602 SCATTEKED ROCKS, SHOALS, AND VIGIAS. 



with 5 fathoms over it, lies near the centre of the ledge, 3f miles 

 S.W. f W. from Cashe Rock. On approaching this shoal, in depths of 

 60 to 35 fathoms, you may find brown sand, with black stones and broken 

 shells; then 30 fathoms, where it becomes rocky. The currents on the 

 ledge are exceedingly rapid and devious. 



GEORGE BANKS. 



These extensive banks are fully described in the Sailing Directions 

 accompanying the Chart of the United States coast. They have been 

 accurately surveyed by various officers of the U.S. Navy, and on them are 

 several patches with less than 10 fathoms water, on which the sea breaks 

 heavily at times, with depths of 15 to 40 fathoms between them. 



George Shoal, the largest and most dangerous of these shoals, is 13 

 miles in extent N.N.W. and S.S.E., within the 10-fathoms line, and from 

 1 to 2 miles in width ; the shoalest places are knolls of hard sand. There 

 is a rip usually the whole length of the shoal, and, at times, heavy 

 breakers in the shoalest places. The shoalest part has a depth of 12 ft. 

 over it at low water, in lat. 41° 39' 45" N., long. 67° 44' 45" W. The 

 northern extreme, with a depth of 6 fathoms, is in lat. 41° 46^', long. 

 67° 48^' ; and the southern extreme, with a depth of 6 fathoms, in lat. 

 41° 331', long. 67° 39'. 



The least water on Little George Shoal, at the southern end of George 

 Bank, is 5 fathoms, in lat. 41° 15' 30" N., long. 68° 0' W. ; and bearing 

 S.W. ^ S., distant 27 miles, from the shoalest part of George Shoal. 



Bogers Shoal, with a depth of 5|- fathoms, at the S.W. extreme of 

 George Bank, is situated in lat. 41° 11' N., long. 68° 26' W., 42 miles 

 S.W. by W. f W. from the shoalest part of George Shoal. 



" The tides and currents on these far-famed shoals present no danger 

 to steamers, the northerly set never causing any practical inconvenience. 

 But with sailing ships the greatest vigilance is necessary, the pre- 

 ponderance of drift and set appearing to be decidedly northward. It is a 

 weird place, full of tide-rips, breakers, and discoloured water, which in 

 heavy weather occasionally make the navigator hold his breath when he 

 sees the waves rearing and twisting around each other as if endued with 

 life, or running against the wind with a comb of foam trailing behind 

 them, more dangerous than a regular heavy sea to small deeply-laden 

 coasters. During the winter months the New York pilots carefully avoid 

 cruising in the vicinity ; their well-appointed and well-handled little punts 

 are scarcely safe amidst breakers where sand is lodged on the deck from 

 a depth of 7 fathoms or more." — Commander W. W. Kiddle, E.N., 1878. 



NANTUCKET SHOALS. 



These very dangerous shoals, lying immediately in the line of traflBc of 

 the coasting trade of the United States, have been described previously, 

 on page 592. 



