Distances between ports in Alaska and from Alaskan ports to Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco

Point Barrow. 2, 444 2, 587 2, 368 2, 327 2, 237 2, 262 2, 168 2, 130 2, 051 1, 916 1.915 1, 831 1, 805 1, 714 1. 842 1, 646 1, 576 1, 427 1, 305 1, 239 1, 170 1, 136

1 Via Sumner Strait and Cape Ommaney.

Via Peril Strait.

៩

Via Cape Hinchinbrook.

3. YAKUTAT BAY TO CAPE ST. ELIAS

YAKUTAT BAY (chart 8455) is important as affording good anchorage in Yakutat Roads and Monti Bay, the best between Čape Spencer and Prince William Sound. (In this volume, only that part of Yakutat Bay and entrance leading to the anchorages is described. For information regarding other parts of the bay see United States Coast Pilot Alaska, pt. I.)

The entrance to Yakutat Bay is 16 miles wide between Ocean Cape and Point Manby. A submarine ridge with depths of 82 to 16 fathoms (15.5 to 29.3 m) extends from the shoal water at Point Manby to the vicinity of Ocean Cape, forming a bar practically across the entire entrance. During very heavy weather, breakers or a pronounced increase in the height of seas have been observed all along this bar. The best water over the bar is about 22 to 32 miles westward of Ocean Cape. In places the bar is quite narrow and the water deepens rapidly on either side.

OCEAN CAPE, the eastern point at the entrance to Yakutat Bay, is low, well wooded, and marked by a light. Three bare, light-colored bluffs, from 50 to 70 feet (15.2 to 21.3 m) high, the western one forming the point of the cape, are an unmistakable landmark for it. On the southwest side of the cape a few rocks uncover at low tide, 250 yards from the beach.

An area of shoal, irregular depths, lies within the 10-fathom (18.2 m) curve westward from Ocean Cape and Point Carrew. A 5-fathom (9.1 m) lump near the 10-fathom (18.2 m) curve lies 114 miles 300° true from Ocean Cape. A northerly extension of this shoal area has depths of 634 to 81/2 fathoms (12.3 to 15.5 m), and the northern limit of this extension is 2 miles 350° true from Point Carrew. The long and usually heavy ocean swell and the formation of the bottom cause this shoal area to be covered with enlarged seas and surf rollers. Breakers extend well offshore even in fair weather. Monti Bay (chart 8455) is the first inlet on the eastern side of Yakutat Bay after entering at Ocean Cape. The bay extends 314 miles easterly from the entrance to the head. About 1 mile eastward of the head the bay opens at the north to join Yakutat Roads which is the anchorage used by vessels.

The northern shore of Monti Bay, near the entrance, is marked by a light. This shore, the southern side of Khantaak Island, is foul. The island is low and wooded, except Point Turner, which is a tongue of sand covered with grass and bushes and is a good mark.

A boulder ledge extends about 3 mile off (Point Munoz) the westernmost point of Khantaak Island, and broken bottom extends 34 mile off the shore between Point Munoz and the light. A reef extends nearly 1/4 mile into Monti Bay from the Point Turner spit, and drops off quickly from the 3-fathom (5.5 m) curve to 30 fathoms

YAKUTAT

39 (55 m). The outer end of the reef is marked by a buoy. In ordinary weather the breakers along this shore are a sufficient guide.

Southeast Shoal lies 3 mile east of Point Turner and is marked by a buoy on its southeasterly side. The entrance to Yakutat Roads lies between Southeast Shoal and Yakutat Village on the mainland. The shoal uncovers about 2 hours after high water, and except at highest tides a few of the larger stones at the southwest portion show above water. At low water the bare shoal is about 200 yards in extent. At a distance of 1/4 mile north-northwestward of the center of Southeast Shoal are two rocks awash at lowest tides.

Yakutat is a post office and native village on the north side of the eastern end of Monti Bay and on the east side of Yakutat Roads. There are a Government school, a well-kept hospital, dwellings, and two general stores. At 3% mile eastward of the school is a cannery and wharf, 267 feet long, with a least depth (at its southern end) of 17 feet (5.2 m) at its outer face. Fresh water can be obtained on the wharf. The company runs a general store in one of the wharf buildings. The cannery operates a radio station (call letters KKA) during the season. There is also a floating cannery in operation here during the season. Some of the mail steamers call at Yakutat. A United States deputy marshal is stationed at Yakutat.

Yakutat Roads lies between Yakutat and the shoals extending from the southeast end of Khantaak Island. It has a clear width of 3⁄4 mile, a length of nearly 1 mile, depths of 5 to 25 fathoms (9.1 to 46 m), muddy bottom, and anchorage can be made in almost any part of it. The best anchorage for large vessels is in 22 to 23 fathoms (40 to 42 m) with the point at the north end of the village bearing 141° true, distant 700 yards, and Point Turner 250° true. Smaller vessels can anchor closer in off the middle of the shoal cove north of the village in as little as 10 fathoms (18.3 m), but care must be taken not to anchor in a less depth. Anchorage may also be made at the head of Monti Bay below the cannery in 20 to 25 fathoms (37 to 46 m), muddy bottom.

Yakutat Roads at its north end connects through Johnstone Passage with a number of bays and arms, which separate the numerous islands and rocks east of Khantaak Island. The channels are not navigable at low water except for small craft, though the inclosed bodies of water have depths from 20 to over 100 fathoms (37 to 183 m).

Port Mulgrave is suitable only for small craft with local knowledge. It is 34 mile long and 200 yards wide, and its north side is formed by Village and Middle Shoals. Its entrance is close to the north side of Point Turner, between it and Middle Shoal, and is 60 feet wide and 16 feet (4.9 m) deep. Middle Shoal shows at onequarter ebb; parts of Village Shoal show at high water.

Rurik Harbor is a narrow shallow indentation in Khantaak Island north of Village Shoal with depths of 9 to 15 fathoms (16.5 to 27.4 m) in its entrance. Small vessels can anchor here, but should not go above the south point at the entrance. Its entrance is from Yakutat Roads north of Southeast Shoal. Prince Shoal, partly bare at low water, extends 3% mile east-southeastward from the north point at the entrance.