Duck Creek, extending from Leipsic River to Smyrna River, is navigable at high water throughout most of its length from Leipsic River, but has a dam at the northern end which prevents entrance from Smyrna River. It is used only by boats with hunting parties and schooners carrying marsh hay. A fixed bridge crosses the creek just back of Woodland Beach.

Smyrna River, 534 miles southward of Stony Point Shoal, is navigable to Smyrna Landing, about 9 miles above the mouth and 1 mile from the town of Smyrna. The deepest draft entering is about 81⁄2 feet (2.6 m), and this draft is taken to Prices Landing (Smyrna) at high water. The project provides for jetties at the entrance and a channel 7 feet (2.1 m) deep, 100 feet wide off the entrance in Delaware River to the mouth, thence 60 feet wide in Smyrna River and cut offs to Smyrna Landing. The controlling depth in June 1936 was 4.9 feet (1.5 m) at the entrance and 7 feet (2.1 m) to Smyrna Landing.

There is a lighted range for entering, course 237° true, (SW. by W. % W. mag.), front light flashing red, on a white iron post, and rear light occulting white, on a skeleton tower, both plainly visible by day. A white dwelling shows 250 yards to the left of the range.

There is a spoil bank, bare at low water, on the south side of the entrance of Smyrna River. The range leads across a shoal bar about 2 mile outside the entrance. Local steamers usually enter at near high water, when the bar can be crossed on the range, but if entering at low water, must pass well southward of it and then steer northwestward inside the bar until on the range, but some local knowledge is required to carry the best water. From inside the entrance to the head the best water generally follows a midchannel course or favors the ebb-tide bends. A drawbridge crosses the river at Fleming Landing, 3 miles above the mouth. It is a centerpier draw, with openings 36 and 37 feet wide, and 512-foot (1.7 m) headroom when closed. The north opening is generally used. A fixed bridge just above Smyrna Landing has a span 18 feet (5.5 m) wide and headroom of 3 feet (0.9 m) at high water.

Tides.—The mean range of tides is 5.8 feet at the entrance and 3.5 feet at Smyrna Landing. High and low water at Smyrna Landing occur about 24 hours later than at the entrance.

DELAWARE BAY, EASTERN SIDE

[Chart 1218]

The eastern side of Delaware Bay is low and has few prominent marks except the lighthouses. There are many small creeks, frequented mostly by fishing and oyster boats and a few truck boats, and two large tributaries, Maurice and Cohansey Rivers, which have considerable trade, the deepest draft being about 11 feet (3.4 m). The ruling depth on the eastern side of Delaware Bay is 7 to 15 feet (2.1 to 4.6 m) with many spots of less than 6 feet (1.8 m). These shoals are generally unmarked and some local knowledge is required to avoid them. There are bars at the mouths of the creeks and deeper water inside.

Cape May, on the eastern side of the entrance to Delaware Bay, is marked by the dirigible hangar and water tank on Sewell Point, by the large hotels at the town of Cape May, and by Cape May Lighthouse at the town of Cape May Point.

Storm warnings are displayed at Cape May Point Coast Guard station, southward of the lighthouse.

The shoals and channels on the northeastern side of Delaware Bay entrance, as determined by the 1914, 1927, and 1928 surveys, show little change in position or depth. The bottom, in places, consists of clay and sand mixed and with a consistency of hard pan. The ridges run approximately in the same directions as the currents.

Cape May channel is the principal one of the several buoyed channels. Passing through this channel and then between North and Crow Shoals, the least depths are 13 to 17 feet (4.0 to 5.2 m). Some tugs pass northward of South Shoal. The channels have strong tidal currents, and many tide rips occur near Prissy Wicks Shoal. Strangers should enter the bay by the main channel along the southwest side, which is broad and deep.

Small boats may pass along the south side of Cape May and cross Prissy Wicks Shoal about 0.3 mile off the cupola at Cape May Point, shown on the chart. There are depths through here 9 feet (2.7 m)

or more.

There are several unimportant creeks northward of Cape May, but the first one open to navigation is Bidwell Creek. This is a drainage canal about 12 miles north-northeastward of Cape May Lighthouse. There is 3 feet (0.9 m) at the entrance and 6 feet (1.8 m) inside for about 12 miles to the highway. Jetties mark the

entrance.

Goshen Creek, 131⁄2 miles north-northeastward of Cape May Lighthouse has a depth of about 1 foot (0.3 m) across the flats at the mouth and 2 feet (0.6 m) to Goshen Landing, 1 mile above the mouth and 1 mile below the village of Goshen. It is only entered by small local boats.

Dennis Creek, 6% miles eastward of East Point Lighthouse, has a depth of 2 feet (0.6 m) across the flats at the mouth and 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.7 m) inside. It is navigable for a considerable distance, but is principally used as an anchorage by oyster boats. The entrance is marked by range lights, which lead in the best water across the flat in the approach. There is a fixed highway bridge across the creek near Dennisville at the head of navigation about 5 miles above the mouth. It has a span 3912 feet width and 3-foot (0.9 m) headroom at high water.

West Creek, 1 mile northwestward of the entrance to Dennis Creek, is nearly bare at low water at the mouth and has a depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m) inside. It is little used.

Deadman Shoal, lying 5 to 7 miles southward of East Point Lighthouse, had a least depth of 3 feet (0.9 m) in 1914. It is marked on the east side by a lighted buoy and at the north end by a buoy with horizontal bands. Extending southward (true) from the 5-foot (1.5 m) shoal 1 mile westward of Deadman Shoal is a ridge with 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m) over it, the south end of which lies 3 miles southwestward from the lighted buoy.

East Point Lighthouse (flashing white, 2 red sectors), a white dwelling on the point on the east side of Maurice River Cove, is the most

prominent mark in the vicinity. The white sector between bearings from seaward of 28° true and 47° true covers the river approach. Maurice River is navigable to the city of Millville, 21 miles above the mouth. The landings near the mouth are the center of a large oystering and fishing industry, and there is considerable trade in the upper river, mostly in towed sand and gravel barges. The deepest draft entering the river is 11 feet (3.4 m) and this draft is taken to Millville at high water. In 1936 there was a controlling depth of 5.1 feet (1.6 m) and width of 150 feet in a dredged channel across the flats at the mouth, thence 7.1 feet (2.2 m) to 700 feet downstream from the mill dam at Millville, and thence 1.0 foot (0.3 m) to this dam.

Bivalve is a railroad terminus and important oyster-shipping point on the west bank of Maurice River, 21/2 miles above the mouth. Gasoline and provisions are obtainable and there is water on the wharves. There is a railway capable of hauling out boats about 65 feet long and 5 or 6 feet (1.5 or 1.8 m) draft, and a machine shop for ordinary repairs to motors. Storm warnings are displayed.

Maurice River, a post office opposite Bivalve, is also the terminus of a railroad and a shipping point for sea food.

Shellpile is the name of a group of oyster-packing plants just up the river from Bivalve. There is deep water at the docks.

Port Norris is a town about 3/4 mile from the river and northward of Bivalve.

Between Port Norris and Millville are the villages of Leesburg, Dorchester, Bricksboro, and Port Elizabeth on the east bank, all on the railroad, and Mauricetown on the west bank. There are two railways at Dorchester capable of hauling out vessels of about 250 tons, 120-foot length, and 7-foot (2.1 m) draft, and machine shops for ordinary repairs to motors. À marine railway at Mauricetown is capable of hauling out a boat 65 feet long and 6-foot (1.8 m) draft. The highway drawbridge crossing the river at Mauricetown has a center pier draw, with openings 58 and 60 feet wide, and 32-foot (1.1 m) headroom at high water when closed. Either opening is clear, but the wider eastern opening is the one generally used, as there is a westerly set on both ebb and flood tide.

In the season over 600 oyster boats operate out of the river. Much sand and gravel is handled.

Millville is an important town at the head of navigation on Maurice River. It has railroad communication and several factories. A drawbridge having a draw opening 36 feet wide and 5-foot (1.5 m) headroom at high water when closed, crosses the river at the lower end of the wharves. Gasoline and provisions may be obtained.

Tides.-The mean range of the tides is 5.7 feet at the entrance and 6 feet at Millville; high and low waters at the latter place occur about 2 hours later than at the mouth of the river. The tidal currents change at the entrance 1/2 hour and at Mauricetown 1 hour after the currents change at Overfalls Lightship. At Millville the flood current changes to ebb a little before high water, and the ebb changes to flood about 3/4 hour after low water; this applies to the river in summer, when there are no freshets.

Directions, Maurice River.-There are numerous oyster stakes off the entrance, but no difficulty will be experienced if guided by the fixed

aids until sure of the buoys. The following courses will lead in a depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) or more until approaching the entrance:

A 358° true (N. 5% E. mag.) course from a position 1/2 mile westward of the western end of Cape May Point will lead to a position 11⁄2 mile eastward of Deadman Shoal lighted buoy. Then a 335° true (N. by W. % W. mag.) course will lead to a position 1/4 mile southward of the entrance to the dredged channel.

Or a 17° true (NNE. 14 E. mag.) course with Brandywine Shoal Lighthouse astern will lead to the above position off the entrance. Coming down Delaware Bay the safest course for a stranger is to pass southward of the buoy at the south end of Miah Maull Shoal, steer 82° true (E. % S. mag.) for 41/2 miles, until East Point Lighthouse bears 35° true (NE. 1% N. mag.), then steer 37° true (NE. % E. mag.) for 434 miles to the entrance of the dredged channel.

The channel across the bar is marked by a bell-and other buoys, and into the river by a lighted range 346° true (N. 11⁄2 W. mag.) and buoys.

The southern edge of the white sector between the two red sectors in East Point Lighthouse on a 47° true (NE. by E. mag.) course leads to the entrance buoys; to enter, follow the channel across the bar as indicated above. On the flood, vessels should guard against a northwesterly set. For a distance of 16 miles above the entrance the channel has ample width and is easily followed; in the absence of local knowledge it is safer to take it on a rising tide and proceed with caution. In the upper 5 miles to Millville the channel is narrow and some local knowledge is required to follow the dredged channel. Towboats bound to or from the upper part of the river usually run with the current.

There is a narrow cut through the marsh along the south and east shores of the entrance island leading into Maurice River about 3 mile eastward of the main entrance. It has a depth of about 21⁄2 or 3 feet (0.8 or 0.9 m) and is much used by motor boats.

Dividing Creek, 21⁄2 miles northeastward of Egg Island Lighthouse, has a depth of about 212 feet (0.8 m) across the flats at the mouth and 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.6 m) inside. A draft of about 4 feet (1.2 m) at high water can be carried through a very narrow crooked channel to the town of Dividing Creek, about 8 miles above the mouth. It is used only by a few oyster boats.

Oranoaken Creek, 1⁄2 mile westward of Dividing Creek, has a depth of about 22 feet (0.8 m) across the flats at the entrance and deeper water inside. It is little used.

Egg Island Lighthouse (occulting white every 2 seconds), a white dwelling, is the most prominent mark in its vicinity. There are shoals southward of the point, marked on the south and west sides by buoys; also an unmarked slough, good for a depth of about 7 feet 2.1 m) close along the point inside the shoals. The slough is used by local vessels, but strangers should pass southward of the shoals.

Fortescue Beach is a post village and small summer settlement on the shore about 4 miles north-northwestward of Egg Island Lighthouse.

Nantuxent Creek, 614 miles east-southeastward of Ship John Shoal Lighthouse, has a depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) in the entrance, and is navigable at high water to within about 1 mile of the village of Newport. It is used only by local oyster boats.

Shoal spots with a least depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) extend about 1 mile south-southwestward of Nantuxent Point, and are marked off the west side by a lighted buoy. Boats bound alongshore should keep outside of the buoy and well eastward of Ben Davis Point Shoal, which has a depth of 5 feet (1.5 m) and borders the main channel of Delaware Bay.

Cedar Creek, 134 miles eastward of Ben Davis Point, has a depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) across the flats at the mouth, 42 feet (1.4 m) for a distance of about 3 miles above the mouth, and about 32 feet (1.1 m) at high water for a farther distance of 21/2 miles to the village of Cedarville. The mouth is used as an anchorage for small boats and there is little traffic above.

Back Creek, on the east side of Ben Davis Point, has a depth of about 5 feet (1.5 m) across the flats at the entrance, and is navigable with a good depth of water for about 3 miles. It is used only as an anchorage by local boats.

Cohansey River, marked by Cohansey Lighthouse and a lighted range, is navigable to the city of Bridgeton, 16 miles above the entrance. It has considerable trade, carried mostly in barges to the upper end, and small schooners and motor boats in the lower end. A large amount of garden truck is shipped down the river in season. The deepest draft entering the river is about 11 feet (3.4 m) and this draft is taken to Bridgeton at high water.

An entrance 100 feet wide has been dredged into the river 500 yards northwestward of Cohansey Lighthouse, and the channel has been improved above to secure a width of 100 feet to the lower drawbridge at Bridgeton, and a width of 60 to 75 feet for a farther distance of about 1/4 mile to the head of navigation at the Washington Street Bridge. In March, 1936, there was a controlling depth of 8.4 feet (2.6 m) from Delaware Bay to the mouth, thence 11.2 feet (3.4 m) to Greenwich Piers, thence 12.6 feet (3.8 m) to Fairton, thence 8.9 feet (2.7 m) to Stony Point, thence 7.5 feet (2.3 m) to 700 feet downstream from Broad Street Bridge at Bridgeton, and thence 3.8 feet (1.2 m) to Washington Street Bridge.

Greenwich Pier, a railroad terminus and shipping point for seafood, is on the west bank of Cohansey River, about 4 miles above the entrance. The Cohansey Yacht Club is located here. Gasoline, provisions, coal, and water are obtainable. There is a railway capable of hauling out small vessels 100 feet long and 8 feet (2.4 m) draft, and machine shop for ordinary repairs to motors. Greenwich is a town about 1 mile distant.

Fairton is a village on the east bank of Cohansey River, 311⁄2 miles below Bridgeton. There are several railways, the largest is capable of hauling out a vessel 70 feet long and 5 feet (1.5) draft; repairs can

be made.

Bridgeton is an important manufacturing town and railroad center. There are three new bridges crossing the river here: Broad Street with 40-foot bascule span and 61/2-foot (2.0 m) closed clearance, Commerce Street with 23-foot fixed span width and 6.8-foot (2.1 m) clearance, and Washington Street fixed trestle with 14-foot span width and 5.7-foot (1.7 m) clearance. All clearances are at high

water.

Supplies. Gasoline, coal, and provisions may be obtained at Bridgeton.