Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-09-23
Coat Surne1 SiAilen.

MAR PnLrIPs, MAISK, AUOusr, 80, 1888.
Sir have the honor transmit copy Of repor,
from Lieutenant Commanding J. J. Amy, United State
Navy, Assistant in the Coast Survey upon the deerm
nation of the positions of important and dangerous
OFF the of Virginia the entrance
into Chesapeake Bay, aud which not laid down upon
any existing map.
The outer shoa lies by s. Ii s, (rue) distant seven
nautical miles ir0m Smiths Island lighthouse, with
sihoms upon at low tide, and fahoms between Il and
the land This shoa lies very nearly in the track Of
ses bound in aud out OF Chesapeake Bay from aud to the
northward and eastward.
The inner shoa lies s f. by f. (true) distant four and
three quarter nautical miles from Smiths Island light.
house, with II feet upon IL at low water; and fthoms
between il ard the land.
wou ID respectfully request authority to publish this
information.
Very respectfully, yours, &c,
(Signed) A d. BACHE, Superintendent.
Hon. JANIS GurHSir. Sec Of the 7Seas,uy.
UNirED SrArEs CoAsr SuEvEr STEAMER "liErzkL"
CAPkyILLE NORTHAMPTON Co, Va.
august II, 1883.
SIR In the Of my soundings lately, oil Smiths
Island of Virginia l have upon and Is
taoished the positions of important and dangerous
shoals.
one OF these-thc outer shoal-les +. by S. Ia s,
(rue,l distant nautical miles from Smiths Island
lighthouse. with Ii 6thoms upon il at low tide, aud
ahoms wafer betNern and the land This is small shoa
with extent OF about 600 fee! in n. T. aud :. W di.
recuon where Ia and l. fathoms DO found and
all around isto 5, q, and athoms water
The othei-inner shosl-les y T. by T., (true) distant
TouT and Use quarter nautical miles Smiths Island
lighthouse, Ni,h Il feet upon it low tide aud
fathoms between it and the land. This is large
shoal IN extent running quarter Of mile with
. iathons upon IT,
A. there Is buIliItle variation OF tho compaSs-ony
deg less thaa quarter eta pOnt-I have given the
bearings which thuk will suffice and prevent confusion
Smiths Island lighthouse is in latitude 50 deg % min.
sc sec. NorG and longitude rs deg. 81 min. So sec.
West
Like all the shoals upon this part of the coast the di
rccon of thr iormson 10 nearly parallel with the land
srd and and southwark and westward
with hard sandy bottom; coarse, light, grey, white
yellow, aud rei sand, with broken shells.
DO not claim these discoveries there have been
reports-vsEle aud contradictory be sure-of shoal
water being tho vicinity of where these have been
found. Thy not down, however upon any published
chsrt. Some ew captains and pilots have reported
having beea upon these shoals other captains aud pilots
have positively denied the existence of Ihem saying that
there saoal about there. they certainly would
have seen it during course of years which they have
been sailing about there have crossed these shoals
several tues and also anchored upon them in order
fully verify their existence aud position.
BY glance at the chart it will be that the outer
shoal lies very nearly In the track of vessel, going
Chesapeake Bay bound TO the norIhward aud eastward
OF coming INTO the bay from the norhWard and eastward
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedicnt servant,
Signed JOHN J ALMY, L y.
Lieutenant Commanding, ASsiEdKf Coast .SHrrsg.
Professor d BAcHF, SHperindsHt Coast Surrey.