cubic yards of sand, scow measurement, at a cost of about $20,000. There is every reason to believe that such a shallow channel in that locality would soon fill up, and that a permanent improvement would require the construction of dikes and periodical dredging. A smaller amount expended in dredging would doubtless facilitate the entrance of vessels to a considerable extent. * SUMMARY. The only industry which it is claimed would be benefited is the farming district on Oyster Pond peninsula, shown on the accompanying tracing. This district is about 4 miles long and 1 mile wide. The produce is now shipped principally from the village of Orient, where there is a good harbor, and supplies for the district are also landed at Orient, which is the only town in the vicinity. Peter's Neck Bay, or properly Long Beach Bay, possesses no advantages as a harbor over Orient, except a saving of cartage. There is no settlement on the bay, while at Orient there are stores, shops, and a post-office. To make a cut at the entrance 100 feet wide and 5 feet deep at mean low water would cost about $20,000. Periodical dredging or dikes, or both, would be required for maintenance. A much smaller amount expended in dredging would facilitate the entrance and egress of vessels to a considerable extent. The present and prospective commerce does not appear to warrant the necessary expenditure for a permanent improvement, and I would therefore report that, in my opinion, the harbor is not worthy of improvement. I inclose two letters* from Mr. G. W. Hallock, with statistics furnished by him. Also a tracing* from the Coast Survey chart of 1883, showing soundings at the entrance to the bay. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JAS. C. DUANE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. D. C. HOUSTON, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. D 24.. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AT FIVE MILE RIVER HARBOR, CON NECTICUT. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, December 7, 1886. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of a preliminary examination of Five Mile River Harbor, Connecticut, made in pursuance of the river and harbor act approved August 5, 1886, and directed in letter from the Chief of Engineers dated September 27, 1886: DESCRIPTION OF HARBOR. From information collected by Mr. Henry N. Babcock, assistant engineer, and other sources, it appears that this harbor is about 2 miles west of Norwalk Harbor; it is a tidal inlet, about 1 mile long and from 300 to 800 feet wide. *Omitted. At a point about three-quarters of a mile above the mouth the harbor is nearly bare at low water, and the low-water depth increases to about 3 feet at the mouth, and to 9 feet in the sound about 750 feet from the mouth. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 7 feet. PRESENT COMMERCE. The present commerce is confined to the oyster business, in which there are now engaged 13 steamers and about 75 sloops and sail-boats, all owned at Five Mile River Village, which has a population of 500 or 600. The steamers draw from 4 to 7 feet and measure from 30 to 75 tons; the sloops are from 25 to 30 tons and draw about 5 feet. The value of these vessels is estimated at $160,000, and the annual value of the oysters shipped at about $210,000. The oysters are obtained from beds along the Connecticut coast between New Haven and Stamford, a distance of about 35 miles. PROSPECTIVE COMMERCE. The oyster business at this locality commenced about 1848, and has been increasing up to the present time as shown by the following table furnished by Capt. Dexter K. Cole, of Five Mile River: Statement showing growth of oyster business at Five Mile River, Connecticut. In reference to this Captain Cole states as follows: The amounts given in the tabulated statement are mostly made up from memory and estimate, but are given in good faith, and believed to be substantially correct. Some parties have been able to furnish information from record and have thus aided us in making out our estimates, but no part is wholly from records. Our reason for increasing the amounts for the future is predicated on the fact that we are constantly increasing our number of steam-boats and expect to continue to do so, and also from the fact that the territory cultivated is being heavily increased by working in deep water, which before the introduction of steam was considered impracticable. The business of raising oysters in this vicinity began in a small way about the year 1848, and has increased gradually, as shown in the foregoing statement. DESIRED IMPROVEMENT. It is desired to deepen the harbor and approaches so as to give 8 feet at mean low water. At present vessels can only use the harbor when the tide is such that they can get in at night and out in the morning; at other times they lie in Wilson's Cove, about a mile to the eastward. The cost of dredging a channel 8 feet deep at low water 100 feet wide and 6,000 feet long is estimated at $25,000. The material to be excavated is sand and mud; there is no indication of rock. Outside the mouth the channel would be exposed to the waves of the sound, which may render a jetty necessary; but it is believed, judging from the formation of the coast, that the channel can be maintained at an aver age annual expenditure of $1,000. BENEFIT TO COMMERCE. The desired improvement would enable the vessels engaged in the oyster business to use the harbor at all times, thus avoiding exposure, inconvenience, and loss of time. Supplies of coal and lumber, which are now carted about 3 miles from South Norwalk, would, it is claimed, come by water at reduced cost. The following statement is made by citizens residing in the vicinity: We are about 40 miles from New York City; our harbor opens directly into the sound without any intervening bays, so that while most other harbors are shut off from the sound in the winter by ice, we have open access to it. This renders the vicinity very desirable for manufacturing purposes, and with a sufficient depth of water many factories would undoubtedly be started. Several large vessels have been built at this place, and coal and lumber yards have been established, but have not been successful for want of a greater depth of water. We are compelled to cart such supplies a distance of 3 miles. We are surrounded by villages and a dense population, who would be benefited by the improvement which we respectfully ask for, as this would be their nearest and most desirable harbor. John Hilton, Wm. C. Sammis, Charles Thomes, Vincent Colyer, John H. SUMMARY. The oyster industry of this locality commenced about 1848, and has constantly increased, until the value of the shipments is now estimated at $210,000 annually. This industry will doubtless increase. The improvement would probably promote other business by water. The estimated cost of the improvement is $25,000 and an average annual expenditure of $1,000 for maintenance. This expenditure appears to be justified by the present and prospective demands of commerce, and I would therefore report that in my opinion Five Mile River Harbor is worthy of improvement. No further survey is needed for the purpose of an estimate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JAS. C. DUANE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. D. C. HOUSTON, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. D 25. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF DUCK ISLAND HARBOR, CONNECTICUT, ON LONG ISLAND SOUND. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, November 12, 1886. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of a preliminary examination of Duck Island Harbor, on Long Island Sound, made in pursuance of the river and harbor act approved August 5, 1886, and directed in letter from the Chief of Engineers dated September 27, 1886. The act calls for plans, specifications, and estimate of cost for making this harbor a harbor of refuge, 8872 ENG 87-41 The Coast Survey charts furnish all the information needed for this purpose. DESCRIPTION OF HARBOR. Duck Island Harbor is a bay on the north shore of Long Island Sound, in Connecticut, between the headlands known as Menunketesuck and Kelsey's Points, about 7 miles west of the mouth of the Connecticut River, and midway between New London and New Haven. It is partially sheltered by Duck Island, from which it derives its name. This protection is not sufficient to make it a harbor of refuge, but sailing vessels frequently run in, to wait for favorable tides. NECESSITY OF HARBOR OF REFUGE AT THIS LOCALITY. A great portion of the commerce of Long Island Sound consists of large tows of canal boats and barges loaded with coal, and these, as well as steamers and other vessels, require numerous harbors of safety, owing to the frequent storms and heavy seas in the Sound. This is particularly true of the canal-boats and barges, which are loaded down to near the water surface. There is no sufficient barbor between New Haven and New London, a distance of 46 miles by water. As far as it has been possible to obtain information from those interested in the navigation of the Sound, the general opinion seems to be that a harbor of refuge at this locality would be a great benefit to commerce. PLANS FOR A HARBOR OF REFUGE. A preliminary examination of this harbor was made by Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, in 1883, the report upon which is printed on page 684, Part I, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884. Two general plans for breakwaters were suggested, one covering the entire eastern entrance, the other extending east and west from the island, leaving both entrances open. The western entrance was 17 feet deep and the eastern 25 feet or more. This consideration, with the advantage of having entrances from either direction, makes the latter seem the better plan, particularly if an additional pier were to be built from Menuuketesuck Point, extending westward to the 12-foot curve, leaving an entrance of about 753 feet width. This would shelter an area of about 115 acres with 16 feet depth or over, in case of southeast storms, with a larger area for storms from any other quarter. At the rate of 3 vessels per acre, this harbor would shelter 345 vessels; but as many of these would be barges in tow which, when in harbor, tie up together, the number might be placed at 400 or perhaps more. The plan and location of the proposed works is shown in the accompanying map. The breakwaters are to be ci rip-rap stone, their tops being 10 feet wide and 10 feet above mean low water (about 4 feet above mean high water), the inside slopes being 1 upon 1, and the outside slopes 2 upon 3. The estimated cost of the works is as follows: Breakwater westerly from Duck Island, 3,000 feet long. Breakwater southwesterly from Menunketesuck Point, 1,130 feet long Total, 301,000 tons of stone, at $1.40 per ton.... Tons of riprap stone. 181,000 79,000 41,000 $421,400 42, 140 463, 540 An additional light will be needed to render the harbor accessible at Contingencies, 10 per cent.... SUMMARY. A harbor at this locality would be of great benefit to a large proportion of the commerce of Long Island Sound. The only other locality between New Haven and New London which has been suggested is Falkner's Island, which is only 13 miles east of New Haven Harbor. To make a good harbor here would be very expensive, and if made, it would not materially diminish the usefulness of Duck Island Harbor, improved as a harbor of refuge. For the foregoing reasons, and in view of the comparatively small cost of the work, I am of opinion that Duck Island Harbor is worthy of improvement as a harbor of refuge. I append copies of letters from parties interested in and familiar with the navigation of the Sound, and a statement of the number of vessels reported as passing Cornfield Point light-ship, about 5 miles east of Duck Island, during the year, which does not include canal-boats and barges. From statements furnished by the Bee Line Transportation Company, the Hartford and New York Transportation Company, the Thames River Tow Boat Company, Messrs. Staples & Phillips, and the Empire and New England Transportation Company, it appears that their aggregate towing business passing Duck Island Harbor during 1885 was as follows: Total number of tows... Total number of barges in tow, about.. Tons of freight carried, about Value of freight carried, about.... 560 2,200 ..8 to 15 feet 1,236,000 -$5,300,000 The above includes only barges drawing less than 15 feet, which would make use of Duck Island Harbor as a refuge, and only these eastwardbound; the barges are generally brought back light. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. C. HOUSTON, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. LETTER OF THE EMPIRE AND NEW ENGLAND TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES. OFFICE OF THE EMPIRE AND NEW ENGLAND TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES, DEAR SIR: Your communication as to Duck Island as a harbor of refuge, received in due time, and have been waiting to get the views of our captains as they arrive in port, which I have done, and find as many condemn it as a harbor as commend it; but all agree that one is needed very much. I hope you will succeed in getting a harbor at the point named. I also inclose you statement of towing done by and coal transported by this company in year 1886. Very respectfully, Col. P. C. HOUSTON, WILLIAM H. HOOKER, |