The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-04
SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR PORTSMOUTH
HARBoR, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

We have been furnished with the following ex-
tract from report Of Captain Stansbury, OF the
Corps Of Typographical Engineers, who has been
lately engaged upon military survey for the de-
fences of Portsmouth, and as it is interesting
TO the commercial interests of the country, hasten
to lay II before our readers. The following sailing
directions are from Blunt's Coast Pilot, with such
alterations were ascerained to be necessary, In
the Immediate vicinity Of the harbor '.
Portsmouth lighthouse is near the mouth Of the
harbor, on the west side, on the N f. point Of Great
island near Fort Constitution. Ii is 80 feet above
the level Of the sea, and shows fixed light
The following are the bearings and distances OF
places to be observed and avoided approaching the
harbor.
Kits Rocks buoy bears 8. 25lO, E. mile 242O
feet from Portsmouth light
odiorne's Point, S. 40 IT 45", w. mile $40
feet from Portsmouth light
Gun Boat Sh0aL-Four miles from Portsmouth
lighthouse bearing s. 20 w., war. 6.46" w. 1910
lies Gun Boat shoal, having not less than 81 faith
SMALL IL runs EN- <. and W.S.W about two ca
blss' length, and bears from Whales Back light S.
by w. w. from Odiorne's Point S. | Z.
Whales Back lighthouse is situated on the east
side Of Portsmouth harbor. Its height Is GO feet
from low water mark. IL has Two fixed lights, one
Ten leet below the olher.
The following the bearings and distances OF
places from Whales Back light;
Western Sister, ". $50 AZ E., / mile $40 feet
Eastern Sister, N. $50 So 80" T., ! mile $3.50 feet.
0diorne's Point, S. 44o go w, | mile 1920 feet.
Phillips Rocks u feet) s. $50 30 E., mile 300
feet.
Kits Rock buoy, s. go so E.. 2I3O feet.
II you fall in to the eastward, make Cape Ned
Dock and are bound to Portsmouth, when within
half a mile Of said cape your course is SSW. four
leagues; which coune you will continue I'LL you
bring Portsmouth lighthouse To bear ~, and the
lights on Whales Back TO bear NNE., then steer
N. E., (leayihg Whales Back light on the star
board hand } having four fathoms water, until you
are abreast Of Portsmouth light, which you may
round within one quarter of a mile, when you must
steer NV. until 1t bears SSE., and anchor IN nine
fathoms, good bottom.
A black spar buoy has been placed on Cod rock,
near Fort Point at the entrance Of the harbor, in Is
feet Of water. Vessels passing into the harbor, by
leaving this buoy on the larboard hand thirty feet
distance will have six fathoms Of water.
A black spar buoy has also been placed at the
ledge, al the NE. Of Amazun's or Goat island, In
ten feet water. Vessels passing up the harbor, by
leaving this buoy on the larboard hand thirty feet
distant will have seven fathoms water.
A black spar buoy has also been placed on the
eastern edge Of sunken rocks, in ten feet of water
bearing about east from the monument on said
rocks. Vessels passing up the harbor, by leaving
this buoy on the laTboard hand forty feet distant
will have seven falhoms water.
Two spar buoys have also been placed as guides,
in entering Spruce Creek harbor, viz white buoy
on the S.W. point Of Hicks Rocks, in thirteen feet
water, and black buoy on Jamaica Point, Gre
fethen's island in ten feet water. Vessels entering
Spruce Creek harbor, by leaving the white buoy
on the sarboard hand hundred feet distant, will
have five iathoms water, and by leaving the black
buoy the larboard hand one hundred feet distant,
will have three and half fathoms Of water.
Afer passing the two aforementioned buoys about
one hundred feet, vessels may anchor in five falhoms
Of water, in good muddy bottom; and by keeping in
mid channel, and running about north, may anchor
in the creek IN five or six fathoms water.
N. b, Hicks Rocks under water mostly at
about two-thirds tide; and the depths Of water
named in the preceding directions were taken at
low water. blooming from the eastward Of the Isles
Of Shoals in the night, bring Portsmouth light to
bear wv. by w. / W., which course will carry
you clear Of Duck island. Continue this course
gvil White island light bears s.s.W., when haul up
W. by N, and continue that course until Ports
mouth light bears ~, when you may run for it with
safety.
You may also, if coming from sea, and make the
Isles Of Shoals, and to the eastward of them
for them until within mile of the eastern island
then steer W.N.W. until Portsmouth light bears
NJ, then follow your directions, passing Whales
Back light on the starboard hand. Beating into
Portsmouth harbor, it is not prudent to stand the
eastward further than bring the light to bear N.
by w. 1 W., or to the westward further than to
bring it to bear N. lfyou are to the westward Of
the Isles of Shoals give White Island light birth
of one mile and half bring it to bear z, and then
run N. by w. for Portsmouth light, miles dis
tant.
On the east side of the entrance Of the harbor lies
kits Rock, on which is buoy, and s. I w, one
quarter Of mile from the lighthouse lie Steilman's
Rocks, over which is black buoy; both rocks are
under water. Give both buoys good berth, Kits
buoy 200 yards, and Steiman's 100 yards and
there is no danger, as you will have full FIVE fathoms
water
Between Kits Rocks and the Western Sister, lie
Phillips Rocks, occupying area of about 500 feet
by 900 feet with H. IL, and 10 feet water on them
When you come from the NV. and make Cape
Ann and TO the eastward Of the dry savages, bring
them to bear S. by E., and steer N. by w. or N. ]
w. In entering this course, you will make the
Isles of Shoals, from whence you may take new
departure, by bringing the lighthouse to bear E.,
distant one and half miles, and run N. by w. for
Portsmouth light.
If you are bound to the eastward from Ports.
mouth harbor, you steer S. by Z. one league from
the lighthouse, then steer N. N E. for Old York or
Cape Neddick, which is four leagues from Ports
mouth; but if the wind should come from the north
ward, you must be careful of York ledge.