to westward when entering. Passage without local knowledge is not recommended.

Broad River extends northwestward from the head of Port Royal Sound and is about 16 miles long; with the aid of the chart it is not difficult to Whale Branch. The Seaboard Air Line Railway crosses Broad River 3 miles above Whale Branch. Pocotaligo, Tulifiny, and

Coosawhatchie Rivers empty into the head of Broad River; these rivers are said to have a depth of about 12 feet (0.4 m) at low water to the closed highway bridges which cross them below the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

Chechessee River empties into the head of Port Royal Sound from westward; Colleton River, one of its tributaries, is of little importance but has a good channel for a distance of 5 miles. A depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) can be taken up the Chechessee to the mouth of the Colleton River, and 20 feet (6.1 m) up the latter for a distance of 5 miles. These rivers are of no commercial importance.

Mackay Creek enters into Chechessee River from the westward about 1 mile above the mouth. An unused and unlighted route from Port Royal Sound lies through Mackay Creek past the north side of Pinckney Island, and parallel with Skull Creek. This passage is more difficult than the route through Skull Creek but equally deep water is found by those having local knowledge.

Skull Creek enters Port Royal Sound from southwestward about 4 miles above Hilton Head. The creek forms part of the Intracoastal Waterway and is well marked. The controlling depth is 17 feet (5.2 m). Sailing vessels loaded to 162 feet (5.0 m) were formerly towed from Calibogue Sound and tributary waters through Skull Creek at high water and thence to sea through Port Royal Sound. There is an oyster factory and wharf 1 mile from its western end at Seabrook Landing.

Beaufort, S. C., population 2,776 in 1930, is on a point of land stretching out from the west bank of Beaufort River 10 miles above its mouth and 3 miles below Brickyard Creek. It is on the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway and has steamboat connections with Savannah and Charleston. The wharves are at the southern extremity of the point on which the city is located and are at the only part of the point that may be approached by vessels; depths of 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 m) are found at the wharves. The city has good highway connections with Savannah, Charleston, and other points in the State, and good hotel accommodations are available. Moderate quantities of fish and shrimp and a large amount of plantation products are handled on the water front. There is fair anchorage in the stream off the wharves. The mean range of tide is 7.4 feet (2.3 m).

Port Royal, S. C., on the north bank of Battery Creek, is the terminus of the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway. It has highway connections with Beaufort and other points inland and to Parris Island. There is a depth of 17 feet (5.2 m) alongside the railway wharf and space to accommodate any vessel that can enter the sound. Considerable shrimp and fish are shipped from here. Aside from handling supplies for Parris Island, there is little commercial activity at Port Royal at present. The railway wharf is maintained in good condition.

Parris Island.-A United States Marine Corps training station is located on Parris Island.

Anchorages. The usual and best anchorage is in the mouth of Beaufort River, abreast the mouth of Station Creek; southward of Bay Point the holding ground is poor. There is good anchorage, with a depth of about 4 fathoms (7.3 m), in the channel of Beaufort

River within 3 mile of the wharf at the Marine Training Station. The sound is sometimes used as a harbor of refuge in winter.

Pilots.-Licensed pilots may be had by engaging one in advance from Beaufort. There are none cruising off the bar excepting when a vessel is expected. Pilotage is compulsory for certain vessels.

Pilotage. Following are extracts from the rules and regulations for pilots and pilotage for Port Royal and St. Helena bars and adjacent waters, prescribed by the board of pilot commissioners, Beaufort, S. C., in 1923:

1. The pilot ground shall extend from St. Helena and Port Royal bars 30 miles to eastward, southward, and westward, including inland waters, and to each pilot is issued a license, together with a copy of the rules and bylaws and regulations of his district, and he is to produce them when required to do so by anyone employing him.

2. Any master of a vessel bearing toward either of said bars, who shall refuse to receive on board a licensed pilot, who shall offer his services, shall be liable on his arrival to pay the pilot who first offered to board his vessel the rates and fees allowed and established, as hereinafter mentioned, as if such pilot had actually brought the vessel into port: Provided, That if a pilot having a 9- or 12-foot branch is refused by the master of a vessel of greater draft, such master shall not be held for pilotage: And provided also, That if a pilot refuses to produce his license to the master of a vessel when the latter demands it, against the master rejecting the services, the fees of pilotage of such pilot shall not be charged.

3. All vessels in the above-named waters will be held for full amount of pilotage to pilot entitled to the same, whether his services are accepted or not.

4. Every pilot cruising or standing out to sea shall offer his services to the vessel nearest the bar under penalty of suspension, unless he sees a more distant vessel in distress.

5. If any boat or vessel with a pilot on board leads any other vessel which has no pilot on board and could not obtain one, the pilot so leading is entitled to full pilotage the same as if he had been on board such vessel.

6. No pilot is to be taken to sea beyond the limits of his district. If he is so taken, he shall be entitled to $4 per day, besides his traveling expenses back, and to be provided with provisions in same manner as the master, except in cases where vessels shall have laid to for the space of 12 hours after crossing the bar and no pilot boat shall then appear to receive such pilot on board.

12. It shall be the duty of a pilot to remain on board a vessel outward bound, if required by the master, at the rate of $4 per day; and in case of refusal or neglect, the pilot shall be deprived of his license.

14. The pilot first boarding or speaking a vessel that has come in without a pilot shall be entitled to carry her out.

16. The pilot who brings in a vessel has the exclusive right to carry her out, unless the master of such a vessel, within a fortnight, shall prove to the satisfaction of the commissioners of pilotage, or a majority of them, that the said pilot had misbehaved during the time he had charge of such vessel, or unless the said pilot shall have been deprived of his license in the meantime, in either of which cases another pilot may be assigned to such vessel by the commissioners of pilotage, or a majority of them.

17. Every pilot having the right to carry out a vessel shall either attend in person or procure another pilot of his own class to attend for him upon such outward-bound vessel, after 12 hours' notice of the master, by flying his jack for that time during daylight; but if such pilot neither attends himself or substitutes another pilot, then the master of such vessel shall be at liberty to procure another pilot, after the expiration of the above limited time: Provided, That the master flies his signal for a pilot at the mouth of Combehee River and St. Helena Sound, or at the town of Port Royal for 12 hours, including all outward-bound vessels from Chehaw River and Chisolms Island and other interior points.

19. Any pilot who brings in a vessel shall have a right to demand his fees of pilotage and the lawful charges before her departure from port, and whenever a pilot having the right to carry out a vessel is apprehensive that his fees of pilotage may not be paid by the master, owner, or consignee, he shall have the right to demand his fees in advance, or such security for the payment thereof as shall be satisfactory.

20712°-36-12

20. The owner, master, or consignee of any ship or vessel for the consideration of the pilotage of said vessel inward to, or outward from the port or ports of Port Royal and St. Helena Sound, or through the inland waters, shall pay to the licensed pilot who shall take charge of the same the several sums of money, rates, and fees set forth in the following schedule, according to her draft of water at the time of pilotage.

Pilotage rates. Following are the rates of pilotage for the bars, harbors. and inland waters:

Each drop, $10; detention, $4 per day; dockage, $4.

From Port Royal to Wilsons Mill_

From Port Royal to Sewardville_

$12.00

12.00

30.00

15. 00 25.00 12. 50

25.00

Towboats. Sailing vessels seldom employ towboats either over the bar or in Beaufort River. Towboats can be had at Charleston or Savannah.

Supplies.-Water and coal can be had alongside the wharves at Port Royal, and provisions, water, and gasoline at Beaufort.

Repairs. The nearest place where a large vessel can be hauled out is Savannah. There is a small marine railway on the Ladies Island shore of Beaufort River above the highway bridge at Beaufort. Vessels of 50-foot (15.2 m) length and 52-foot (1.7 m) draft can be hauled out and minor engine repairs can be made.

Storm warnings.-Storm warnings are displayed from a signal station at Port Royal.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of tides on the bar is about 62 feet (1.9 m) and at Beaufort about 72 feet (2.2 m).

Currents. The currents on the bar have an estimated velocity of 11⁄2 knots, and set fair with the channel. The currents in the sound have a velocity of 2 knots or more at times, and the tide rips on Fishing Rip and Middle Shoal have the appearance of breakers at times.