HONGA RIVER TO LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER

(Charts 1224 and 1225)

Honga River, on the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay, north of the western end of Hooper Strait, has a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m) in a narrow crooked channel (marked by lights and buoys) for 11 miles above the mouth to Hunting Ridge Point Light, just north of Wroten Island. From here a channel, dredged in 1935 about 5 miles long, 7 feet (2.1 m) deep, and 60 feet wide, leads northwesterly to Honga River Upper Light, then southwesterly through Fishing Creek drawbridge, and continues through Tar Bay (Barren Island Gaps Channel, see p. 280) to Chesapeake Bay. The entire dredged channel is marked by lights and usually by bush stakes. Above the dredged channel in Honga River it shoals rapidly to a depth of 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m) at the head. There is a strong current through Fishing Creek except a few minutes at each turn of the tide. The maximum is estimated to be 3 knots. Honga River is frequented by local oyster and produce boats in the upper end. The mean range of tide is 1.6 feet.

Fox Creek, on the eastern side of Honga River, 3 miles above the mouth, has a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) to Wingate Point Wharf (in ruins). The channel is marked by a light at the entrance, a day beacon with prismatic reflector on the point of shoal off Paul Point, and sometimes by bush stakes. Wingate is a post village 1 mile from the wharf.

Hooper Island consists of a row of three low islands separating Honga River from Chesapeake Bay. The northern two islands are connected with the mainland and with each other by Fishing Creek bridge with two spans about 27 feet wide and high water clearance of 6 feet (1.8 m) when closed; and by Narrows Ferry bridge with spans about 25 feet wide and have high water clearance of 2 feet (0.6 m) when closed. About 212 feet (0.8 m) can be carried from Honga River to Chesapeake Bay through Narrows Ferry bridge. Bridges are opened from sunrise to sunset. The bridge connecting the southern island has been washed out.

There are two villages on the islands, with a total population of about 1,500. The towns are Fishing Creek on the northern island and Hoopersville on the middle island. Applegarth on the southern island has been abandoned for several years. The wharf at Hoopersville has a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m) at mean low water. This is one of the most important sea-food shipping centers on Chesapeake Bay, hundreds of boats being engaged in the trade. There are several packing plants, general stores, churches, schools, and a marine railway capable of hauling out and repairing a boat 100 feet long and 5-foot (1.5 m) draft. The latter is located on Back Creek, a small estuary west of Old House Point, which can be entered with local knowledge. There are usually bush stakes. The controlling depth is 2 feet (0.6 m). Gasoline, oil, provisions, and some ship chandlery may be obtained on the island. Hoopersville is connected with Cambridge (on the railroad) by a good road. Honga post office is near Fishing Creek bridge and Back Creek postoffice is in the village of Fishing Creek.

Barren Island Gaps Channel connects the upper part of the Honga River with Chesapeake Bay as has been described previously. (See Honga River.) This improved channel makes possible a direct inside route for craft of moderate draft between the Upper Bay and Tangier Sound, and thus avoids an exposed reach of the Bay.

Golden Hill is a post village at the northern end of Honga River, and can be reached by boats of 2 feet (0.6 m) draft at low water.

A draft of 3 or 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) at high water can be carried from the northern end of Honga River through Great Marsh Creek, Lower Keene Broad, east of Dunnock Island and Upper Keene Broad into Slaughter Creek, a tributary of Little Choptank River, but the passage should not be attempted by strangers. It is crossed by a fixed bridge near Golden Hill, having a headroom of about 4 feet (1.2 m) at high water and span of about 35 feet. This thoroughfare can be entered from Chesapeake Bay through Punch Island Creek, a narrow thoroughfare about 3 miles northward of the northern end of Tar Bay; the entrance has a depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m) at high water and is crossed by a fixed bridge near the entrance having a headroom of about 4 feet (1.2 m) at high water and span of about 25 feet.

LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER

(Chart 1225)

Little Choptank River, on the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay, 41⁄2 miles southward of Sharps Island, is frequented by local boats, the deepest draft being 9 feet (2.7 m). The river is obstructed by shoals, but has a depth of 14 feet (4.3 m) in a narrow, crooked channel for 8 miles above the mouth and 6 feet (1.8 m) for a considerable distance into most of the tributaries. Some of the shoals are marked by buoys, but strangers may have trouble in taking a greater draft than 6 feet (1.8 m) above the mouth of Slaughter Creek. The channels in the principal tributaries are usually marked by bush stakes, but are narrow and crooked and difficult without local knowledge. A wreck with 8 feet (2.4 m) of water over it lies 3/4 mile southsoutheast from Hills Point.

Oyster Bay, on the south side of Little Choptank River, just inside the entrance, has a depth of 3 feet (0.9 m) in mid-channel to near the head, but is little used. There is a depth of 1 foot (0.3 m) at low water through the thoroughfare between James Island and the mainland. James Island is subject to rapid erosion.

Slaughter Creek, on the south side of Little Choptank River, has been improved by dredging a channel 7 feet (2.1 m) deep and 100 feet wide across the bar at the entrance and has a depth of about 512 feet (1.7 m) in a narrow channel to the post village of Taylor Island, 21/2 miles above the entrance, where there are two wharves. It is used by schooners up to about 612 feet (2.0 m) draft. The dredged channel is marked by lights, buoys, and bush stakes. There are also bush stakes above the entrance, but local knowledge is required to keep in the channel. A drawbridge having a clear opening 26 feet wide and 4-foot (1.2 m) headroom at high water when closed crosses the creek at Taylor Island; the creek shoals rapidly above the bridge, though small boats can pass through into Honga

River or Chesapeake River, at high water. (See p. 280.) Gasoline, water, and provisions are obtainable at Taylor Island.

Brooks Creek, on the north side of Little Choptank River, has a depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) in a narrow, unmarked channel to within 3/4 mile of the head. It is frequented only by small local craft.

Hudson Creek, on the north side of Little Choptank River, 61⁄2 miles above the entrance, has a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) to near the head.

Vessels drawing 6 feet (1.8 m) may go to Speddens Wharf, near the head, 11⁄2 mile from the post village of Hudson. The channel is generally marked by bush stakes but is difficult without local knowledge. Gasoline, water, and provisions may be obtained at Speddens Wharf.

Madison Bay, on the southeast side, opposite Hudson Creek, has general depths of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) and about 5 feet (1.5 m) at the wharf at the post village of Madison. Gasoline can be obtained at the village.

Fishing Creek, on the south side of Little Choptank River, 8 miles above the entrance, has a depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) in a narrow channel for 4 miles above the mouth. There are no wharves on the creek, but it is extensively used by boats bound to Church Creek, the principal tributary. The channel is marked by buoys and bush stakes.

Church Creek, emptying into Fishing Creek, 21⁄2 miles above the entrance, has a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) to Milton Wharf, near the post village of Woolford, 111⁄2 miles above the mouth, and 3 feet (0.9 m) for a farther distance of 1/2 mile to the foot of a road 1⁄2 mile from the post village of Church Creek. It is used by schooners of 6 feet (1.8 m) draft as far as Milton Wharf. Gasoline and provisions may be obtained at Milton Wharf and Church Creek.

Phillips, Beckwiths, Carey, and Lees Creeks, tributaries of Little Choptank River above the entrance of Fishing Creek, have no commercial wharves and little business by water except in small local boats.

Anchorage. There is good anchorage in a depth of 12 to 18 feet (3.7 to 5.5 m) in the bight between James Island and Hooper Point if the shores be given a berth of 11⁄2 mile or more.

Tides. The mean range of tides in Little Choptank River is 1.5 feet.

Directions, Little Choptank River. Keep clear of the fish-trap area along the east shore of Chesapeake Bay, shown on the chart by dashed lines, proceeding to a position 2 miles 74° true from Sharps Island Lighted Bell Buoy 18A. Then steer 105° true (ESE. mag.) toward the north end of Ragged Island passing 0.2 mile southward of lighted bell buoy 1A, and 0.4 mile northward of buoy 4 to a position 0.7 mile beyond it, the buoy and the little island off James Point on range. Then steer 209° true (SW. 3⁄44 S. mag.) passing 1/4 mile northwestward of buoy 3, to an anchorage east of James Island or round the buoy to the southward being guided up the river by the chart.

CHOPTANK RIVER

(Chart 1225)

Choptank River, on the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay, 102 miles above the entrance and 43 miles below Baltimore, is navigable for a distance of 55 miles above the entrance to the town of Greensboro. The river and its tributaries are frequented by many oyster and fishing boats and steamers and schooners engaged in the bay trade, the usual draft of boats being 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 m) and the deepest draft 15 feet (4.6 m).

Fish-trap limits are shown on the chart.

Channels. The main entrance to Choptank River leads southward and eastward of Sharps Island. It has a least depth of 28 feet (8.5 m) and is broad and easy of access. The channel, clear of fish traps, northward of Sharps Island Lighthouse has a least depth of 12 feet (3.7 m), and is used by vessels of 10 feet (3.0 m) draft from northward bound to or from Choptank and Little Choptank Rivers. To keep clear of fish traps, pass just southward of Fish Net Stake Buoy 8B (white and black horizontal bands), 21⁄2 miles west of Tilghman Island, and steer 138° true (SE. % S. mag.) to a position between lighted bell buoy 3 and the horizontally striped buoy southward of it, then 76° true (E. 5% N. mag.) to 100 yards north of lighted bell buoy 6.

The channel is marked by lights and buoys from the mouth to the town of Choptank, 271⁄2 miles above, and is easily followed with the aid of the chart. There are no marks above Choptank, but the mid-channel is clear to the mouth of Tuckahoe Creek, and the channel is easily followed if the points be given a good berth. Between the mouth of Tuckahoe Creek and Greensboro the channel is narrow and crooked and is difficult without local knowledge. Steamers from Baltimore make regular landings at Cambridge about 16 miles above the mouth. There is railroad communication at Oxford, Easton, Cambridge, Denton, Greensboro, and Hillsboro.

Sharps Island, a low island marked by a single tree, lies in Chesapeake Bay off the entrance, and Sharps Island Lighthouse (fixed white, red sector), brown tower on cylindrical pier, 1 mile north-northwestward of Sharps Island, is the principal guide to the entrance. The island is subject to rapid erosion. There is an obstruction about 3/4 mile north-northwest and an ice breaker about 11⁄2 mile south by east of Sharps Island Lighthouse.

Tilghman Island, on the north side of the entrance to Choptank River, is the center of a large oystering, crabbing, and fishing industry. There are three post villages on the island-Fairbank, near the southern end, and Avalon and Tilghman, near the northern end. The western side is subject to rapid erosion. Blackwalnut Cove, at the southern end of Tilghman Island, has a general depth of 2 feet (0.6 m) in a narrow channel to Fairbank at the head. The Cove, marked by a light is extensively used as an anchorage by small craft. A buoy marks a wreck in the entrance. There is a railway at Fairbanks capable of hauling out a boat 50 feet long and 3-foot (0.9 m) draft. General repairs can be made.

Dogwood Harbor (Tilghman Island Harbor), on the eastern side of the island, has a depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) to the wharf at Avalon.