652 
APPENDIX. 
twenty-five fathoms, stlif clay, near them ; and on standing ofij carried regular soundings 
to thirty-two fathoms, after which they deepened rapidly. 
Coming from the southward, or when inside the Farallones, the position of the entrance 
to San Francisco may be known by the land receding considerably between the table-hill 
already mentioned, and San Bruno Hill, which, at a distance, appears to terminate the ridge 
extending from Santa Cruz to the northward. The land to the northward or southward of 
these two hills has nothing remarkable about it to a stranger: it is, generally speaking, 
sufficiently high to be seen thirteen to fifteen leagues, and inland is covered with wood. 
About eight miles and a quarter from the fort, at the entrance of San Francisco, there 
is a bar of sand, extending in a S. by E. direction across the mouth of the harbour. The 
soundings, on approaching it, gradually decrease to four and a quarter and six fathoms low 
water, spring tide, depending upon the situation of the ship, and as regularly increase on the 
opposite side to no bottom with the hand-leads. In crossing the bar, it is well to give the 
northern shore a good berth, and bring the small white island, Alcatrasses, in one with the fort 
or south blulF, if it can be conveniently done, as they may then ensure six fathoms.; but if 
ships get to the northward, so as to bring the south bluff in one with the Island of Yerba 
Buena, they will find but four and a quarter ; which is little enough with the heavy sea 
that sometimes rolls over the bar ; besides, the sea will sometimes break heavily in that 
depth, and endanger small vessels ; to the northward of this bearing the water is more shal- 
low. Approaching the entrance, the Island of Alcatrasses may be opened with the fort; 
and the best directions are to keep mid-channel, or on the weather side. On the south 
shore the dangers are above water, and it is only necessary to avoid being set into the bay 
between the fort and Point Lobos. If necessary, ships may pass inside, or to the southward 
of the One Mile Rock ; but it is advisable to avoid doing so, if possible. On approaching it, 
guard against the tide, which sets strong from the outer point toward it, and in a line for the 
fort. Off Punta Boneta there is a dangerous reef, on which the sea breaks very heavy : it 
lies S. W. from the point, and no ship should approach it nearer than to bring the fort in 
one with Yerba Buena Island. 
In the entrance it is particularly necessary to attend to the sails, in consequence of the 
eddy tides and the flaws of wind that come off the land. The boats should also be ready for 
lowering down on the instant, as the entrance is very narrow, and the tides running strong 
and in eddies, are apt to sweep a ship over upon one side or the other, and the water is in 
general too deep for anchorage; besides, the wind may fail when most required. The 
strongest tides and the deepest water lie over on the north shore. Should a ship be swept 
into the sandy bay west of the fort, she will find good anchorage on a sandy bottom in ten 
and fifteen fathoms out of the tide ; or in the event of meeting the ebb at the entrance, she 
might haul in, and there await the change. There is no danger off the fort at a greater 
distance tlmn a hundred yards. 
As soon as a ship passes the fort, she enters a large sheet of water, in which are several 
islands, two rocks above water, and one under, exceedingly dangerous to shipping, of which 
I shall speak hereafter. One branch of the harbour extends in a S. E. by S. direction 
exactly thirty miles, between two ridges of hills, one of which extends along the coast towards 
the Bay of Monterey, and the other from San Pablo, close at the back of San Jos6 to San 
