ST. JOHNS FRESH WATEE BAY. 609 



The Terra Nova Company can also execute large repairs. They 

 have a crane which lifts 40 tons. 



Hospitals. — There is a large hospital at St. Johns available for 

 seamen, a hospital for infectious diseases, situated on Signal hill, and 

 a sailors' home. 



Signals. — The International code of signals is used at Signal hill 

 blockhouse. 



Time signal. — A gun. near the blockhouse on Signal hill, 517 feet 

 above high water, is fired every day at noon, St. Johns mean time, 

 or 3h. 30m. 43.9s Greenwich mean time, but it is reported to be use- 

 less for the purpose of rating chronometers. 



Position. — ChaiQ rock battery, on the northern shore of the nar- 

 rows of St. Johns harbor, is in lat. 47° 34' 02" N., long. 52° 40' 59" W. 



Trade. — The chief business of St. Johns is the exportation of cod- 

 fish and refining seal oil, but there is a large ropewalk of the Colonial 

 Cordage Compan3% employing about 500 persons, where the bulk of 

 I he twines, lines, nets, and cables used in the fishing industry are 

 made; there are also three iron foundries, a nail foundry, a machine 

 shop,. railway workshops, two biscuit bakeries, breweries, tanneries, 

 furniture, tobacco, soap, and butterine factories, affording employ- 

 ment to a large number of people. 



On the Avharves there are numerous oil vats, from which the stench 

 is very unpleasant in summer, and stages for drying fish are placed 

 in every available spot. 



Communication. — See page 37. 



The coast from South head of St. Johns harbor tends southward 

 for lyiy miles, and is very steep and inaccessible. 



Fresh Water bay, which is open northward, extends ^ mile farther 

 soutliAvarcl. with a width of about a quarter of a mile; at its head 

 there are a few houses and a shingly beach; close within the beach is 

 a large pond, about 10 feet above high-Avater level, and reported to 

 have a depth of 10 fathoms. 



There is anchorage in the middle of the bay, in 8 to 12 fathoms of 

 water, over a bottom of mud covered with sand, and very good hold- 

 ing ground; small craft, which have missed St. Johns harl)()r luive 

 ridden out a northerly gale here. 



Spriggs point, the eastern entrance point of Freshwater bay, is 

 very sharp, with the land gradually rising and having cliffs on both 

 sides. On the eastern side there are some small islets, 2 to feet 

 high. 



Peggys bag, southward ^ mile from Spriggs point, has a large 

 noticeable pinnacle, separated from the cliff. 



Deadmans bay, south-southeastward of Peggys bag, is small and 

 of no use; there is a shingle beach at its head. Cliff point, eastward 

 70S4G— 00 .^0 



