New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-04
THE ATLANTIC COAST PILOT; BOSTON BhY TO Np"'
YoRK-USTTN STATES COAST SURVEY WASHINGTON ~ u

astringent bitterness
YoRK-USITTx STATES COAST SURVEY, WASHINGTON D.
Those who.will compare that excellent but
venerable manual Blunts American Coast Plot' WIN
the volume OF "The Atlantic Coast Plot' Just ISSUED
will realize the admirable work which the Coast survey
Department ia doing under Mt Pattersons snponn-
tondence The first volume of the new "Piot'
brought down the Atlantic Coast 10 Boston Inc
one now published carries IL on from Boston Day
10 NewYork Both OF these groat harbor' rs wei as
the minor ports between them are described with the
most minute funess The latitude and Longitude (tne
latter often well in src OF hesdands, light
houses. and principal objects and buildings on shore
are carefully given with their bearings and distance
from fixed ard well known points. The cham
nels leading TO each harbor are enumerated
their dangers and pecuarities pointed out anu
the sailing directions so fun and clear that tue
seafaring though fool can hardly mistake then'
Numerous charts, drawn to uniform scale, are scat
tered throughout the volume, and series OF wellexe
cuted sketches forms perfect panorama OF the coast
line as seen few miles Many OF these views
particularly those OF the Hudson River deserve seca
Some idea be had OF the pansaklng accu
racy involved in the production OF the" Pilot from the
fact that its compiler Mr John Service Bradford has Wis
every locality along the coast mentioned IN H. anu
person ally tested all sailing Ines bearings and courses
The typographical arrangement OF the volume also
deserves cordial word OF praise The more important
portions are printed in large type, ana All
bearings, courses and distances are made con
spicuous by blackiaced letter. The whole work
Is highly creiabe to the department and is ndispen'-
able 10 all seagoing vessels, sailing to or from New
York Boston, well as % the numerous yachs anu
other craft plying along the coast.
Apart from its purely technical use to sailors the
Pitt often throws food OF light questions In
terestne to geOlogsts. The euterance to New-fork
Bay furnishes an illustration OF this. One OF the
curious things which must strike the mariner
as he approaches the bay from the southeast
Is the series Of deep holes met with nearly hundred
miles from Sandy Hook. OF these mudholes as they
are termed nine arc known navgatOrs, the deepest
and furthest out being the hundred and forty-hve
fathOm hole eighty-thrce miles southeast OF SANDY
Hook light vessel. These rem arkablo depres-
sons, as the Pilot" points out, bear the
appearance Of having been originally
continuation seward OF the Hudson River
Valley. They wero in all probability scooped out by
the rivers being forced TO run through narrow gorges
Several Of these gorees can still be traced running
almost parallel with the NewJcrsey shore line. In fac
the soundings along coast would seem TO indicate
that the wuole coast line, ages ago. was many miles
seward OF its position to-day; that then the Hudson
River entered the at least hundred miles south
east OF its present mouth and that the whole continent
has since subsidized the eucrOaching further ana
further inland as the country gradually sank.