The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-22
COAST SURVEY OFFICE,

w AhHlN0TON, May IL, 1904
SiR ] have the honor to communicate, and re-
quest authority TO make public. the subjoined in
formation, compiled from the official records of the
Coast Survey, respecting the Southern Coast Of
Florida.
series of signals (fifteen in number) have been
erected by one of the Triangulaton parties of the
Coast Survey along the line of the Reef, indicating
dangerous points, and so distributed that vessels
may in safety make the intermediate run between
any two of them. Navigators will find them high
ly useful. They are sufficiently remarkable always
TO secure attention in the daytime, and may be
seen some two or three miles with the naked eye,
or from six to ten with an ordinary glass. Each
signal consists Of a mangrove pole from thirty to
forty feet high, fixed in an iron pile, which
has been sunk in the solid material of the Reef,
and surmounted by barrel painted black.
II is stated that with these guides there can be
no difficulty in the way of steamers keeping close
in and running in smooth water.
The Isabel Charleston, Key West, and Havana
packet) always hugs the Reef close TO avoid the
easterly current and take advantage of the eddy
setting westward.
The following list shows the Reefs upon which
signals have been placed as described:
/. Fowey Rocks.
.. Triumph Reef.
3. Long Reef
4. A sboal. (coral forInation,) without a name,
interior TO Triumph and Long Reef, described rs
extending from Cesar's Creek, about seven miles
northwsrd, and lying midway between the line Of
Keys and the main Florida Reef. The waters in
side the Reef here divided by these shoals into
two main and we'll defined channels; the outside
being the deepest, and the inside of sufficient
depth for vessels drawing less than ten feet. Small
vessels may pick their way through in various di
rectons; but these believed 10 be the only well
marked channels. The screw. pile has been placed
at the northern extremity Of the Shoals.
5. Ajax Reef.
6. Pacific Reef.
7. Turtle Reef
s. Triangle Reef, or Grccan Shoals.
9. French Reef.
TO- Pickle Reef
IL. Conch Reef
IL. Crocus Reef
10. Alligator Reef.
IL. The washerwoman shoal.
is. The American Shoals. near Key West.
Ono Of the most experienced nayigators Of this
coast, Captain Rollins, OF the Isabel, who passes
along the Reef four times monthly, has already APP
prccisted, and handsomely acknowledged, the aid
Of these signals.
The points have been designated, and the ercc.
hVh VI hoe p'bnais hHtSttus ny llshNs Jhmtb lOT-
TEs, U. 5. Army, Assistant in the Coast Survey.
Very respectfully, yours,
A. ID. BACHE, Superintendent.
Hon. THos. CoRwfs,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
CoAsT Survey OFrI6E, May II. 1852.
Sra have tho honor TO report, from the prelim-
mary computations Of Assistant l.. p. PouarALEs,
combined with previous results obtained by Assist.
ants. &. waLgER, the differences Of longitude Of
Savannah, Georgia, (the cupola Of the Excbaugc.)
Charleston, South Carolina, professor GIsBs's Oh
servatory,) Washington, ID. C., (Seeton Station Of
the Coast survey,) and Greenwich. England. The
differences between Savannah, Charleston. aud
Washington, rest entirely upon Geographic deter
limitations:
h. ". s..
Savannah w. Of Charleston. 4 37.12
". Of Washington =. o 10 % ~
w Of Greenwich. 49,. 3 - 20 %
] would respectfully request authority to publish
the foregoing.
Yours, respectfully,
a. ID BhCHE, Superintendent.
Hon. Thomas CoRwIS,
Secretary Of the Treasury.