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 Avtchen 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. 
