Tides. The mean range of the tides is 6.0 feet at the entrance and 6.5 feet at Bridgeton. It is high water at the latter place about 112 hours later than at the entrance.

Directions, Cohansey River.-Vessels approaching the river from northward usually leave the main channel of Delaware Bay southward of the red buoy at the south end of Arnold Point Shoal, steer 104° true (ESE. mag.) with Cohansey Lighthouse on the port bow, until up to the Cohansey range, then steer 36° true (NE. mag.) along the axis of the dredged cut, keeping the lighted range open so as to steer south of it, as the range marks the northern edge of the channel. Vessels from the southward may steer in on Cohansey range from the main channel on a 36° true (NE. mag.) course, until about 1 mile from shore, then up the axis of the dredged cut as above. A channel sometimes used is to the southward and eastward of Cohansey Lighthouse, avoiding the shoal making out from Cohansey Lighthouse in an east-southeasterly direction.

From inside the entrance to about 1 mile below Bridgeton there is a natural channel with ample width and depth and easily followed; in the absence of local knowledge it is safer to take it on a rising tide and proceed with caution. Thence to Bridgeton the channel has been obtained by dredging, and some local knowledge is required to follow it. Vessels bound to or from the upper part of the river usually run with the current.

Stow Creek, 3 miles northwestward of Cohansey Lighthouse, has a depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) in the entrance and deeper water inside. It is said to be navigable at high water to within about 1 mile of the village of Canton, about 10 miles above the entrance. There are farm landings near the head from which some produce is shipped, the deepest draft being 6 feet (1.8 m). The best water in entering lies close alongshore southward of the entrance, then eastward and northward of the island in the mouth.

Bayside, at the mouth of Stow Creek, is a railroad terminus and important shipping point for sea food. There is a depth of 3 feet (0.9 m) at the wharf. Gasoline and some provisions are obtainable during the fishing season.

Mad Horse Creek, 6 miles northwestward of Cohansey Lighthouse, has a depth of about 612 feet (2.0 m) in the entrance. It is navigable for several miles, but is entered only by an occasional truck boat.

DELAWARE RIVER, BELOW CHRISTIANA RIVER

(Chart 294)

Hope Creek, on the east side, 134 miles southeastward of Stony Point Shoal, has a depth of about 2 feet (0.6 m) at the mouth and is navigable for several miles, but is little used. A jetty about 11⁄2 mile long extends southwesterly from near the west side of the entrance and terminates with a flashing white light and red sector on a white post.

Blackbird Creek, on the west side, 3% mile southward of Reedy Island range front light, can be entered with a draft of about 3 feet (0.9 m) at low water by following the shore from well southward of the entrance, and this draft can be carried several miles above the

mouth. It is frequented only by small pleasure boats. The creek is crossed by a drawbridge about 4 miles above the mouth, but is seldom opened. The draw has span widths of 42 and 20 feet and 1-foot (0.3 m) headroom at high water when the draw is closed.

Appoquinimink River, marked at the mouth by range lights (white latticed steel posts), is navigable at high water for vessels of 8 feet (2.4 m) draft to the village of Odessa, 6 miles above the mouth, and for small boats a farther distance of about 4 miles.

The channel has been improved by dredging and by cut-offs across the bends. In 1936 there was a controlling depth of 2.3 feet (0.7 m) from Delaware Bay to the mouth of the creek, thence 6.9 feet (2.1 m) to Odessa.

A drawbridge crosses about 3 miles above the mouth. The bridge is a center-pier draw, each opening 39 feet wide, with a headroom of 7.3 feet (2.2 m) at high water. There is a drawbridge just above the wharves at Odessa with a single clear opening 40 feet wide and a headroom of 4.8 (1.5 m) at high water.

Tides. The mean range of the tides is 6 feet at the mouth and 3.3 feet at Odessa. At Odessa high and low water occur about one hour after high and low water at the mouth.

The shoalest part of Stony Point Shoal has been surrounded by a bulkhead and raised to above high water by dumping, forming an artificial island about 21⁄2 miles long. A dike, visible at all stages of the tide, connects the south end with Stony Point, and about 1 mile below the north end another dike connects the east side of the island with the river bank. Back of the island above this dike considerable shoaling has taken place. Groups of old vessels are grounded just south of the south dike forming a dumping basin the entrance to which is lighted and buoyed.

Alloway Creek, eastward of the north end of the artificial island on Stony Point Shoal, is navigable for vessels to the village of Quinton, and with some difficulty for small boats at high water for a farther distance of 4 miles to the village of Alloway. A channel 6 feet (1.8 m) deep and 60 to 75 feet wide has been dredged to Quinton. The controlling depth in 1936 was 5.2 feet (1.6 m) to the mouth, thence 5.1 feet (1.6 m) to Upper Hancocks Bridge, thence 4.2 feet (1.3 m) to Quinton. Two cut-offs have been made across sharp bends, one 114 miles above the entrance and the other above Hancocks Bridge; also a shore dike has been constructed 21⁄2 miles above the entrance at The Square.

The following drawbridges cross the creek (distance above the mouth, width of span, and headroom at high water follow in the order given): Hancocks, 4 miles, 48 feet, 22 feet (0.8 m); Upper Hancocks, 512 miles, 35 feet, 312 feet (1.1 m); Quinton, 8 miles, 31 feet, 3 feet (0.9 m). The best water is in the north opening in Hancocks bridge.

Boats entering Alloway Creek must pass northward of the artificial island on Stony Point Shoal, and should enter the creek on an easterly course to avoid shoals off the points on either side. Above the entrance the best water does not always follow midstream, and some local knowledge is required to keep in the best water. Strangers should take it on a rising tide and proceed with caution.

Tides. The mean range of tides is 6 feet at the entrance, 4 feet at Quinton, and 2.5 feet at Alloway.

Reedy Island, the site of a Federal quarantine station, is used also as a detention station. Storm warnings are displayed here and a day reporting station of the Philadelphia Maritime Exchange is operated. A dike extends 212 miles southward from the south end of the island. It is covered by the red sector of Old Reedy Island Lighthouse. The lower end is submerged at high water, and is marked by a bell buoy with white reflector, but there is no navigation around it except in small motor boats.

Old Reedy Island Lighthouse (fixed white), a white tower on a dwelling, is on the dike 1/4 mile southward of Reedy Island. About midway between the lighthouse and the south end of Reedy Island is an opening in the dike 150 feet wide, with a depth of 5 feet (1.5 m) at low water, used by boats up to 7-foot (2.1 m) draft bound to Port Penn. The south side of the opening is marked by a day beacon, the dike on each side of the opening is visible at high water. Two flashing green lights also mark the dike.

Port Penn is a village on the west bank westward of Reedy Island. It can be approached from southward, through the opening in the dike at the south end of Reedy Island, and from northward with a depth of about 7 feet (2.1 m) by passing westward of Reedy Island Bar. The anchorage off the town, known as Reedy Island Harbor, has a depth of about 20 feet (6.1 m), but is little used except during the fishing season. The depths at the wharves at Port Penn are shallow.

Salem River, emptying into Salem Cove, 3 miles southeastward of Pea Patch Island, is the approach to the city of Salem, at the junction of Salem and Little Salem Rivers, 3 miles above the mouth. A cut-off channel, 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, has been dredged across a neck of land below Salem shortening the distance to Salem by a mile. There is little trade by water, but occasionally tugs of 9-foot (2.7 m) draft and a few freight vessels use the river. There is 10 feet (3.0 m) of water at the city dock, dockage free. Gas, oil, water, and provisions may be obtained. Small motor boats may be repaired here.

In 1936 from Delaware Bay through the cut-off to Penns Neck Bridge at the junction of Salem and Little Salem Rivers there was a controlling depth of 10.7 feet (3.5 m), thence 8.7 feet (2.7 m) to a fixed highway bridge, the head of navigation in the Little Salem River at Salem.

The channel across Salem Cove follows the southeast side and is marked by buoys as far as the cut-off and by a set of range lights. The front range is a white house on brown cylindrical base, and the back range is a tall white mast above a house. On the northwest side of the entrance channel there are several areas that are bare at low water.

To enter Salem River, leave the main channel of Delaware River off Elsinboro Point, steering 38° true (NE. % E. mag.) to pass close southeastward of buoy 1, until up to the Salem River range, thence along this range on course 28° true (NE. 34 N. mag.) through the buoyed channel, the cut-off, and mid-channel of the river above to Salem.

The Penns Neck bascule bridge has an opening 60 feet wide and headroom of 5 feet (1.5 m) at high water.

Tides.-The mean range of tides at the entrance and at Salem is 5.6 feet, the tides occurring at the latter place 25 minutes later than at the former.

Salem River was originally navigable to Courses Landing, 15 miles above Salem and 21⁄2 miles below the village of Sharptown. Salem River just above the junction with Little Salem River has shoaled, and is not now used. There is also a dam about 9 miles above here. Salem Canal at Deepwater Point front range light has been blocked by a dam near the mouth, and there is now no navigation from the Delaware River.

Pea Patch Island is low and shoals extend for a long distance northward and southward of it. Large warning signs mark the shore ends of a telegraph cable extending from the wharf on this island to a wharf on the east shore of the river. Vessels should not anchor in the vicinity of this cable.

The

A dike extends northward from Pea Patch Island for a distance of about 4 miles and parallels the river axis. It is marked by concrete piers (appearing above high water) about 2,000 feet apart. greater part of the dike is submerged at high water. The dike is also marked by green lights, one at the north end and two at intermediate points. The green flashing light about 1 mile above the north end of Pea Patch Island marks the south side of an opening in the dike. In 1933, the depth in the opening was only 1.3 feet (0.4 m) at mean low water.

Delaware City is on the west bank of Delaware River southwestward of Pea Patch Island. There is about 12 feet (3.7 m) at the river docks, but little marine business is carried on.

The main entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is located at Reedy Point about 12 miles below Delaware City. A branch canal connecting Delaware City with the main canal has a depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m). The branch canal is crossed by a bascule drawbridge having a span width of 60 feet and headroom of 7 feet (2.1 m) at high water. The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is described under Inside Route, New York to Norfolk, on page 309.

Bulkhead Shoal Channel, westward of Pea Patch Island and Bulkhead Shoal, is used by vessels bound through the canal.

A bulkheaded fill on Goose Island Flats extends about 1/2 mile offshore and is 11⁄2 miles long. It is marked by two lights.

New Castle is a town on the west bank of Delaware River, 4 miles below the entrance of Christiana River. It has little trade. The main wharf has a depth of about 12 feet (3.7 m) at its end, and the other wharves are in bad repair. There is a small harbor protected from drifting ice by 5 stone fenders (piers) about 10 feet above high water. A yacht basin with 9 feet (2.7 m) is maintained by a club on the water front. On the north side of town there is a ferry slip which is used by ferries running to Pennsville, on the other side of the river. Pennsville is a village on the east bank, 311⁄2 miles below the entrance to Christiana River. There are depths of 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 m) at the docks. A wharf at River View Beach north of the ferry slip is used by regular steamers from Wilmington and Philadelphia during the summer.

Just south of the Salem Canal there are two buoyed channels, each marked by a lighted range, leading to a power company wharf which accommodates coal barges drawing about 25 feet (7.6 m).

The upper channel: depth is 25 feet (7.6 m) and the lower 18 feet (5.5 m) and they meet just south of the wharf.

There is a railroad wharf and car ferry slip at Deepwater Point, which is the site of large factories. There is 26 feet (7.9 m) off the wharf. An electric fog signal is privately maintained on the pier-end. There is a railroad wharf, with a depth of about 15 feet (4.6 m) at the end, on the end of Pigeon Point, 1 mile southward of the entrance to Christiana River. It is used as a shipping point for coal and other freight, principally in car floats and barges. Coal and water are obtainable.

CHRISTIANA RIVER

[Chart 294]

Christiana River on the west side of Delaware River about 64 miles above Cape Henlopen and 26 miles below Philadelphia, is the approach to the city of Wilmington, 211⁄2 miles above the mouth, and the villages of Newport and Christiana.

Wilmington has large manufacturing interests and considerable trade by water. The city is connected with Chester and Philadelphia by passenger and freight steamers and with Penns Grove by ferry. Three important railway systems reach this port. The entrance at the mouth of Christiana River is marked by a lighted bell buoy on the northerly edge of the channel. An occulting red light with white sector, and bell, is on the southeast corner of a bulk-headed area on the north side of the entrance. A lighted buoy (flashing green) is just off the outer end of the south jetty. The steel sheet pile jetty is about 1/2 mile long and 4 feet above high water. The Bellevue range rear light is near the inner end of the bulkhead. The first channel reach of the Christiana River is marked by a lighted range.

Just inside the mouth of the Christiana River on the south bank are the ferry slips of the Penns Grove-Wilmington ferries. Above that is the modern Wilmington marine terminal, with its bulkhead water front, freight sheds, storage facilities, mechanical freighthandling equipment, and rail and highway connections. The wharf has about 30 feet (9.1 m) alongside and is capable of berthing five vessels at one time.

Channels. These have been dredged in the river, and in June 1936 the following depths existed: From Delaware Bay to Lobdell Canal 23.5 feet (7.2 m); thence to Market Street Bridge, Wilmington, 14.4 feet (4.4 m); thence to the pulp works, 13.3 feet (4.1 m); thence to the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge No. 4, 9.2 feet (2.8 m); and thence to 1,000 feet upstream from the highway bridge at Newport, 6.3 feet (1.9 m). A channel 400 feet wide is maintained from the Delaware River to Lobdell Canal. The depths in the channel at the entrance are constantly changing. Strangers in deep draft vessels should not attempt to enter without obtaining local information.

Lobdell Canal is on the south side of the river just above the marine terminal. It is used by towboats and barges and has a reported. depth of about 8 feet (2.4 m).

Brandywine River emptying into Christiana River 14 miles above the entrance, is good for a depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) at low water to the railroad bridge 1 mile above the mouth, and a draft of about 6 feet (1.8 m) at high water can be taken a farther distance