Bay Light No. 41, and on the western side between Cedar Bay Light No. 41 and North Entrance Cut Light No. 43.

All the lights mentioned in the following directions are on the east side of the channel. Pass to westward of these lights. From North Landing River Light No. 19 the course is about 114° true (SE. by E. % E. mag.) for 1/2 mile to North Landing River Light No. 21; then 153 true (S. by E. % E. mag.) for 23% miles, past North Landing River Light No. 23 off the ruined dock at Munden, to North Landing River Light No. 25; then 162° true (S. by E. mag.) for 5 miles, past North Landing River Light No. 27 off Faraby Ísland and North Landing River Lights Nos. 29 and 31, to North Landing River Light No. 33; then 131° true (SE. 14 S. mag.) for 23 miles, past Currituck Sound Light No. 35, to Currituck Sound Light No. 37; then 163° true (S. by. E. mag.) for 2 miles, past Bells Island Light No. 39, to Cedar Bay Light No. 41, and then 187° true (S. by W. % W. mag.) for 1 mile, to North Entrance Cut Light No. 43, which is on the eastern side at the entrance to a short canal, passing to eastward of a red beacon marking the dredged cut across Coinjock Bay. On the west bank of this canal is a stone wall marking the former site of a lighthouse station.

From North Entrance Cut Light No. 43 the course is 171° true (S. 3 E. mag.) for 25% miles, past Coinjock Bay No. 45, to Coinjock Cut Light No. 47. From here to North River, Coinjock Canal has a 209° true (SW. % S. mag.) direction for 24 miles. Its southern end is marked by North River Light No. 1. A drawbridge crosses the canal at Coinjock.

A canal 22 feet wide, 1 foot (0.3 m) deep at mean low water, and 1.8, miles long connects Currituck Sound with the through route. The western end of the canal is about 1.1 miles northward of the drawbridge at Coinjock, and the eastern end empties into Parkers Creek.

North River to Albemarle Sound 1312 miles. From North River Light No. 1 the course is 214° true (SW. 1⁄2 S. mag.) for 12 mile to North River Light No. 3; then 172° true (S. 14 E. mag.) for 12 miles, in a dredged channel to North River Light No. 5. Then pass to westward of a black spar buoy and round the point to eastward, passing north of a red spar buoy and to the southward of North River Lights Nos. 9 and 11. Favor the north side of the river to

North River Light No. 13.

From North River Light No. 13 favor slightly the west shore, pass to eastward of red spar buoy no. 14 which is on range with the point of land to southwest when in midchannel off North River Light No. 13, and give North River Light No. 15 a berth of about 100 yards in making the turn to the westward, then steer about 234° true (SW. by W. W. mag.) to pass between North River Light No. 17 and red spar buoy no. 6, off the northwest point of Buck Island.

Then keep in midstream around Buck Island, and after passing east of red spar buoy no. 18, head for the point of land to the southsoutheastward to a position midway between red spar buoy no. 20 and North River Light No. 19.

Steer about 128° true (SE. 1% E. mag.) to North River Light No. 21; then 143° true (SSE. 34 E. mag.) to North River Light No. 25, passing 100 feet westward of North River Light No. 23.

DISMAL SWAMP CANAL ROUTE

79

Then steer 162° true (S. by E. mag.) to pass 100 feet west of North River Light No. 27; then 141° true (SE. by S. mag.) to pass 100 yards west of North River Light No. 29, and southward of the front light of the North River Bar range.

Then bring the two lights (rear light is near ruined wharf at Jarvisburg) in line astern on a 186° true (S. by W. mag.) course and cross the bar into Albemarle Sound, passing to westward of black can buoy no. 33, midway between black can buoy no. 35 and North River Entrance Light No. 34, and to westward of North River Bell Buoy No. 37 and holding the course until up to North River Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy. In March 1934 there was a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) on the range over the bar.

North River to Alligator River. From North River Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy steer 203° true (SSW. 5% W. mag.) across Albemarle Sound to a position about 100 yards westward of Alligator River Lighted Bell Buoy No. 1 at the entrance to the dredged channel to Alligator River, a distance of 103 miles.

The Intracoastal Waterway southward passes up Alligator River.

DISMAL SWAMP CANAL ROUTE

(Charts 452, 1227, 1228, 3252)

The southern branch of Elizabeth River from Norfolk to Deep Creek is described under the Albermarle & Chesapeake Canal Route.

Deep Creek (charts 3252, 452, and 1227), which empties into the Southern Branch about 6 miles above Norfolk, is 21⁄2 miles long to the entrance of the Dismal Swamp Canal. The creek has been improved by dredging a channel, bottom width 80 feet (24.4 m), with a least depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) from the Southern Branch to the canal. The mouth of Deep Creek is marked by Deep Creek Junction Buoy, a lighted red and black horizontally striped buoy on the point of a shoal on the east side of the entrance, and Deep Creek Buoy No. 2 and Deep Creek Shoal Buoy No. 4 (red spars) on the west side of the channel. Vessels bound to Dismal Swamp Canal should pass northward of the lighted red and black horizontally striped buoy. Dismal Swamp Canal (chart 1227) is Government owned and maintained and is operated free of toll charges. There are two locks in the canal, the northern one of which is about 812 miles from Norfolk. The locks have effective lengths of 225 feet (68.6 m), and depths over the sills of 9 feet (2.7 m). The controlling width of the northerly lock is 38 feet (11.6 m) and of the southerly lock is 37 feet (11.3 m). The vertical lift is 12 feet (3.7 m). The canal connects Deep Creek with the Pasquotank River. This canal is 19 miles long, 60 feet wide, with a controlling depth of 9 feet (2.7 m), with turn-outs at distances of about 3 miles where vessels may pass each other. Four drawbridges cross the canal, and all have draw openings wider than the width of the locks.

The settlements on its banks are the post villages of Deep Creek at the north entrance, Wallaceton, 8 miles from the north entrance, and South Mills, about 1 mile inside the southern lock of the canal. Gasoline, oil, and some supplies can be obtained at Deep Creek and South Mills. There is a small dock at Deep Creek. The navigation

of Deep Creek and a part of Pasquotank River requires local knowledge to carry the best water. A speed limit of 6 statute miles per hour is enforced.

Lake Drummond Canal connects the Dismal Swamp Canal, at a point about 15 miles southward of Wallaceton, with Lake Drummond to the westward, and acts as a feeder ditch to the Dismal Swamp Canal. Navigation to the lake is restricted by the waste gates in the canal near the lake. There is a small dock and an automobile service station, where gasoline and some supplies can be obtained, on the east side of the Dismal Swamp Canal opposite the entrance to the Lake Drummond Canal.

Turners Cut is a canal 334 mile long, 40 to 80 feet (12.2 to 24.4 m) wide, and 10 feet (3.0 m) deep, which extends in nearly a straight line from the Dismal Swamp Canal to Pasquotank River.

Pasquotank River has a length of 11 miles from the southerly end of Turners Cut to Elizabeth City, and thence 15 miles to Wade Point Lighthouse, at the entrance from Albemarle Sound. The upper part of the river has been improved by dredging where necessary and has a controlling depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) to Elizabeth City and 11 feet (3.4 m) from Elizabeth City to Albemarle Sound. Local knowledge is required in places to keep in the best water. Two drawbridges cross the river, one (Norfolk Southern Railroad) about 3 miles above Elizabeth City, and the other, a highway bridge, at the city.

Elizabeth City, population 10,037 in 1930, on the west bank of Pasquotank River 15 miles above Wade Point Lighthouse, is one of the important towns on the inland waters of North Carolina. It has railroad connection and regular communication by steamer with Norfolk and adjacent waters. Anchorage can be had just below the city on the north side of the channel, eastward of a red buoy, in 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m) of water.

The bulkheads, forming the water front, have a sufficient depth alongside, and a vessel can usually find a berth. Provisions, anthracite and bituminous coal, some ship chandlery, gasoline, Diesel oil, and water can be obtained. The river water is suitable for boilers at and above Elizabeth City. The largest marine railway is about 200 feet long, with a capacity of 800 tons, and there are facilities for repairing machinery and the hulls of wooden or steel vessels. Storm warnings are displayed.

Knobbs Creek, a tributary of Pasquotank River, at Elizabeth City, has been dredged and had a depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) from its mouth to the upper (Norfolk Southern R. R.) bridge, February 1933.

New Begun Creek is the only tributary of any importance below Elizabeth City. It empties into the Pasquotank River from the westward 734 miles above Wade Point Lighthouse. The controlling depth over the bar and a section of the creek is 5 feet (1.5 m). Weeksville, the principal town on the creek, is 3 miles from the mouth.

DIRECTIONS, DISMAL SWAMP CANAL ROUTE

(Charts 452, 1227, 1228, 3252)

Local knowledge is required in a few places to carry the best water, but vessels, proceeding with care and exercising extra caution in the few places mentioned, should be able to carry 9 feet (2.7 m)

DIRECTIONS, DISMAL SWAMP CANAL ROUTE

81

through the Dismal Swamp Canal with the aid of these directions. Strangers are advised not to run at night.

The places requiring extra caution are Deep Creek, Turners Cut, and in the upper reaches of the Pasquotank River where there are numerous sharp bends and the channel is narrow.

Deep Creek, 21/2 miles.-Follow the directions for the Southern Branch of Elizabeth River to the mouth of Deep Creek as given for the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal route, pass about 100 feet northward of Deep Creek Junction Lighted Buoy (red and black horizontally striped buoy) and nearly that distance eastward of Deep Creek Buoy No. 2 and southward of Deep Creek Shoal Buoy No. 4 in entering the creek. The channel in Deep Creek has been dredged to a depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) with a bottom width of 80 feet and generally has little water on both sides of it. If near low water, the sides of the channel are generally indicated by the swash from the vessel's passage, and otherwise there is nothing to mark it.

For a distance of 300 yards inside the entrance to the first bend the channel favors the north bank, and then for a farther distance of 300 yards until half way to the next bend the channel favors the west bank. The channel then follows the middle of the creek, except in its widest part, 5% mile below the canal lock, where it follows the north bank.

Dismal Swamp Canal.-There is a lock at each end of the canal; the lock at South Mills has a width of 37 feet (11.3 m), the controlling horizontal clearance of this route. Passage of vessels having a greater breadth than 36 feet (11.0 m) is not recommended. Vessels are required to stop at the northerly lock and furnish certain statistical information. (See page 74.)

The canal is crossed by 2 highway and 2 railroad drawbridges. The highway bridges, bascule draws, are just beyond and inside the locks at either end. The first railroad bridge is 1.3 and the second 9.3 miles from the northern end. These bridges have bascule draws. The first one is not in use and is left in an open position.

A speed limit of 6 statute miles per hour between locks is enforced. At present, facilities for tying up vessels outside the locks are not good. Small vessels may experience some difficulty when the locks are opened. A hard-surfaced highway parallels the east bank of the canal. Gasoline and provisions may be obtained at towns along the

route.

Turners Cut (chart 1227) is 334 miles long. The only directions necessary are to keep in the middle. From the lock of the Dismal Swamp Canal it has a southerly direction for % mile and then a southeasterly direction for 3% miles to Pasquotank River. About 5% mile below the lock the river crosses the cut in a north and south direction. At the southerly end of the cut the river joins it from the west-southwestward. The turn into the river is rather sharp and should be approached cautiously. Vessels over 60 feet in length may have difficulty effecting the turn without backing and filling. When northbound, take care to avoid running past the canal entrance. Pasquotank River from Turners Cut to Elizabeth City, 11 miles. In the following description the terms "right" and "left" banks are applied as seen when bound southward. Several branches, which enter from the right or western bank of the river, are liable to

confuse a stranger; the rule is to keep to the left passage, bound southward. On account of numerous sharp bends in the narrow parts of the river and shoal water in the broader parts strangers are advised to proceed with caution in its uncharted part above Elizabeth City. It is also advisable for vessels of draft near the controlling depth to keep the leads going on both sides, as the slope on either side of the channel is usually sufficient to make the difference in depth obtained with the two leads an indication of where the deeper water lies.

From Turner's Cut to the point on the right bank just below Coopers Creek a distance of 42 miles, the river gradually widens from 100 to 300 feet, and a mid-river course should be followed. At this point the river widens suddenly, and the channel, which is a dredged cut 150 feet wide, with a least depth of about 7 feet (2.1 m) on either side of the channel, favors the left bank, following it at a distance of about 300 feet until around the next point on the left bank about 5% mile farther down.

Here the dredged channel leads west of Shipyard Reach Buoy No. 12, a red buoy, then between Shipyard Reach Buoys Nos. 11 and 10, a black and a red buoy, to a position about 350 feet off Shipyard Landing on the east bank. Then change course gradually to 189° true (S. by W. 14 W. mag.) and pass 100 feet off the point on the right bank just below Shipyard Landing, passing eastward of Shipyard Reach Buoy No. 9. Continue the course to mid-river, and so continue in the narrower part of the river around the next bend until approaching Goat Island.

When 614 miles below Turners Cut, pass in midchannel northeastward of Goat Island, which is 1/4 mile long and has Shipyard Reach Buoys No. 7 and No. 5 at its upper and lower ends respectively. Favor the left bank just below the island until abreast the mouth of the creek on the left bank. Then keep in midriver. The Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge crosses the river 9 miles below Turners Cut; the draw is hand moved and has a clear width of 48 feet. In rounding the sharp point 1 mile below the railroad bridge, the bight may be favored slightly just above and below the point to assist in making the turn but keep near midriver off the point itself.

Then keep in midriver; pass about 100 yards off the Elizabeth City Upper Light in rounding the next point on that side, and then favor slightly the right bank until through the lift bridge at Elizabeth City, which is 11 miles below Turners Cut.

Vessels may go alongside the wharves at Elizabeth City, either above or below the bridge; anchorage is usually made around the bend below the bridge.

Pasquotank River from Elizabeth City to Albemarle Sound and Alligator River, 24 miles.-From the highway bridge favor the wharves of Elizabeth City, pass southward of Marsh Point Buoy No. 6, then steer 96° true (E. by S. mag.) for Hospital Point (on north shore) until in midriver. With the Texaco tanks on the east side of the river at Elizabeth City astern, steer 115° true (SE. by E. 14 E. mag.). Pass about 100 yards northward of Cobbs Point Light, and continue on the course 211⁄2 miles past the light to a position 35 mile off Brickhouse Point. Then steer 135° true (SE. 5% S. mag.) for 73⁄4 miles