30 



was (i.l <>f a mile per hour. The observations of the strength of the flood current made ou this 

 bed were too much influenced by the wind to be considered reliable, but the velocity immediately 

 south of the bed was 0.5 of a mile per hour. 



The currents of the Xanticoke Channel and over the adjacent beds set to the northward and 

 eastward on the flood, following the bend of the channel, with a maximum velocity of 0.6 of a mile 

 per hour. The ebb over the major portion of the Middle Ground sets to the southward, with a 

 velocity of 0.3 to 0.4 of a mile per hour on the first quarter, until it meets the current of the Wicom- 

 ico, when it turns to the westward. A strong current sets in and out of Rock Creek; over the 

 Drumming Shoal and Cedar Rocks the current sets NXE. on the flood, with a velocity of 0.4 of a 

 mile per hour, and SSW. on the ebb tide, with a velocity of 0.G of a mile per hour. 



Over the beds south of the Shark's Fin and Cedar Rock, and north of Piuey Island bar and 

 Kedge's Straits, the general set of the flood is to the northward, with an inclination towards 

 Holland's Straits when about Turtle Egg Island, and tending to the northward and westward ofl 

 the Little Thoroughfare. The general set of the ebb while in the channel is to the southward, but 

 ou the Turtle Egg Island, Mud and Muscle Hole Beds the set is to the southward and eastward. 

 The strength of these and all currents in the Sound is much influenced by the winds that have 

 prevailed during the immediately preceding days, and which it was impossible to eliminate in the 

 space of time covered by this investigation. Over the western beds, above Kedge's Straits, the 

 maximum observed velocity of the flood was 0.8 of a mile per hour, and a mean of all the veloci- 

 ties of the flood current was 0.4 of a mile per hour. The maximum observed velocity of the ebb 

 current was 1.0 mile per hour, and the mean of all velocities of the ebb was 0.3 of a mile per hour. 



Over the Chain Shoal the maximum velocity of the flood was 0.37 and the mean velocity was 

 0.3 of a mile per hour. The maximum velocity of the ebb was 1.0 mile and the mean velocity 0.5 

 of a mile per hour. 



The flood current over Piuey Island bar sets MW., or about in general line with the Sound 

 at that point. Its velocity on the third quarter, during and after northerly breezes, was 0.1 of a 

 mile an hour, and probably it is seldom less than that. The ebb current over the northern part of 

 the bed sets SSE., but tends to the southward over the southern part. The maximum velocity of 

 the ebb during and after northerly breezes was 1 mile per hour and the mean of all observations, 

 taken under similar circumstances, gives a velocity of 0.4 of a mile per hour. 



In the Manokin River the current follows the general trend of the channel, the flood setting 

 to the northward until above Hazzard's Point, and then to the northward and eastward. The ebb 

 sets southwest, and, when it strikes the shoal off Piney Island, curves somewhat to the southward. 

 The currents were measured during light or gentle northeasterly breezes. The maximum velocity 

 of the flood was 0.4 of a mile per hour and the mean of all the velocities of the flood 0.2 of a mile 

 per hour. The maximum velocity of tne ebb was 0.5 of a mile per hour and the mean velocity 0.2 

 of a mile per hour. 



In the Big Annemessex River the current sets to the eastward on the flood tide and to the 

 westward ou the ebb, curving to the southward ou the latter as it approaches the mouth of the 

 river. The maximum velocity of the flood current was 0.4 and the mean velocity 0.25 of a mile 

 per hour. Of the ebb the maximum velocity was 0.5 and the mean velocity 0.33 of a mile per hour. 



The flood current sets over Harris Bock to the northward with a maximum velocity of 0.33 

 and a mean velocity of 0.2 of a mile per hour. The ebb, being somewhat influenced by the cur- 

 rent out of the Annemessex and the sweep of the main current of the Sound, sets to the southward 

 and westward, with a mean velocity of 0.2 of a mile per hour. The maximum velocity observed 

 was but a slight increase of the mean. 



Over the Terrapin Sands the flood sets northwest, with a maximum velocity of 0.9 and a mean 

 velocity of 0.7 of a mile per hour. The ebb sets southeast until near the buoy marking the shoal, 

 where it turns to the southward. Its maximum velocity was 1 mile and its mean velocity 0.9 

 of a mile per hour. The currents over the Terrapin Sands were measured during spring tides, 

 and after light breezes and calms had prevailed for several days. 



Over the Woman's Marsh Rocks the flood sets about NNW. until in the vicinity of Horse 

 Hammock, where it turns to the northward and eastward. The ebb sets SSW. over the upper 

 part of the bed, and to the southward and eastward over the lower. There is a strong set in aud 



