ST. JOHNS HARBOR DIRECTIONS. 607 



St. Georges leads, lying about if mile east-southeastward of the 

 entrance to St. Johns harbor, is a patch about ^ mile long, northward 

 and southward, 200 yards broad, with '24 to -27 fathoms of water over 

 its southern part, but there are depths of 15 and IC) fathoms over its 

 northern part, Avith 25 fathoms close around. 



Directions. — The entrance to St. Johns harbor is so narrow that 

 in foggy or hazy weather, when the hills ai-e indistinct, care is neces- 

 sary not to mistake the opening into Quiddy Viddy harbor for it. 



From a distance the land both northward and southward of the 

 harbor appears hilly, bleak, and desolate, and it rises abruptly to 

 heights of between 275 and 779 feet. 



The entrance, having high land on either side, is not seen from a 

 distance; but as the land is approached its position is well indicated 

 by cape Spear, fort Amherst, and tho buildino-s and flaa'stafl' on Sig- 

 nal hill. 



Approach the harbor on a westerly bearing, avoiding Vestal rock 

 (page 003), and bringing the white mast and daymark carrying the 

 lower leading light in line with the spire of the Congregational 

 church (which will be seen just clear northward of the square towers 

 of the Catholic cathedral), bearing 276°. This mark leads into the 

 harbor, but over Merlin rock. AAlien ])ast Prosser rock, steer and 

 anchor as convenient. 



If the leading marks are not visible in daylight, pass 100 yards 

 southward of North head and steer 276° into the harbor, lea\'ing 

 Pancake and Prosser rock buoys about 50 yards to the southward, 

 and Ruby Rock buoy to the northward. 



For a vessel of very deep draft it is customary to buoy Merlin rock 

 with a boat. 



Small vessels, with boats to tow, often beat in, l)ut the unsteadiness 

 of the wind renders this tedious and difficult. 



At night bring and keep the two leading red lights in line, bearing 

 276°, anc! when in the harbor anchor as convenient : remembering, in 

 a vessel of very deep draft, that the lights in line lead over Merlin 

 rock, in 29 feet of water. 



In fog" or thick wea,ther, the soundings in Cordelia deeps might. 

 be useful in assisting to determine a vessel's position. 



Annhora.g'e. — There is tem])o;-arv anchorage, with foul or baffling 

 wdnds, in 15 fathoms, rock bottom, just within the heads, where a 

 vessel can be taken in toAv. 



Ice. — St. Johns harbor is rarely frozen over in wintei' and is 

 seldom closed for as long as a week during ordinary seasons, but in 

 1875 and 1882 access was very difficult for several Aveeks. The har- 

 bor ice disappears about the end of March. The prevalence of east- 

 erly winds in early spring drives heaAy field ice upon the coast, and 

 at times, CA'en as late as August, icebergs drift into the narroAvs and 



