290 CAPE KAY TO CAPE BAULD. 



Head harbor or Pic a Denis (locally Picadilly), the bight on 

 the eastern side of South head, is about 2 miles in extent to the south- 

 ward and 1^ miles wide. Its western shores are rocky, the wooded 

 hills behind rising steeply to a long ridge extending southwestward 

 toward Lower cove in St. George bay. The head of the bight is low, 

 and flat land extends a little distance back toward the hills; the 

 eastern shore is a low bank of j)eaty soil. At the head of the bight 

 and on the western side there are two small streams. 



Flats of sand and mud extend for some distance off the shores of 

 this harbor, and the depth in the middle is 3^ to 4-J fathoms. The 

 harbor affords anchorage to vessels of moderate size, the holding 

 ground is good, and the anchorage secure even during strong northerl}^ 

 winds. 



A settler's dwelling house, storehouse, and stage are situated on the 

 western shore at 1^ miles southward of South head, and limited quan- 

 tities of meat, butter, and milk may sometimes be procured. The flat 

 land at the head of the bay is cultivated to some extent ; a road leads 

 to Abrahams cove, and a path to Ship cove, in St. George bay, across 

 the neck, between the hills, which are here comparatively low. There 

 is also a road to West bay. 



Tides and tidal streams. — It is high water, full and change, in 

 Pic a Denis harbor at lOh. 20m. ; springs rise 6^ feet, neaps 4^ feet ; 

 neaps range about 2:^ feet. There is considerable diurnal inequality 

 in the height of the tides at Port au Port, consecutive high waters 

 differing from 2^ feet to 3 inches, and consecutive low waters from 2 

 feet to 1 inch. 



The flood stream sets along the western side of Shoal point and 

 directly into the harbor ; the rates of both flood and ebb are sufficient 

 to cause a heavy short sea when the wind is contrary. 



Shoal point is the northern end of a narrow, flat spur extending 

 northward 4f miles from the range of hills of which Pierways hill is 

 the summit. The height of this spur gradually decreases until at 

 about 2 miles within the point it becomes a flat about 15 feet high, 

 with straight peaty banks on either shore. The inner part is wooded, 

 but the outer part for about 2 miles is covered with moss and coarse 

 grass. A little over ^ mile within the point the gTass-covered bank 

 ceases, and the northern portion is a low shelf of sand inclosing 

 muddy spaces, into vfhich the tide flows. 



Off the western side of the spur the shoal water shelves away grad- 

 ually into 5 and 6 fathoms at about -J mile distant, but off the eastern 

 side it extends 1,400 yards to a mile, and northward of the point a 

 large flat of sand, with several bowlders on it that dry, extends, 

 within the 5-fathom line, about 2^ miles. This flat, the greater part 

 of which has less than 15 feet water over it, obstructs navigation 

 between East and West bays, particularly in thick weather, as then 



