Bettles Island is the largest of the high wooded islands lying at the entrances to Sawmill Bay. The north shore of this island is foul. Crab Bay is a small indentation on the northern shore of Sawmill Bay just inside the northern entrance point. There is a saltery just inside the western entrance point with a least depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) at the wharf. A short distance off the wharf is a reef with a least known depth of 22 fathoms (4.6 m). The reef is marked by a red buoy at its southwestern end. Vessels should make a port landing and back out into Sawmill Bay when leaving the wharf.

Port Benney is a saltery located just west of Crab Bay. The dock has a least depth of 23 feet (7 m) at its face.

Caution. In approaching Port Benney from the westward, care should be taken to avoid the rocks, awash at low tide, lying 250 yards southwestward from the wharf. These rocks are a little outside of the line of the face of the dock.

Port Ashton is on the northwestern shore of Sawmill Bay. There is a saltery with a least depth of 29 feet (8. 8 m) at the wharf and an oil wharf with 20 feet (6.1 m) at its southwest corner and 30 feet (9.1 m) at the southeast corner. Diesel oil, gasoline, and lubricating oils are available. There is also a cannery at Port Ashton.

There is a group of rocks, awash at extreme low tide, lying 115 yards offshore about 260 yards northeastward from the dock. These rocks are marked by red buoy 2. In approaching from the northeastward, the small island should be favored.

San Juan is a cannery and saltery at the southwestern end of the bay. The San Juan Fishing and Packing Co. operates a radio telephone, call letters KLV. There is a least depth of about 30 feet (9.1 m) at the dock. There is a good supply of fresh water.

There is a rock, with 12 fathoms (2. 7 m) over it, lying 700 yards eastward (mag.) from the wharf. It is marked by a black buoy placed 100 yards northward from it.

There is another rock, with 214 fathoms (4.3 m) over it, lying 325 yards north-northeastward from the wharf. It is marked by red buoy 4 placed eastward from it. In the approach to this wharf there are some spots with less than 27 feet (8.2 m) over them. The wire drag, set at 24 feet (7.3 m) cleared them.

Careful maneuvering is required for a large vessel to get away from this wharf safely. They usually swing their stern out back toward the island where they make the turn around.

There is little or no current in Sawmill Bay and the wharves (except as above mentioned) are easily approached.

Anchorage. There is no good anchorage in Sawmill Bay. Vessels sometime anchor between the oval-shaped island and the San Juan cannery, but the holding ground is poor.

Directions. Sawmill Bay may be entered by either the northeastern or the southwestern entrance. The former is recommended because of its greater width. In proceeding toward the southwestern end of the bay, vessels may pass on either side of the small ovalshaped island. If passing on the northern side, the island should be favored to avoid the rocks mentioned under "Port Ashton."

Prince of Wales Passage (chart 8523), between Evans and Bainbridge Islands, is between 10 and 11 miles long and from 12 to 2 miles wide. It offers a direct route for vessels from northward in Knight Island Passage bound southwestward along the coast; otherwise Elrington Passage is more direct and is generally used.

Prince of Wales Passage has a number of dangers and other broken ground. The principal channel at the northern entrance is eastward of Flemming Island, and then westward of Iktua Rocks. When passing the broken ground lying 4 miles southward of Flemming Island, follow the western shore at a distance of 300 to 500 yards, heading for Amerk Point, the prominent low, sandy point, with a fringe of trees, lying on the west side 3 miles farther southward.

The channel westward of Flemming Island has considerable foul ground and should be avoided by strangers, except possibly small craft, at low water, and proceeding with caution.

Gage Island, wooded and with a group of partly bare rocks off its south side, 1/2 mile northward of Flemming Island, is a good mark for the north entrance of Prince of Wales Passage.

Ship Islet, with a few trees, is the southerly one of two on the easterly side of Flemming Island. A reef bare at low water extends 225 yards southeastward from it.

Iktua Rocks, a group of bare rocks, highest about 3 feet (0.9 m), lies 3% to 1/2 mile from the eastern shore and 111⁄2 miles south-southeastward of Flemming Island.

About 1 mile south-southeastward of these rocks is a lagoon with a narrow entrance almost closed with rocks. It is a secure harbor for small, light-draft craft, in about 8 fathoms (14.6 m), but the entrance requires local knowledge.

There are several wooded islands on the east side of the passage from 3 to 5 miles southward of Flemming Island. The area between them and Evans Island is foul, and the tidal currents have a velocity of 2 to 3 knots.

Nearly in midchannel westward of the middle of these islands is an area of broken ground nearly 11⁄2 mile long on which the least. depth found is 11 fathoms (20.1 m). It should be avoided by vessels, the better channel following the western shore.

The broken area with depths less than 15 fathoms (27.4 m), lying 1 mile farther southward, which extends 1/4 mile from the western shore, should be avoided by vessels.

Anchorage. The only good anchorage in Prince of Wales Passage is in Squirrel Bay, the circular bay at the southwest point of Evans Island. Anchorage may be found near the center of the bay in 12 to 22 fathoms (21.9 to 40 m), sand and gravel bottom of fair holding qualities.

Glacial ice is some time discharged through Prince of Wales Passage.

Currents. With the large tides, the tidal currents have a velocity of 2 to 3 knots at strength among the islands and in the narrower parts of the passage. In the passage between Flemming and Evans Islands the tidal currents have a velocity of 12 to 2 knots at strength. The flood current sets northward and ebb southward through the passage.

Elrington Island. The southwest end of the island is 211⁄2 miles across in a northerly and southerly direction and is formed by three

prominent points with two bays between, known as North Twin and South Twin Bays.

South Twin Bay is free from dangers and affords a convenient anchorage in 17 to 20 fathoms (31 to 37 m). The bottom is hard, with patches of sand and gravel. It is exposed to the westerly and southwesterly winds.

North Twin Bay is free from dangers except for a rock awash at low tide about 250 yards off the south shore 1/2 mile northeastward of the southern entrance point. Anchorage may be found in the center of the bay in 13 to 17 fathoms (23.7 and 31 m). Of the two bays, the best shelter is usually found in the southern one.

POINT ELRINGTON, the southwest end of Elrington Island, is a small hill, 515 feet (157 m) high and wooded, with cliffs at the water, and is joined to the island by a sand and gravel neck just above high water. A hill, 1,050 feet (320 m) high, lying 13% miles eastward of the point, has a low divide about 100 feet (30 m) high at its east end. It is marked at its westerly end by Point Elrington Light.

The north point at the southwest end of Elrington Island is a hill 1,116 feet (340 m) high and 1% miles long. At its southeast end it is connected with the island by a long, low, wooded neck.

Lonetree Point, the most northerly point at the western extremity of Elrington Island, is marked by a prominent lone tree and a light. Procession Rocks are a group of jagged rocks, the highest one being about 70 feet (21.3 m) high. There are four principal rocks, with a number of smaller rocks and reefs surrounding the larger ones. Deep water extends close up to the rocks. The survey of 1927 showed a good channel between the rocks and the shore of Bainbridge Island.

PORT BAINBRIDGE (charts 8523 and 8528) is a deep body of water extending about 12 miles northward from a line joining Cape Puget and Procession Rocks. Depths of over 100 fathoms are carried nearly to the head of the bay. There are no habitations in Port Bainbridge, and in 1927 there was no commercial fishing.

Point Pyke, which forms the eastern entrance point to Port Bainbridge, is a prominent headland rising almost vertically to a height of 985 feet (300 m).

Swanson Bay is a long narrow bay lying just north of Point Pyke and extending 3 miles to the eastward. The bay is deep, and there are no good anchorages. An indifferent anchorage may be found near the head of the bay in 28 to 30 fathoms (51 to 55 m), mud bottom.

Hogg Bay (chart 8523), lying about 2 miles northward from Point Pyke, is the largest bay in Port Bainbridge. It is free from dangers except for a rock awash, which lies 1/4 mile off the northern shore about 1 mile within the entrance, and a rock awash which lies 180 yards off the south shore 112 miles from Swanson Point.

A fair anchorage may be found near the head of the bay at the entrance to the northern arm in 25 fathoms (46 m), hard bottom, with patches of sand and gravel. Small craft may find excellent shelter at the head of the northern arm. A beach suitable for beaching small craft will be found behind the northern island near the entrance to the north arm.

Bainbridge Passage has not been surveyed. It is used to some extent by local gas boats, but it is reported as a dangerous locality, due to the numerous rocks and strong currents in the passage.

Point Waters, which forms the northern entrance to Bainbridge Passage, is bold.

At the head of Port Bainbridge (chart 8528) the western arm extends nearly 2 miles to the northward. There is deep water in this arm, but the entrance is blocked by a gravel bar with a least depth of about 111⁄2 fathoms (2.7 m) The best water lies close to the eastern entrance point.

Bainbridge Glacier, nearly 1 mile in width, drains into Port Bainbridge about opposite Bainbridge Passage.

Auk Bay, on the western side of Port Bainbridge, opposite Point Pyke, is a small bay affording good anchorage in 20 fathoms (37 m), muddy bottom. A rock, bare at low tide, lies about 150 yards off the northern shore about 1 mile within the entrance. The southern entrance point to Auk Bay is marked by a prominent pinnacle rock.

A prominent brown rock about 10 feet (3.0 m) high, lies 1⁄2 mile offshore 211⁄2 miles northward of Cape Puget.

6. KENAI PENINSULA, SOUTHEAST COAST

The COAST between Cape Puget and Cape Resurrection (chart 8528) is high and rugged, with numerous glaciers showing in the valleys. There is no shelter except in Day Harbor, where there is a very good anchorage. The coast is clear except for a few rocks extending not more than 1/4 mile offshore. The first range of mountains varies from 2,000 to 3,500 feet (610 to 1,067 m) in height, while the back range is about 5,000 feet (1,524 m) in elevation. Much of the hinterland is covered by an ice cap.

A constant current sets southwestward along the Kenai Peninsula, see remarks on currents under General Information (p. 4).

Cape Puget is a prominent headland with an eroded bluff. At the foot of the slope is a conical rock which is prominent from an east or west direction. There are several bare rocks off the cape, the farthest one being about 1/4 mile distant.

Puget Bay, the first indentation to the westward of Cape Puget, is a funnel-shaped bay extending to the northward for about 6 miles. The bay is deep throughout and free from dangers except for rocks and reefs close inshore.

Goat Harbor is an inlet on the eastern side of the bay about 4 miles from Cape Puget. It affords a good anchorage in 12 to 14 fathoms (21.9 to 25.6 m), sticky mud bottom, but is exposed to the swell from the southwest. A gravel and shingle bar with a least known depth of 51⁄2 fathoms (10 m) extends across the entrance.

Near the head of Puget Bay, and on the eastern side, is a small cove which affords shelter for small craft. There is a rock awash about 100 yards off the southern entrance point.

Directions. Follow mid-channel courses into the bay and give all points a wide berth. If bound into Goat Harbor, pass midway between the detached rock on the north and the opposite entrance point. In approaching Puget Bay from the eastward, Cape Puget should be given a berth of at least 3/4 mile.

Cape Junken is a bold, rounding headland with eroded bluffs and landslides. At the foot of Cape Junken there are two steps which show up prominently from alongshore. In thick weather this feature is valuable in identifying the cape.

Johnstone Bay is a large open bight lying westward from Cape Junken. There is a black sand beach across the head of the bay, and deep water extends close up, there being 50 fathoms (91 m) within 1/2 mile of the beach. Excelsior Glacier terminates in Johnstone Bay and drains through a stream which enters at the eastern end of the sand beach.

There is a small cove with a shingle beach at the eastern entrance to the bay, but it is wide open to the southwest and affords little shelter. A black rock 50 feet (15.2 m) marks the western entrance, and there is a low rock nearly awash at the eastern entrance.