Salisbury Sound and Peril Strait

Book 8 · Chapter 13

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Salisbury Sound and Peril Strait

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This chapter describes Salisbury Sound, Hoonah Sound and Peril Strait, the inside passage from Chatham Strait to Sitka, via Neva Strait and Olga Strait.

Weekly scheduled mail and passenger vessels bound from Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau or Skagway to Sitka pass through Peril Strait and Salisbury Sound and then proceed south through Neva Strait and Olga Strait. Under adverse conditions, when coming south from Juneau or Skagway, they sometimes pass through Icy Strait and Cross Sound, then outside to Salisbury Sound before entering Neva Strait. Sergius Narrows in Peril Strait is a difficult passage to make under any conditions, because of its narrowness and strong tidal currents and eddies. Passage through Sergius Narrows should only be attempted at slack water and preferably at high-water slack, and with local knowledge. Small craft, barge and ship traffic is heavy through the narrows; caution is advised.

 Weather

Salisbury Sound is open to prevailing wind and sea from the Gulf of Alaska, whereas Peril Strait is sheltered somewhat by Chichagof Island. In the sound, southwest swells frequently roll in and break along the north shore, sometimes reaching Baranof Island. Winds often draw through Salisbury Sound and into Peril Strait, which, because of its orientation, is susceptible to both strong southeasterlies and northerlies. These winds are most likely from October through February. Heavy fog sometimes moves into the sound but frequently disappears at the mouths of Fish Bay and Neva Strait. Occasionally, the fog reaches Peril Strait as far as Sergius Narrows and sometimes fills the strait north of the narrows.

 Salisbury Sound to Round Island

has its entrance from the sea 200 miles northwest of Dixon Entrance and connects Peril Strait and Neva Strait with the Pacific Ocean between Cape Georgiana and Klokachef Island. About 1.8 miles from the east end, the channel is constricted to 1 mile by Goloi Islands on the north side and Sinitsin Island on the south. Vessels bound for Sitka from Cross Island, Yakutat Bay and the coast west commonly enter through Salisbury Sound, as the distance is less than by way of Cape Edgecumbe and that route puts them sooner into smooth water.

The shores of the sound are foul, especially the north side, which is studded with islands, rocks and reefs with some kelp. It is open to the prevailing wind and sea, and generally a southwest swell rolls in and breaks along the north shore, sometimes reaching Baranof Island. There are no dangers through the middle of the sound, but the depths are irregular and the bottom rocky; banks with depths of 6 to 20 fathoms have been found in the middle of the entrance.

The country back of the north shore is steep and rugged. The south shore is more undulating, though quite high near the ocean, and is covered with trees from the top to the water’s edge.

Approaching Salisbury Sound from seaward, especially from west, it is sometimes difficult for a stranger to recognize the entrance until close-to. The bare, rugged mountains on the north side of the sound are prominent, and the sand beach at the head of Sealion Cove, 2 miles south of Cape Georgiana, is at times useful in identifying the cape.

 Currents

The current from the sea sets east on the flood into Salisbury Sound, Peril Strait and Neva Strait. The ebb current sets west. The current velocity is 1 to 1.5 knots. (See the Tidal Current Tables for daily predictions.)

is the south point at the entrance to Salisbury Sound. , 1,383 feet high, is a rounded hill, about 0.7 mile east of the cape. About 2 miles southeast from the cape is the first prominent peak that, from south and west, seems to rise gradually from the low point by a series of steps. This is a prominent landmark from southwest for Salisbury Sound.

is an irregular, bare ledge, about 6 feet high, 0.6 mile northwest of Cape Georgiana. , 0.6 mile northwest of Sea Rock, has 1 fathom over it, is not marked by kelp, and has the sea usually breaking over it. The rock is marked on its northwest side by a buoy.

A channel is between these two rocks and between Sea Rock and the cape, but shoaling exists in both passages and neither is recommended. Strong tide rips are found around the cape and these two rocks when the wind is from northwest or northeast, whereas with south winds the rips are more prevalent around , on the north side of the entrance to the sound.

, on the north side at the entrance to Salisbury Sound, is of triangular shape. On its south side, bare cliffs, 900 feet high, have the appearance of the north half of a crater and are prominent from well out to sea to the southwest. Bare reefs extend from the south and west sides of the island. At the east point are several bare rocks and , which extends about 0.4 mile south and generally has the sea breaking over it. From the northwest point of the island the extend as a partially submerged reef for 600 yards northwest to two bare rocks; and thence from these rocks for 0.5 mile west a submerged reef, showing some kelp and always a breaking sea. Klokachef Point, the south point of Klokachef Island, is the north point at the entrance to Salisbury Sound and is marked by Klokachef Island Light (), 85 feet above the water and shown from a square frame with a red and white diamond-shaped daymark.

Olga Rock, in , and about 1.2 miles west of Klokachef Point, on line with Klokachef Point and the north shore of Salisbury Sound, has ½ fathom over it and, except at high water and a very smooth sea, always shows a breaker. Deep water is between Klokachef Island and the rock.

, on the south side of Salisbury Sound 2.5 miles inside the entrance, has anchorage near its head that is used by fishing craft, but its narrow entrance is obstructed by rocks. Large craft should favor the southwest shore in approaching the entrance in order to avoid a 3¼-fathom kelp-marked shoal off the entrance in Favor the west shore in entering until the first bend, then steer midchannel courses. A large rock awash is about 100 yards off the east shore in and at the narrowest part of the channel, just before the bay widens to form the main anchorage. The ruins of a building with stub piling that extends about 100 yards off the east shore and a pile are north of the rock.

A 1¼ fathom depth is 100 yards off the west shore in and about 100 yards northwest of the large rock awash. Strangers should enter the anchorage at half tide or low water, passing about 50 yards west of the large rock. Well-protected anchorage in any weather can be found near the head of the bay in 3 to 5 fathoms, soft bottom.

, low and wooded, is about 0.8 mile east of the entrance to Kalinin Bay and is the farthest projection on the south side of Salisbury Sound. It should not be approached closer than 0.2 mile on its north side and 0.5 mile on its west side. Deep water extends close up to the east side of the island. Small craft sometimes pass between the island and Kruzof Island, but strangers should use this passage with extreme care.

, on the south side of Salisbury Sound 1 mile southeast of Sinitsin Island, has deep water and an irregular, rocky bottom; its shores are fringed with ledges. A 4.6-fathom shoal is in the west side of the entrance in about In bad weather the swell rolls heavily into this cove.

, about 5.9 miles east of Klokachef Point and 0.5 mile off the north shore, are two in number and bushy; the north one is divided at high water; the south one has the appearance of a flattened cone. There are a number of other islands along and close to the north shore, but these and , 0.5 mile east, are the most prominent. These islands are surrounded by kelp rather close-to, and there is deep water close to the edge of the kelp on their south sides. A submerged rock with 0.6 fathom over it in and surrounded by kelp, is about 125 yards southeast of the westernmost Krugloi Island.

, about 500 yards east of the Krugloi Islands, is wooded and close to the north shore of Salisbury Sound at the entrance to Peril Strait.

 Peril Strait

is important as affording a frequently used passage from Salisbury Sound and the waters south to Chatham Strait. Its total length is about 39 miles. From Salisbury Sound it extends in a general northeast direction for 11.5 miles through Kakul Narrows, Sergius Narrows and either Rose Channel or Adams Channel to Povorotni Island; this part of the strait is narrow, and has frequent changes in direction and strong tidal currents, and strangers, other than small craft, are advised to take a pilot. From Povorotni Island the strait has a general northeast direction for about 4.5 miles to Otstoia Island, where it turns southeast for 16 miles to Lindenberg Head, and then east for about 7 miles to Chatham Strait. Some of the more serious dangers are marked by buoys or lights. A pilot may sometimes be acquired at Sitka, Juneau or Ketchikan.

Fog from Salisbury Sound occasionally makes into Peril Strait as far as Sergius Narrows and at times fills the strait north of the narrows.

 Currents

The flood current from Salisbury Sound sets northeast through Sergius Narrows and Adams Channel and meets the flood from Chatham Strait in the broad part of Peril Strait between Povorotni Island and Otstoia Island; the ebb current sets in the opposite direction. In Peril Strait the strongest currents are in Sergius Narrows, where the maximum velocity is 8 to 9 knots on the flood and 8 to 9 knots on the ebb, creating standing waves. For other places in the strait, the velocity of the current is between 1.4 and 2.5 knots. See the Tidal Current prediction service at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov for specific information about times, directions, and velocities of the current at numerous locations throughout the area. Links to a user guide for this service can be found in chapter 1 of this book.

 Point Kakul to Otstoia Island

, the southeast point at the entrance to Peril Strait from Salisbury Sound, is bold and wooded. , with 2.1 fathoms over it in , is about 275 yards west from the point. A lighted buoy marks the west side of the rock.

forms the entrance to Peril Strait from Salisbury Sound. The narrows are deep, the dangers are marked by aids, and they are easily navigated. The narrows have been found clear as shown on the chart.

is a small bight on the northwest side of Kakul Narrows where small craft can find indifferent and partially protected anchorage.

, with 2.2 fathoms over it in , and marked by a buoy, is about 0.2 mile west of the outer Channel Rock. There are heavy tide swirls through this narrow part of the strait. The buoy tows under when currents are strong.

extend about 300 yards north of the northeast end of Kakul Narrows. The largest rock is about 3 feet high and close-to; north of it are two rocks that cover only at the highest tides. Kakul Narrows Light 4 (), 27 feet above the water, is shown from a skeleton tower with a red triangular daymark and is on the north side of the rocks.

has its entrance on the east shore south of Sergius Narrows. Sand and gravel beaches show along the shores at low water, and at its head is a flat nearly 0.5 mile in extent. is a group of three rocks in the entrance, extending about 0.3 mile from the south shoreline and baring at the lowest tides. , 300 yards from the south shore and about 0.3 mile west of Haley Point, has depths of 17 to 22 fathoms, sand bottom, and affords fair shelter in south weather. is a sand flat terminating in a high-water island.

is on the north side of Fish Bay. , low and wooded, is in the entrance; the navigable channel, about 0.2 mile wide, is between it and the west shore; the channel on the east side of the island should not be attempted. The only danger in the approach to the cove is Haley Rocks. It is reported that southeast winds draw through the cove with considerable force.

A former log storage area occupied most of the cove. Dangerous submerged obstructions are located within the cove.

, west of the south entrance to Sergius Narrows, has anchorage for small craft near its head in 18 to 22 fathoms, rocky bottom. The shores are foul near the anchorage, constricting it somewhat, and it is not recommended. Swirls make well into the bay. , the south entrance point to the bay, is marked by a light. , wooded, is in the bay 0.2 mile from the south side with rocks between. , with 0.6 fathom over it in , is about 400 yards north of Suloia Islet.

is a 24-foot-deep and 450-foot-wide dredged channel that leads through Sergius Narrows. In 2005, the controlling depth was 24 feet. The channel is marked by two buoys on the south side marking the north side of Wayanda Ledge, which makes into the south side of the channel. The channel between the buoys and the north project limits is about 300 feet wide. Mariners are advised to use caution. Vessels should pass through the narrows only at or near slack water, especially with the large tides, and preferably at high-water slack. At the strength of the current it is not safe for any vessel bound either way, especially long ones, between Francis Rocks and Liesnoi Shoal. With the smallest tides those with local knowledge pass through at all stages of the current.

Mariners are advised to be on hand at least one-half hour before the predicted times of slack water in case abnormal conditions cause slack water to occur earlier than the stated times. If the current tables are not available, tide tables may be used. In Sergius Narrows the current turns north to south about 2 hours before the time of high water at Sitka and from south to north about 1¾ hours before the time of low water at Sitka. These are average times and do not take into consideration variations due to tidal inequalities as do the tidal current predictions. See the Tide prediction service at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov for specific information about times, directions, and velocities of the current at numerous locations throughout the area. Links to a user guide for this service can be found in chapter 1 of this book.

At the strength of the current the water is very much disturbed, heaving up over West Francis Rock, Prolewy Rock and Wayanda Ledge in the middle and boiling and swirling in the channel, especially at the end where the water is passing out. The channel is so narrow and the current so variable in direction that if a vessel gets a sheer she may be carried onto the ledges or shore before she can be straightened out. With a strong north flowing current a sharp deflection occurs at Shoal Point, which is dangerous, especially to long vessels bound south, as it sheers the bow east in the direction of Wayanda Ledge, and there is little room to straighten out again on the proper channel line. With a strong south-flowing current a similar sharp deflection occurs west of West Francis Rock, which is dangerous, especially to long vessels, bound either way, as it sheers the bow in toward the cove on the west side. (See the Tidal Current Tables for daily predictions in Sergius Narrows.)

Vessels awaiting slack water at Sergius Narrows usually slow down before reaching it. If anchorage is desired when north of the narrows, Bear Bay is convenient for small vessels. Deep Bay is a much better anchorage, but its entrance is narrow.

A small-craft channel that passes south of East Francis Rock and Rapids Island is narrow. The channel is used extensively by local fishermen and should only be used with local knowledge. The current is reported to be weaker in this channel than in the Sergius Narrows channel.

is a small wooded island near the middle of Sergius Narrows. , 350 yards southwest of the southwest point of Rapids Island in , has a least depth of 1.1 fathoms. , marked by a lighted buoy, 400 yards west-northwest of the west point of Rapids Island, has leaf kelp that only shows at slack water. West Francis Rock and the immediate area surrounding the rock has a least depth of 3.3 fathoms. Mariners are urged to exercise caution in the area. Vessels pass northwest of the rock. In this vicinity the swirls and whirlpools are very strong while the current runs south.

, and an islet about 18 feet high, is about 250 yards north of the northeast side of Rapids Island. Submerged rocks are close north and southwest of the islet. Standing waves are said to form over them when strong currents are running near low water. -extends from 60 yards north of Prolewy Rock right up to the south edge of the maintained channel; the north-northeast side of the ledge is marked by a buoy.

Sergius Narrows Light 9 (), 17 feet above the water and shown from a skeleton tower with a green square daymark, is on the north side of the narrows.

, in about and midchannel 300 yards south of Midway Rock, has a least depth of 1.6 fathoms. A lighted buoy is on the southeast side of the shoal. , grass covered, in and about 300 yards northeast, is awash at highest tides.

Point Siroi Island, marked by a light, is about 0.8 mile northeast of Mountain Head.

, on the southeast shore, has anchorage for small vessels only but is convenient if awaiting slack water in Sergius Narrows. Enter in midchannel and anchor with in line with the southwest side of , bearing north, in 13 to 18 fathoms, soft bottom. Vessels should not go inshore of the range given to avoid swinging onto the ledge on the south side of the bay.

, on the northwest side of the strait between Big Island and Little Island, is a good anchorage and the most convenient for large vessels north of Sergius Narrows while awaiting slack water in the narrows. , about 7 feet high, is midway between Big Island and Little Island and is marked by a daybeacon. The best passage into the bay is between the rock and Big Island.

To enter, keep the south side of Big Island aboard at a distance of 100 yards in passing Grasstop Rock, then follow a midchannel course into the bay and anchor 0.2 to 0.8 mile beyond the wooded islet on the north side, west of Big Island in 10 to 12 fathoms, sticky mud and broken shells bottom. An islet, about 6 feet high, is 80 yards southeast of Big Island, and a kelp-marked rock extends 80 yards southeast of the islet.

Middle Point Rock, marked by a light, is 300 yards west of with a narrow channel between. The rock is covered at half tide. A ledge with 2.1 fathoms over it is about 350 yards south-southeast of Arthur Island in

, marked by a light, is about 0.6 mile north of Middle Point. A ledge, bare at half tide and marked by a daybeacon, is 150 yards offshore, 0.3 mile east of Yellow Point.

Wooded and are in midchannel 3 miles south from Pogibshi Point. is the passage east of them; is the passage west.

Rose Island Rock, bare and marked by a light, is 230 yards off a bight on the east side of Big Rose Island. A light is about 400 yards to the north.

Rose Channel Rock, marked by a daybeacon, is 250 yards northwest of Little Rose Island and 440 yards from the west shore. It is awash at highest tides and is a danger only when using Rose Channel.

, low and wooded, is 500 yards north-northwest of and is marked by a light on the north end of the island. The island shows against a wooded highland in coming from north and is not readily seen until fairly close-to. A bare ledge is between the island and Pogibshi Point; the narrow passage between this ledge and the point is suitable only for small craft.

has its entrance west of Povorotni Island. Anchorage for small craft is available throughout the cove.

From Pogibshi Point the shoreline trends in a northeast direction for about 5.5 miles to Nismeni Point, about 1 mile beyond Otstoia Island. is the stretch of water off the flat between Otstoia Island and Pogibshi Point, about 2.2 miles from the latter. Anchorage may be made in several places along the shore.

Pogibshi Anchorage, in about 20 fathoms, soft bottom, is in Goose Cove on the northeast side of Pogibshi Point off the entrance to a small lagoon. , in 17 fathoms, is about 1.2 miles southwest of Otstoia Island and 0.2 mile from shore. Anchorage may also be made 0.4 mile southwest of Otstoia Island.

is about 5 miles north of Povorotni Island. A bar, which bares, extends west from the westernmost point of Emmons Island 0.3 mile into the channel between Emmons Island and Chichagof Island. Passage can be made in 9 to 15 fathoms by holding a midchannel course to within 0.5 mile of the westernmost point of Emmons Island; the course should then be shaped so as to hold the Chichagof Island shore aboard at about 300 yards while passing the bar.

A 4.3-fathom shoal in is about 0.64 mile southwest of the southern tip of Emmons Island.

has its entrance on the west side about 2.5 miles southwest of Emmons Island. Secure anchorage may be found in the bay, in 17 to 22 fathoms, soft bottom. Caution is advised during the periods of reduced visibility.

are about 2.7 miles northeast of Povorotni Island and 1.2 miles from the east shore. The largest and highest part of the reef at the east end is , a grass and sand islet covered only at highest tides. Ledges, covered at about half tide, are west of the island, and rocks, covered at ordinary high water, are south of it. The south end of the reef is marked by a light.

, which bares at low tides, is about 0.8 mile off the west shore at the entrance to Ushk Bay and 1.2 miles west of Hoggatt Island.

, which bares only at lowest tides, is about 0.8 mile north of Hoggatt Island and 1.5 miles west of Krugloi Islet, about in line between it and the north point at the entrance to Ushk Bay.

, low and wooded, with dead trees standing at its northeast end, is 4.5 miles northeast of Povorotni Island. Otstoia Island Light (), 17 feet above the water, is shown from a skeleton tower with a red and white diamond-shaped daymark on the south end of the island.

Elovoi Islet, small and wooded and marked by a light, and Krugloi Islet, small with a clump of trees in the middle, are close together about 0.6 mile west of Otstoia Island.

A flat extends about 300 yards off the Duffield Peninsula shore constricting the channel between it and Otstoia Island to a clear width of about 150 yards. A light, about 250 yards south-southeast of Otstoia Island Light, marks the edge of the flat. The channel has a depth of about 7½ fathoms.

, with ¼ to 10 fathoms over it, extends about 0.7 mile northeast of the northeast end of Otstoia Island. The reef is marked near its east extremity by a light.

Nismeni Point is low and wooded and is about 1.1 miles east of Otstoia Island. A reef extends 0.4 mile east of the point.

 Hoonah Sound to Douglass Bay

is the prolongation of Peril Strait northwest of Emmons Island (). , a group of small islands, is about 0.5 mile to the northwest of Emmons Island. They consist of two wooded islands; the northernmost island has an isthmus in the center almost dividing it from its low rocky northeast side. A bar extends about 0.1 mile southwest from the southernmost island. A midchannel reef, baring 5 feet, obstructs the passage between Emmons Island and the Vixen Islands. Ledges and shoal areas fringe the northwest shore of Emmons Island. Small craft may make the passage in 3 to 10 fathoms by holding the wooded Vixen Islands close aboard at about 200 yards and staying well clear of the ledge that extends about 150 yards northeast of the wooded and rocky northernmost island. , about 2.5 miles northwest of Emmons Island, divides Hoonah Sound into two arms, connected at high water at the northwest end of Moser Island.

North Arm is comparatively clear to within 2 miles of its head, where a rock, covered 3 feet, is midchannel surrounded by a shoal. The shoal extends for 0.6 mile south-southeast from an island on the north side of the arm. There is no safe passage between the island and the north shore of the arm. A restricted passage, usable by small craft, is available along the south shore of the island. To make the passage in 7 to 12 fathoms, keep the south shore of the island aboard at about 200 yards and 0.2 mile off the north shore of the arm until well past the island and rock. Passage may also be made in 30 to 35 fathoms along the south shore. Care should be taken to avoid the gravel bar, projecting 0.3 mile from the tree line, at the mouth of a stream on the south shore of the arm south-southeast of the island. A flat extends 0.5 mile from the head of the North Arm; a wooded island, with a ledge that extends about 0.2 mile east from its east shore, is near the center of the flat. The tidal flat is west of a north-south line through the middle of the ledge; anchorage may be made east of this line in 15 to 25 fathoms.

South Arm extends northwest about 5.5 miles along the south shore of Moser Island. On the south side of the arm, 1 mile within its entrance and just west of a wooded islet, is ; the head and west edge of the cove are shoal. A rock quay projects from the south shore near the head but is surrounded by a shoal that bares. Anchorage with minimum depths of 15 fathoms is found within the cove, east of a line running northwest from the cabins on its east edge. A shoal extends 0.4 mile into the arm 1.5 miles northwest of Fick Cove. Just to the north of the shoal the South Arm divides into two branches, Patterson Bay leading west-southwest and another small branch leading north-northwest.

The north branch of the South Arm is clear to within about 1 mile of its head; a flat extends about 0.8 mile from the head. In the middle, about 1.8 miles within the entrance, is a rock that bares 9½ feet. Clear passage may be gained by staying about 200 yards off either shore when passing the rock; a ledge extends about 250 yards offshore from a point north of the head. Anchorage can be made 300 to 500 yards north of the rock in 13 to 16 fathoms. The north branch connects to the North Arm during tides greater than 12 feet, when the passage can be made by skiff.

, the south branch of the South Arm, has shoals fringing its northwest side and a flat at its head. Near its entrance on the north, adjacent to Point Reynard, is a small, northwest trending inlet (), about 0.3 mile long, that offers anchorage for small craft in 3 to 8 fathoms in its center. (), just to the west around Point Reynard, affords anchorage in 5 to 12 fathoms. To enter, keep the east shore aboard at a distance of 200 yards to avoid the reef to the west, and anchor in the middle of the bay about 0.4 mile from the head. Near the center of the branch, opposite Douglass Bay is a 4-fathom pinnacle, the only obstruction in the central channel of Patterson Bay. Anchorage may be made near the head in 24 fathoms, but care should be taken to avoid the extensive tidal flats that extend 0.5 mile from the head.

 Broad Island to Chatham

Broad Island, 200 feet high and wooded, is 2.1 miles northeast of Otstoia Island and 0.5 mile off the north shore at the entrance to Hoonah Sound. Broad Island Light (), 14 feet above the water, is shown from a skeleton tower with a red and white diamond-shaped daymark on the west side of the island. Passage may be made between Broad Island and Chichagof Island to the north. Midchannel depths range from 40 to 60 fathoms; a shoal extends 0.2 mile northeast from Broad Island, and a bar extends 0.2 mile out from the tree line on Chichagof Island into the channel.

On the north shore of Peril Strait, 2.5 miles east of Broad Island, a large landslide extends up the mountain side for several hundred feet.

Nismeni Cove, on the east side of Nismeni Point, affords anchorage for small craft, with protection from south winds. To enter, keep the south shore aboard at a distance of about 200 yards to avoid the reef off Nismeni Point, and anchor in the middle of the cove about 0.3 mile from the head, in 6 fathoms, fair holding ground.

is a low wooded point on the south side 2.8 miles northwest of Rodman Bay. The point is marked by a light.

, on the south side 6 miles southeast of Nismeni Point, offers good anchorage at its head. The wide mouth of the bay contains several shoal areas: , with 1 fathom over it and marked by a buoy, is in the bay about 0.5 mile northwest of the east point at the entrance; depths of 3 fathoms are found on an extensive shoal 0.9 mile west of Rodman Rock; shoals with depths of 1½ fathoms extend out to 0.5 mile from the west shore about 0.7 mile south of Point Elizabeth and from the south shore about 0.3 mile west of the entrance to Appleton Cove. Safe passage to the head of the bay may be gained by passing 0.2 mile to the north and west of Rodman Rock Buoy 1 until southwest of the buoy; continuing, stay 0.6 mile off the south shore until south of Point Elizabeth, and follow a midchannel course up the narrow part of the bay to its head.

and , rounded wooded points, are, respectively, east and west of the entrance to Rodman Bay. Point Benham is marked by Point Benham Light (), 19 feet above the water and shown from a square frame structure with a red and white diamond-shaped daymark.

are on the east side near the head of Rodman Bay. The anchorage is 0.2 to 0.3 mile southwest of Lauf Islands in 14 to 15 fathoms, soft bottom. A midchannel course leads safely to the anchorage. Flats extend 0.5 mile from the mouth of streams that enter the southeast and southwest corners of the head of the bay. Southwest winds blow with considerable force through the pass at the head of Rodman Bay.

, about 1.5 miles inside Rodman Bay on the south shore, affords good anchorage and lee from seas for small craft though winds may be quite strong. The entrance channel is deepest east of center, about 0.1 mile off the east shore. Care should be taken to avoid a reef and foul area about 0.2 mile south of the southeast corner of .

, small and wooded, is connected to Chichagof Island by a rocky isthmus that covers only on extreme high waters. A log storage area occupies most of a small cove formed by False Island and the mainland. The cove opens to the northwest and has depths ranging from 2 to 6 fathoms and offers protection for small boats from storms from all but the northwest. Care should be given to avoid the submerged ledge that extends about 100 yards northwest from the northwest tip of the island.

has its entrance on the south side of Peril Strait, 4 miles southeast of Rodman Bay. extend about 0.8 mile from its head. The bay affords a good and convenient anchorage with shelter from all winds. Water can be had from small streams.

and are the north and south points of the entrance to Saook Bay. A depth of 2½ fathoms exists 0.4 mile off shore and 0.5 mile east of Point Kennedy.

To enter, take a midchannel course until approaching the small islands on the southeast side. Keep the islands and the southeast shore at a distance of 150 yards to avoid the 2½ and 2¼-fathom shoals about 0.3 and 0.4 mile northwest and west-northwest of the largest islands and a sand and gravel flat that extends to midchannel from a small stream coming from a ravine in the west shore. The anchorage is in midchannel 0.6 mile south of this ravine, in 18 fathoms, mud bottom. There is a log raft storage buoy south of the anchorage, about 0.3 mile north of the flats in midchannel.

, steep and wooded, is on the north side of the strait, 2.3 miles northeast of the entrance to Saook Bay.

A bight is on the north shore of Peril Strait, about 1.5 miles east-southeast of False Lindenberg Head and about 0.8 mile northwest of Lindenberg Head. A rock, covered 2¼ fathoms, is in and slightly east of the entrance to the bight.

is a wooded knoll on a point projecting from the northeast shore 2.2 miles east of False Lindenberg Head.

is a small cove on the west side of Lindenberg Head and affords protection from north and east. The anchorage is in the middle of the cove in 12 to 15 fathoms, with indifferent holding ground. A private mooring buoy is in the west side of the harbor. In 1976, a log storage area was occupying most of the north side of the harbor.

 Local magnetic disturbance

Differences of as much as 4° from the normal variation have been observed in Peril Strait from McClellan Rock to Point Thatcher.

, about 200 yards off Lindenberg Head, with no safe passage between, covers at highest tides. It is marked by McClellan Rock Light (), 17 feet above the water from a cylindrical pier with a red and white diamond-shaped daymark.

is a broad open bight in the south shore south of Lindenberg Head. At the west end of the bay are two coves; the south one almost bares, the north one has anchorage for small craft. Ledges that bare are about 200 yards off the north point of this cove and about 300 yards off the south point. Hanus Bay is not recommended for large vessels, because of its irregular bottom and exposed situation. A temporary anchorage might be made in its entrance. Small craft frequently anchor in the cove at the southeast side of the bay in 3 fathoms, mud bottom. The anchorage is approached through the entrance east of . It offers no shelter during southeast weather as strong winds draw through Portage Arm and are known to have blown small vessels out of the bay. The area is used for storage of log rafts. Care should be given to avoid a 1-fathom shoal 0.4 mile north-northwest of the north tip of Dead Tree Island.

, close to the south shore and about 1.6 miles east of , have broken ground on all sides. A bare rock is about 400 yards north of the small wooded islet northwest of Eva Islands, and a submerged rock is 600 yards northeast of the same wooded islet. Svenson Rock, submerged and sparsely marked by kelp, is 0.5 mile west of the same wooded islet.

, wooded and marked by a light, is about 2 miles northwest of Point Thatcher. Submerged ledges with 1 to 2 fathoms over them exist at 0.6 mile and at 0.4 mile west of Fairway Island. Ledges, which are bare at low tide, extend 400 yards east of the island. South of Fairway Island the bottom is very irregular and there are several shoal areas.

is about 0.4 mile long in a north direction. A rock awash is near the north end of the reef about 0.8 miles east of Fairway Island.

Traders Islands, low and wooded, are 0.5 mile south of Fairway Island. is the narrow channel south of Traders Islands. A shoal sounding of 4¼ fathoms is in midchannel, 1.85 miles west-northwest of Point Thatcher. The Traders Islands and Catherine Island should be given a 250-yard berth when going through Thatcher Channel. The chart is the guide.

 Local magnetic disturbance

Differences of as much as 4° from the normal variation have been observed in Peril Strait from McClellan Rock to Point Thatcher.

, the south point at the east entrance to Peril Strait, is low and wooded and terminates in a ledge 250 yards long, with three bare heads. A rock with 2¾ fathoms over it is 0.6 mile north of Point Thatcher, and a submerged feature of 6½ fathoms is 0.7 mile northwest of the point.

, the south point at the entrance to Sitkoh Bay, is 1.4 miles north from Fairway Island. Point Craven Light (), 35 feet above the water, is shown from a skeleton tower with a red and white diamond-shaped daymark on the outer of two bushy islets off the point.

, the north point at the entrance from Chatham Strait, is moderately high, but is low at the extremity. Two wooded islets, about 60 feet high and a bare rock are close to the point.

is a dangerous group of ledges and submerged rocks surrounding Point Hayes to a distance of 0.9 mile to the east, 1.1 miles to the south and 0.8 mile to the west. The southeast extension of the reef is broken ground with patches of kelp and depths of 2 feet to 7 fathoms and is marked at its southeast extremity by a lighted bell buoy that is 1.5 miles southeast of Point Hayes. On a line between the buoy and Peninsular Point, 1.5 miles north of Point Hayes, is an extensive reef, marked by kelp, which partly bares.

has its entrance between Point Craven and Point Hayes. The bay is deep throughout in midchannel, but there are several flats at the mouths of streams, and an extensive one, 1 mile wide, at its head.

, on the southwest side of Sitkoh Bay, about 2.1 miles inside the entrance, is the site of a privately-owned inactive cannery. The cannery wharf has a face of 200 feet with 30 feet reported alongside in 1976. A rock awash and a seasonal seaplane float is off the southeast end. A pier close northwest of the cannery wharf had 20 feet reported at its outer end in 1976. Access to the cannery wharf may be intermittently blocked during the winter when Sitkoh Bay has 2 to 3 inches of ice as far as 3 miles down from the head. Icebreakers visit the area on an irregular schedule.

Anchorage can be made 0.2 to 0.4 mile from the head of the bight on the north shore 2 miles from Point Hayes, in 15 to 20 fathoms, soft bottom, sheltered except from southeast winds. Secure anchorage can be had near the flat at the head of the bay about 1.4 miles above the cannery in 17 to 22 fathoms, soft bottom. Care should be taken to avoid the extensive tidal flat that extends 1.1 miles from the tree line at the head. A bar surrounding a small island extends 0.2 mile into the bay from the south shore, 1.8 miles from the head. A private mooring buoy is on the northeast side of Sitkoh Bay about 0.4 mile northeast of Chatham.

Entering Sitkoh Bay, keep the Point Craven shore aboard distant about 0.3 mile to clear Morris Reef, and then keep in midchannel. The chart is the guide.

For planning, not navigation. Verify current information before departure.