CHAPTER V. 



newfoundIja:nd, south coast— crew point to 



CAPE RAY. 



Fortune bay. — Pass island bears 346?, distant 35 miles from Crew 

 point, and the entrance to Fortune bay lies between. This bay, which 

 extends eastward about 67 miles, contains numerous smaller bays, 

 harbors, and islands. 



Caution. — The currents in Fortune bay, especially near Plate and 

 Brunet islands, are irregular. 



At night or in thick weather, when sounding, bear in mind that 

 the water is in many places as deep near the shores as in the middle 

 of the bay. 



Brunet island, nearly in the middle of the entrance to Fortune 

 bay, rises to a ridge, 528 feet high, extending along its northern coast; 

 several hills at its eastern end appear from a distance as separate 

 islands. 



Light. — A lighthouse, 30 feet high, a square white building with 

 a red roof and the lantern rising from the middle, on Mercer head, 

 the southeastern end of the island, exhibits, at 408 feet above high 

 water, a flashing white light showing a flash every ten seconds, which 

 should be seen, excepting over an arc of 67° between the bearings of 

 85° and 152°, where it is obscured by the land, from a distance of 23 

 miles in clear weather. From its great height this light is often ob- 

 scured by fog when the land below is visible. 



Sig'nals. — This light station is supplied with the International 

 code of signals. 



Fish rock, with Z^ fathoms over it, bears 186°, distant 600 yards 

 from Mercer head lighthouse. 



Mercer cove, on the southeastern side of the island, affords good 

 sheltered anchorage for small vessels in 3 to 6 fathoms water, eastward 

 of Harbor rock, situated in the middle of the cove, which is awash at 

 high water and may be passed on either side. The entrance, between 

 Major point, on the northwestern, and Pancake, 18 feet high, on the 

 southeastern side, is 500 yards in width, and the cove extends north- 

 eastward 1,400 yards, the water in it shoaling toward the head ; there 

 are several houses on the shores. 

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