Point Manby, the western point at the entrance to Yakutat Bay, is low and wooded. There is usually a heavy surf on the beach, rendering it dangerous for boats to land. The great Malaspina Glacier descends to within about 4 miles of Point Manby.

Between Point Manby and Cape Suckling, the COAST is fairly regular, being formed by river and glacier deposit. Remarks on coastal currents in the Gulf of Alaska are given under General Information, page 4.

Sitkagi Bluffs (chart 8002) are about 4 miles long, and are formed by Malaspina Glacier, which at the bluffs comes down to high-water mark, but does not discharge into the sea. Westward of the bluffs the glacier recedes from the coast about 4 miles up the Yahtse and Yana Rivers, and then reaches the water again at the head of Icy Bay.

Tides. The mean range of tide at Port Mulgrave is about 72 feet (2.3 m) and the range between mean lower low water and mean higher high water is 912 feet (2.9 m). High and low waters occur about one-half hour later than at Sitka.

ICY BAY (chart 8457) has been formed by the recession of Guyot Glacier, a part of Malaspina Glacier, which discharges into the bay. The bay is about 5 miles wide and 6 miles long, its northwest and southeast sides being nearly parallel.

The bar extends across the entrance of Icy Bay roughly in the shape of a crescent, the outer limits being about 6 miles off the entrance. The depths in mid-channel are 734 to 10 fathoms (14.2 to 18.3 m) and the entrance course leads over a least known depth of 8 fathoms (14.6 m). Breakers extend out from each entrance point along the crest of the bar, varying with the size of the seas, but the breakers have never been observed to encroach on the channel.

Both entrance points are low sand spits. Behind the eastern spit is Riou Bay which affords a protected anchorage in 6 fathoms (11 m), hard sandy bottom. The western spit forms Guyot or Mud Bay, a shallow lagoon, the entrance to which is obstructed by a bar nearly bare at low water. The entrance can be made by launches and scows under favorable conditions at about three-quarters flood tide. The beaches and mud flats here form good places for beaching launches or scows.

Weather. The prevailing winds are east and northeast. A breeze off the glacier usually brings rain. Winds from other quarters were seldom observed, although offshore winds are known to blow at times. Breakers on the outside coast are generally heavy and plainly audible on either side in entering. Within the bay, west of Claybluff Point, breakers are frequently heavy enough to make landing in small boats difficult. There is no surf along the eastern shore of the bay.

Currents. Currents in the bay are not strong. The combined effect of the ebb current and the discharge from the glacial streams is most pronounced in the northwest part of the bay. In the entrance to Guyot Bay, the ebb current attains a velocity of 2 knots or more. The tidal current at the entrance to the bay sets northerly on the flood and southerly on the ebb, with a velocity of about 1/2 knot.

Communication. There are no settlements on Icy Bay. The nearest point where supplies may be had is Yakutat. There are oil prospects in the vicinity of Icy Bay.

Ice. In the southern part of the bay ice is never thick enough to menace navigation. Large bergs either melt or ground before getting very far from the face of the glacier. The eastern shore is generally free from ice except during the spring tides. The shore north of Claybluff Point is invariably covered with stranded ice. Riou Bay is usually free from ice.

Fresh water. Surface water suitable for drinking is not available in quantity. Small streams and ponds can be found in the northeast arm behind Moraine Island. Ice from the bergs can be taken on board and melted. This provides good potable water.

Anchorage. A partially protected anchorage may be had in 8 fathoms (14.6 m), about 800 yards off the western shore, about 11⁄2 mile northward of the western entrance point. Possibly the best anchorage in the bay, but as yet unsurveyed, is that east of Moraine Island. Protection is afforded from all winds in 9 fathoms (16.5 m) mud bottom, but caution must be used in approaching the anchorage because of lack of surveys and on account of the drift ice. Do not take up anchorage between Moraine Island and the small island eastward, as bergs drift through this area, sometimes with considerable velocity. Anchorage can also be had in the entrance to Riou Bay near the entrance spit.

To enter Icy Bay. There is a prominent mountain ridge ending in a tongue-shaped point at Guyot Glacier on the glacier's western side. Bring the eastern end of the tongue-shaped point, which is about 800 feet (244 m) high, to bear 2912° true (N. mag.) and steer in on this bearing until the south tangent of Point Riou is abeam. (NOTE. The glacier may have receded since these directions were determined in 1923, so that the end of the tongue-like point in sight may now be farther to the eastward.)

Then if bound to an anchorage off the western shore, steer 307° true for 3 miles until the pyramid-shaped mound or hill, 40 feet (12.2 m) high, and 150 yards north of a cabin bears 284° true. Then head for the mound, and anchor in 8 fathoms (14.2 m) clay bottom about 800 yards off the beach. In northerly weather, anchor farther offshore in 11 fathoms (20.1 m).

If bound to Riou Bay, continue the entrance course until the tangent of Point Riou bears 139° true, then steer 104° true giving the sand spit a berth of 300 yards. It is important to consider the stage of the tide in keeping off the spit on account of its flatness. Round the spit and anchor in 6 fathoms (11 m) hard sand bottom, about 400 yards off the beach. Care should be taken to avoid the 312-fathom (6.4 m) spot lying 34 mile northward of Point Riou Spit. Small craft may obtain better protection farther up the bay. The shore from Icy Bay to Cape Yakataga is backed by a continuous ridge of stratified mountains ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 feet (914 to 1,829 m) high falling off to the westward. The shore line is traversed by streams at the foothills, and there is a dense growth of alders and bushes along the coast.

Relief cabins are built along the beach west of Icy Bay in the following localities: At Cape Suckling, near the beach and visible

from it; at Suju River, 1 mile above the mouth, and at Middle Timber River, 1 mile above the mouth.

There is no information available as to the present condition of these cabins.

Yakataga Reef (chart 8002) extends about 1/2 mile from shore at Cape Yakataga, and parts of it show above high water. This is the best landing place between Icy Bay and Controller Bay, but landing is possible only under exceptional conditions of a smooth sea. There are a few houses.

Mount St. Elias is 18,024 feet (5,494 m) high, and at the top is a massive pyramid with a shoulder on each side as seen from southward.

It is the highest of a large number of snow-clad peaks in its immediate vicinity.

From Mount St. Elias a high ridge of snow-covered mountains extends westward to the Copper River country. From offshore, Malaspina and Bering Glaciers appear as an ice field from Yakutat Bay to the Bering River. In clear weather this section of the coast affords scenery of great grandeur.

CAPE SUCKLING (chart 8513) is low and wooded. Lying 2 miles northwestward of the cape and 1 mile inland is the end of a prominent mountain ridge which extends about 8 miles in a northeasterly direction, with elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 feet (457 to 762 m).

Three bluffs about 100 feet (30 m) high lie 12 to 2% miles westward of Cape Suckling. From the eastern bluff a sunken reef extends 5% mile southwestward to three rocks, close together and bare at low water.

Southwest Breaker is on a rock bare at low water, and lies 2 miles 212° true from the western bluff mentioned in the preceding paragraph and 334 miles 260° true from Cape Suckling.

Okalee Spit, forming the south side of Controller Bay, is low, with bare sand dunes, 7 miles long in an east and west (true) direction.

The entrance to Controller Bay between the north end of Kayak Island and Okalee Spit is of little use except for small craft or very small vessels that can cross the flats eastward of Wingham Island.

Two prominent rocks about 75 feet (22.9 m) high lie outside the entrance, 12 miles northeastward of Lemesurier Point and 14 miles. southward of Okalee Spit. They are connected by ledges bare at low water, which also extend about 300 yards eastward and westward from them. The group is prolonged by shoals, which shelve off to 18 feet (5.5 m) in a distance of % mile 299° true (W. mag.) from the western rock and to 16 feet (4.9 m) a little over 11⁄2 mile 82° true from the eastern rock.

From the shoal surrounding the rocks a rocky bar with 17 to 19 feet (5.2 to 5.8 m) over it extends 114 miles eastward on the range of the two rocks, and then with 19 to 21 feet (5.8 to 6.4 m) over it curves northeastward and joins the shoals with 16 to 18 feet (4.9 to 5.5 m) over it that extends about 1/4 miles from Okalee Spit. This bar is open to the sea from eastward and southward. The channel to this entrance of Controller Bay is over this bar with a least depth of 17 to 19 feet (5.2 to 5.8 m) and then passes between Okalee Spit and the two rocks.

From Lemesurier Point (northeast end of Kayak Island) foul ground with. 13 feet (4.0 m) over its outer half extends nearly to the shoal surrounding the two high rocks. There is little depth near Lemesurier Point, and it shelves off to 10 feet (3 m) in a distance of 1/2 mile toward the two rocks.

From northward of the two high rocks the channel has depths of 5 to 7 fathoms (9.1 to 12.8 m) until about 1 mile inside the north end of Kayak Island. It then leads between flats to Kayak Entrance (between Kayak and Wingham Islands) with a least width of 1/4 mile and depth of 18 feet (5.5 m). The best depth that can be carried across the flats in Controller Bay, eastward of Wingham Island, is 6 feet (1.8 m) at low water.

Kayak Island is 172 miles long, has peaks 1,110 to 1,390 feet (338 to 424 m) high in the central portion, and slopes gradually to its northern part, which is low and wooded. CAPE ST. ELIAS, the south end of Kayak Island, is an important and unmistakable landmark. It is a precipitous, sharp, rocky ridge, about 1 mile long and 1,665 feet (507 m) high, with a low, wooded neck between it and the high parts of the island farther north. About 1/4 mile off the cape is the remarkable Pinnacle Rock, 494 feet (151 m) high.

Cape St. Elias Lighthouse shows a group flashing white light (flash 0.8 second, eclipse 4.2 seconds, flash 0.8 second, eclipse 14.2: seconds), is 85 feet (25.9 m) above the water and visible 15 miles. It is a white square tower at the corner of a rectangular building.

The fog signal is an air siren sounding groups of 2 blasts every 60 seconds, thus: blast 4 seconds, silent 4 seconds, blast 4 seconds, silent 48 seconds.

The radiobeacon sounds groups of 3 dashes for 60 seconds and is silent for 120 seconds. It is operated at all times during thick or foggy weather and in clear weather from 10 to 20 and from 40 to 50 minutes of each hour.

Cape St. Elias lighted whistle buoy, showing a flashing white light is located 2.9 miles 200° true from Pinnacle Rock off the cape.

Boats can generally land on the south side of Cape St. Elias just eastward of a small point which extends toward Pinnacle Rock. The better approach is from westward, keeping close to the island to clear a ledge which extends 1/4 mile northwestward from Pinnacle Rock. In approaching, care should be exercised in crossing the shoal extending from the cape to the Pinnacle Rock. The depths here are reported to be shoaling.

The eastern coast of Kayak Island is strewn with boulders and landing is impracticable. Rocky shoals with 11 feet (3.4 m) over them lie 134 miles 172° true from Lemesurier Point. Lying 314

61359-38-pt. II--4

miles southward of the point and 1 mile offshore is a reef 1/2 mile long. Its northern end is a rock 10 feet (3 m) high, and its south end is bare at half tide. For a distance of 6 miles northward of Cape St. Elias bowlders bare at low water and breakers extend 3/4 mile off the eastern coast of the island.

Breakers extend 2 miles southeastward of Cape St. Elias to Southeast Rock, which is awash, the breakers extending 34 mile southwestward of the line joining them. There is a depth of 20 fathoms (37 m) about 3 mile outside these breakers. A ridge with 10 to 15 fathoms (18.3 to 27.4 m) over it, which has not been closely developed, extends 12 miles southwestward from Southeast Rock. The 50fathom (91 m) curve lies about 7 miles southwestward and westward of Southeast Rock, but is only 11⁄2 mile southeastward of it. The tidal currents have considerable velocity across the reef.

Eastward of this reef another reef on which the sea breaks extends 11⁄2 miles from Kayak Island, the end of the reef lying about 15% miles northward from Southeast Rock.

The following are computed bearings and distances from Southeast Rock:

Entrance to Monti Bay, Yakutat, 941⁄2° true, 145 miles.

Cape Spencer, 111° true, 263 miles.

Klokachef Point, Salisbury Sound, 1171⁄2° true, 307 miles.

Cape Edgecumbe, 121° true, 321 miles.

Cape Ommaney, 124° true, 383 miles.

Summit of Forrester Island, 130° true, 467 miles.

Cape Hinchinbrook, 297° true, 67 miles.

Sea Ranger Reef is two shoals lying off a point on the western coast of Kayak Island 314 miles northward of Cape St. Elias. The inner one lies 34 to 114 miles from shore, has 11 feet (3.4 m) over it and the sea often breaks on it. The outer shoal is small, lies 112 miles from shore, has a least depth of 24 feet (7.3 m), and there is seldom a break on it. Tide rips occur around it at times.

From the high bluff point on Kayak Island 311⁄2 miles south of Wingham Island a shoal with 13 feet (4 m) near its end extends 34 mile northward; and rocky patches on which the least depths found are 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 m) extend to Wingham Island. Anchorage can be made by small craft in the bight northward of the point, 34 to 111⁄2 miles from the point and 1/2 to 1 mile from shore, in 4 to 5 fathoms (7.3 to 9.1 m), bottom soft in places, with shelter from easterly and southeasterly winds. Vessels should anchor farther out in not less than 10 fathoms (18.3 m), with the southeast end of Wingham Island bearing about 48° true.

The tidal currents on the western side of Kayak Island set northward on the flood and southward on the ebb, with an estimated velocity at strength of 12 to 34 mile.

Anchorage. Good protection from all except westerly winds can be found on the west side of Kayak Island. The smoothest water will usually be found between Sea Ranger Reef and Kayak Entrance. This anchorage is much frequented by fishing vessels during the halibut season.

An indifferent anchorage can be had on the east side of Kayak Island in 15 to 20 fathoms (27.4 to 36 m) about 111⁄2 miles offshore midway between Cape St. Elias and Lemesurier Point. The holding ground here is poor and a vessel should be ready to move on short

notice.