the Reedy Point jetties, 2.5 feet at Chesapeake City and 2.2 feet at Courthouse Point, the junction of Elk River and Back Creek.

In the Delaware River from Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, to the sea, the normal velocity of tidal current in the dredged channel ranges between 2 and 31/ miles per hour, although storm tides may increase the maximum current to as much as 42 miles per hour. The currents are rarely sufficient to impede navigation. In the vicinity of Trenton, N. J., freshets, which occur usually during February and March, attain a height of 9 to 20 feet above low water.

ANCHORAGES

The only anchorages between New York Harbor and the entrance to Chesapeake Bay for vessels of all classes bound along the Atlantic Coast are the Breakwater Harbor and the Harbor of Refuge in the vicinity of the Delaware Capes. These two anchorages are often known collectively as the Delaware Breakwater. Many vessels are sent to the Delaware Breakwater to anchor while awaiting orders. Breakwater Harbor, the inner anchorage, is on the west side of Cape Henlopen, southward of the river breakwater. It has an anchorage area of about 237 acres and depths of from 10 to 30 feet at mean low water. It is a safe harbor for light-draft vessels in all but heavy northwesterly gales and affords considerable protection even in such weather. The harbor is generally crowded in heavy weather. The Harbor of Refuge or outer anchorage lies one to two miles northnorthwest of Cape Henlopen, being formed by a breakwater extending 1 1⁄2 miles south-southeast from the southeast end of The Shears (U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart No. 379) and by a row of ice fenders on The Shears. Its anchorage area is approximately 552 acres in extent and the depths range from 24 to 42 feet at mean low water. It affords a harbor in easterly gales for deep draft Additional information relative to the Harbor of Refuge is given

vessels.

under the subject "Harbor Improvements by the United States."

Eight anchorage areas have been designated for use of vessels in the Delaware River below the limits of Philadelphia Harbor. Vessels are sometimes allowed to anchor at other points along the edge of the dredged channel where there is suitable depth and navigation will not be obstructed. The anchorages below Philadelphia, listed in the order in which they are reached by vessels inbound from the Atlantic Ocean, are described below.

Bombay Hook Point Anchorage is a general anchorage located west of the channel along Liston Range upstream from a line opposite Ship John Shoal Lighthouse and downstream from a line opposite the lower end of Arnold Point Shoal.

Artificial Island is an explosives anchorage located east of the channel along Reedy Island Range near the upper end of Artificial Island upstream from a line opposite Reedy Island Light and downstream from a line opposite the tank on Reedy Island. It is intended for vessels engaged in the transportation and handling of explosives and other dangerous articles. No vessel not so engaged is permitted to anchor in this area except in a case of emergency.

Explosives Anchorage North of Reedy Island is located west of the channel along Reedy Island Range downstream from a line bearing southeast from the south jetty light at the entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and upstream from a point 4,000 feet above the upper end of Reedy Island.

Reedy Point Anchorage is situated southwest of the channel along New Castle Range upstream from a line off the north jetty light at the entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and downstream from a line midway between the canal entrance and the entrance to the branch channel of the canal at Delawa re City, Del.

Deepwater Point Anchorage lies east of the channel along Cherry Island Range upstream from a line opposite Deepwater Point Range front light and downstream from a line opposite the south jetty light at the entrance

to

Christina River. It has an area of 305 acres.

Vessels must not cast anchor

in the cable area at the lower part of the anchorage except in a case of emer

gency.

Marcus Hook Anchorage is located southeast of the channel along Marcus Hook Range upstream from a line opposite the Texas Company Pier at Claymont (Marcus Hook Range Lighted Buoy 6M), Del., and downstream from the jetty light at the entrance to Raccoon Creek (lower end of Raccoon Island), N.J. The anchorage has been dredged to a depth of 37 feet, a width of 1,400 feet and a length of 10,500 feet and has an area of 337 acres.

A preferential area in the Marcus Hook Anchorage is designated for the use of vessels awaiting quarantine inspection. This area is between lines projected from the northeast and southwest boundaries of the United States Quarantine Station at Marcus Hook, Pa. Should the remainder of the anchorage be in use, the preferential area, when unoccupied, may be used by deep draft vessels not subject to quarantine inspection.

Thompson Point Anchorage is located south of the channel along Tinicum Range between a line bearing north from Thompson Point and a line bearing north from the east edge of Crab Point, N. J. This anchorage has an area of 87 acres with depths of from 10 to 35 feet.

Mantua Creek Anchorage is located southeast of the channel along Mifflin Range and extends upstream from the intersection of Billingsport and Mifflin Ranges for a distance of 7,300 feet. The area of the anchorage is 164 acres. It has been dredged to a depth of 35 feet. The River and Harbor Act of 1945 authorized the enlargement and deepening of the anchorage to project dimensions 1,400 feet by 11,600 feet, 37 feet deep.

There are 5 anchorage areas in the Delaware River between Hog Island and Poquessing Creek, bordering the water front of Philadelphia Harbor which lies

on the right bank of the river and the towns of Gloucester, Camden, Delair and Riverton, N. J., located on the left bank. These anchorage areas have a total sheltered area of approximately 611 acres, as follows:

League Island Anchorage is a restricted naval anchorage having an area of

89 acres. It lies north of the channel along West Horseshoe Range between lines in prolongation of the east side of Piers Nos. 1 and 7 at the Naval Base, Phila

delphia.

Gloucester Anchorage is located southeast of the channel along East Horseshoe Range and Reach M between a line bearing 267 degrees from the north end of the retaining dike at the mouth of Big Timber Creek (Howell Cove Buoy 48) and a line opposite the Immigration Pier at Gloucester (Greenwich Point Lighted Buoy 48A), N. J. This anchorage has an area of 66 acres and is 30 feet deep and about 3,500 feet long.

Greenwich Anchorage is east of the channel along Reaches M to S between the Immigration Pier at Gloucester (Greenwich Point Lighted Buoy 48A) and the lower end of the railroad ferry slips at Kaighn Point, Camden, N. J. It has an area of 172 acres. The area between Pier No. 2, New York Shipbuilding Corporation, and the McAndrews and Forbes Co. Pier at Camden, N. J., is restricted to facilitate the movement of carfloats to and from Bulson Street, Camden. Should the anchorage become so congested that vessels are compelled to anchor in the restricted area, they must move immediately when another berth becomes available.

Cooper Point Anchorage is located southeast of the channel along Reaches A and B between lines marking the prolongation of the south side of Pier No. 25 North and the prolongation of the north side of Pier No. 40 North, Philadelphia. This area is about 44 acres in extent.

Port Richmond Anchorage is located southeast of the channel along Reaches

D and E between the upper and lower ends of Petty Island and between lines opposite Allegheny Avenue and Pier No. 80 North, near Norris Street, Philadelphia. This anchorage has an area of 76 acres and it has been dredged to a depth of 35 feet. The River and Harbor Act of 1945 authorizes a depth of 37 feet and an approximate length of 6,400 feet. Vessels having a draft of less than 20 feet must anchor west of Pier No. 11 at Port Richmond. The area off the Cities Service Oil Co. Wharf at Petty Island is restricted to facilitate the movement of vessels to and from the wharf. Vessels must not anchor in the cable area at the lower end of the anchorage except in a case of emergency.

There are no prescribed anchorages in the Delaware River above the upper limits of Philadelphia Harbor.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather conditions at localities on the Delaware River below Philadelphia are practically the same as those at Wilmington, Del., and the conditions at localities in the upper river to Trenton, with the exception of ice conditions, do not vary materially from those prevailing at Philadelphia.

Open season for navigation.--The river is usually open for navigation at all seasons throughout the entire length of the improved channel to Trenton. Prevailing winds.--The prevailing winds are northwest from October to April and southwest during the remainder of the year in the Philadelphia area. The maximum wind velocity over a period of 74 years was 68 miles per hour.

Ice.-Ice sometimes forms an obstacle to navigation in Delaware Bay and the Delaware River below Philadelphia in severe winters and in ordinary winters ice conditions make it necessary for sailing vessels to use care. Ice has been known to form early in December between Wilmington and Philadelphia but the heavier ice does not begin to form before January. After the first of March, ice is rarely encountered. Above Bristol, Pa., navigation may be hampered by