488 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



They are known only to a few of the pilots, and from that 

 canse but seldom used, although it is said that the North-eastern 

 channel is one of the best through the edge of the reef. Fig. 26, XI. 

 The North-eastern channel is narrow and intricate at its entrance ; 

 the general depth is 6, 1, and 8 fathoms ; but in one spot but 5. At 

 5^- miles in the direct line from the entrance, toward Murray Anchor- 

 age, there lies a cluster of rocks, which renders a circuit to the westward 

 advisable. The mark for clearing the West end of these, the Three 

 Hill Shoals, is Painter's Hill, over a hill on the western side of the 

 Ferry at St. George's Island, bearing S.S.E. There is also a channel 

 through the shoals, which is more direct, the mark for which is 

 Painter's Hill in the hollow or saddle of two hills (hence their 

 name), at the West end of St. George's Island, bearing S. £ E. As 

 soon as the shoals are cleared in either case, which will be when 3£ 

 miles from the shore, vou can bear round to the S.E. to Murray 

 Anchorage, this part of the reef being clear. (Fig. 26, I.) • 



The next is the Blue Cut, on the western side of the reef, but can 

 be used only by small vessels. It is exceedingly narrow and intri- 

 cate, and has only 8 feet water in places. Its direction is to the 

 East of South. (P'ig. 26, X.) 



The Chub Cut is the next channel southward ; this is also narrow 

 and dangerous. It leads southerly to Wreck Hill, or first southerly 

 and then easterly to Ireland Island. (Fig. 26, IX.) 



Hog Fish Cut lies at the south-western angle of the islands. For 

 half a mile in a north-easterly direction it lies through numerous 

 rocky shoals, and then turns to the N.W. It leads to Ireland Island 

 and to Elies Harbour.* (Fig. 26, VIII.) 



The Hog Fish Cut, which has recently been examined with a 

 view to its. improvement, is the most convenient at the West end of 

 the islands, particularly in the winter season, when the winds prevail 

 at N.W., andrthe danger of being at sea and about the islands is the 

 greatest. 



the shallow reefs, indicated by shading and crosses. Whether marked natural 

 changes have occurred since 1870, I cannot say, but it seems very doubtful. 

 Perhaps it was not deemed expedient to indicate these channels, as they actually 

 exist, owing to their intricacy and dangers, or for strategic reasons. That such 

 channels are generally rilling up with mud at the bottom, and by the growth of 

 the corals on the sides is very certain, but such changes are so slow that in a 

 period of 30 or 40 years we should not expect them to be very evident. The 

 Northwest channel is not indicated on fig. 2(5. 



* Elies Harbor was named for Mr. William Eli, who was settled on its shore in 

 1621. The name is sometimes erroneously written " Ellis." 



