A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 489 



The Hog Fish Cut, though not far from the land, is an entrance 

 from the ocean, through the outer barrier of rocks. Before arriving 

 at the Cut there are the Bream /Shoals, to be carefully avoided. 

 The course through what are called the Chops of the Cut is nearly 

 at a right angle ; the turn is very sudden and sharp, and the 

 greatest nicety must be observed by the pilots in navigating it. 

 The course in from the ocean to Hog Fish Cut is N.E., and from the 

 Cut to the Kitchen Shoals N.W. ; and the passage is so narrow that 

 it does not afford sufficient space for the vessels to tack in, and when 

 a passage through them shall be attempted, it must be without a 

 change of tack. These difficulties are felt more especially in the 

 winter season, when the winds are generally unfavourable for pass- 

 ing the Kitchen Shoals. To remedy this evil, the committee 

 appointed for the purpose (August, 1846) recommended the removal 

 of the centre Kitchen Shoal, of coral (8 feet on it at high water), 

 by the same means employed at St. George's Harbor, when a passage 

 sufficiently capacious would be opened, and vessels, now often 

 compelled to remain at sea, or make the circuit of the island in 

 search of shelter, would find an easy and ready access to port. 



The various channels here mentioned, having different directions, 

 are available according to the wind, that which is fair for one being 

 the reverse for others ; but they must not be attempted without a 

 pilot, who will immediately come off from St. David's Head, upon a 

 signal being given to that effect ; and a vessel in the offing requiring 

 a pilot, it is telegraphed from one part of the island to the other. 

 They will be best understood by referring to the Chart of these 

 islands.* 



The south-eastern face of the reef forms nearly a continuous line 

 of breakers, about 2 cables' lengths from the shore, and has no 

 entrance or shelter till we come to Castle Harbour, the entrance 

 to which, past the King's Castle, is in a N.W. direction. (Fig. 26, 

 KI.) There is no other opening through the reef between this and 

 the channel under St. David's Head, before described." 



15. — Tides and Currents. 



The tides vary to a considerable extent according to the force and 

 direction of the wind, and the same is true of the variable currents 



* A Chart of the Bermudas or Somers' Islands, with Plans of the Narrows and 

 Murray Anchorage, and St. George's Harbour, &c, by A. G. Findlay, F.R.G.S., 

 published by Mr. R. H. Laurie, London, 1870, accompanied by a description of 

 the islands. 



