Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-22
CHARTING THE CHESAPEAKE.

Cambridge, Nd, Nov. IA. The work
Of the Coast and Geodetic Survey,
several field parties OF which during
the past summer and autumn have
been concentrating their energies IN
the effort to secure new chart for the
sailing craft OF the Chesapeake Bay
and its eatuaries, has progressed with
unusual facility, and the progress made
by the staff of operators ia the field |
has met with keen approval by the
Office.
Now that the summers work nears
its completion and the field parties will |
be shortly called off for winter duty in
the South, comprehensive idea of the
SURVEYS progress is feasible, ard cap.
tains OF the many bay craft who are
dependent upon the old charts for the
safety Of themselves and vessels will be
glad to .know that the new chart Ia
rapidly nearing completion.
Although by no means one of the
most dangerous arms OF the eastern
seacoast, the discrepancies of chart
edited 30 years ago are naturally re-
sponsible for many wrecks upon the
constantly shifting shoals Of the Chesa-
peake, whose present situation the new
chart designates.
The constant action Of the ourrents
and elements upon the shores of the
bay during the course OF 80 years has
materially altered the shore lines, as
we'll as the channels, and many in
teresting changes will undoubtedly be
apparent.
Neither side of the bay seems to have
escaped the shifting bars, and receding
coast seems to be equally divided be-
tween the shores.
The creation Of many new islands and
the obliteration of others has opened
up new channels and rendered unnaYig-
able many of those which years ago
were open to traffic.
Although great changes have occurred
10 the upper bay, by far the most
destructive action oil. the waters is APP
parent along the southern coasts, whore
great areas of rich farming and tim
bersd land have been swept off into the
water, forming shoals and Oats OF clay
for miles about the shores. The debris
of trees and stumps far out upon the
flats mark the effect Of tho terrible
srasion, and on many of the straight
coast lines the great trees may be seen
as far as the eye can reach littering the
beach.
A material increase of the area OF the
bay is noticeable in the work already
accomplished by the survey, although
the extent Of navigable channels has
probably somewhat decreased for as
the debris from the washing banks is
carried by the currents to the deeper
waters perceptibe reduction Of depth
takes place. Not SO much is this
gradual decrease in depth noticeable in
the lower bay as in the vicinity OF the
river mouths, where the swift currents
bringing eroded material from the
Nj int ha h,v
currents. Although evidences of these
new shoals are now noticeable, the
present knowledge of their definite
extent is largely suppositious, and the
actual position will not be determined
until the soundings, which constitute
the last stages of the chartmaking, are
completed. The estuaries of the bay.
especially the smaller ones, are greatly
exempt both from the changing shore
lines and new Irregularities OF the
bottom. Many of the larger rivers,
however, share the fate OF the bay, and
their banks are melting like snow
before the action of the waves. Strange
to say, no new shoals are evident in the
majority of these rivers, and as depths
eeem to correspond to those OF half Q
century ago it is a matter Of conjecture
Just where the bulk of material thrown
in from the erosion Of the banks ha:
gone.
The Choptank, between Dorchester
Caroline and Talbot counties, is I
practical example of this phenomenon
and the work which has been and is ye
rapidly progressing along its shores hal
developed many interesting features
Upon entering the river from the ba,
discrepancy is Immediately noticeable
upon the chart. An island who's
existence is not recorded now ocoupie
that which was go years ago an un
broken body OF land and is recorded a
Nelson's Point. Tong Point the Liant
was called by fishermen, and the ISLAM
which has suddenly come into existenc
rent will be recorded upon the ney
chart as Tong Island. 1t is the purIos
OF the survey to conform as much a
possible to the local names applied t
the distinguishing features OF the ooas
lines, even to the exclusion of the oil
names recorded upon the official charts
In the contour of Tilghman's Island
compared to its former features as the
appear upon the old maps, great change
are apparent. Several hundred yard
have been shaved from its wester
coast, and much OF the south end ha
also been carried away.
VI SHARP lSihuu, lUuF lulleb SOuGI
but one-sixth now remains of its are
at the last chartiug, and its final 81
tirpations will undoubtedly In the nea
future be consummated. This island
Judging from q detinable submarir
ledge connecting it with TilghmaD'i
was undoubtedly OF one time the lowe
end Of Talbot county, and the for
miles of navigable water which no
intervenes was once occupied by til
solid land The island is now but
ghost of the beautiful plantation upo
which half century ago the Vallian
prospered. Great fields OF wheat cou
then be seen from the mainland on
tlocks of sheep grazed upon the sp'
where now a mile from shore the waite
of the hay roll over.
For several miles after entering IL
Choptank the shore lines have bee
found to recede materially, but mel
the headwaters and at many poin
along the river not exposed to hea'
storms or strong currents condition
are reversed and the shores have be,
actually growing out into the waite
This rather unique feature Of ohangiI
shore lines Is duo to the presence
salt marsh, which is OF o substan
practically imperyious to the action
the waves, and from its constant
decaying vegetation and the debr
washed down upon it by erosion
adjacent land Of greater elevation
presents great facilities as a land-pr