[First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION, ENGINEER OFFICE, Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. From the facts and reasons stated in this report I consider Menemsha Bight as "worthy of improvement" in the sense in which the words are used in section 18, river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. The element of cost should ultimately determine the action of Congress in the matter, but this cost can not be known without a survey. HENRY L. ABBOT, Col. of Engineers, Bet. Brig. Gen., U. S. A., SURVEY OF MENEMSHA BIGHT, MASSACHUSETTS, AN OUTLET INTO VINEYARD SOUND ON THE NORTH SHORE OF THE ISLAND OF MARTHAS VINEYARD. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Newport, R. I., November 14, 1891. GENERAL: In compliance with Department letter of January 10, 1891, I have the honor to submit the following report of survey of Menemsha Bight, Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, accompanied by a sketch of the locality. My report of the preliminary examination of this bight was submitted December 19, 1890. The outlet referred to in that report is very narrow and tortuous, having a shifting sandy bottom, with a depth of less than 1 foot on the bar at its mouth, from which point to Menemsha Pond the depth varies from less than 1 foot to about 6 feet at mean low tide. The pond has an area of about 1 square mile, nearly onehalf of which varies in depth from 15 to 20 feet, the remainder having an average depth of about 4 feet at mean low tide. All of the above depths refer to the mean low water plane of the sound. The bar at the mouth of the outlet, acting as a natural dam, raises the mean low water plane of the pond 1.7 feet and of the outlet near the month 0.8 feet. The area between Menemsha Bight and Pond is composed chiefly of sand; immediately to the east and west, however, are hills abounding with valuable pottery clays. A further description of this part of the island, together with other valuable inforniation relative to the construction of a harbor of refuge here, is embodied in the following letter from Prof. N. S. Shaler, of Harvard University: HARVARD UNIVERSITY, LAWRENCE SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL, Cambridge, Mass., November 4, 1891. MY DEAR SIR: With reference to the need of harborage at Menemsha Bight, on the island of Marthas Vineyard, I beg leave to make the following statement: The western portion of Marthas Vineyard, particularly the region within 2 miles of Menemsha Pond, abounds in valuable pottery clay. These clays have for a quarter of a century or more been exported to the mainland, where they find a ready sale. The difficulty with this commerce has been found in the fact that along the shore near where the clays lie there is no harborage for vessels. At Gay Head the shipNot reprinted; printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 60, Fifty-second Congress, first Bession. ment is a complished by getting out the clay in rude cubes, the material then being conveyed in rowboats to the vessel, which has to remain at anchor half a mile or Bore from the shore. If a harbor could be made at Menemsha Creek, so that vessels drawing from 6 to 1o feet of water could find the necessary shelter, the traffic in these earths would become very large. Under the present conditions it can never assume considerable proportions. Experience has shown that the clays from the regions about Menemsha Bight are surable not only for pottery purposes, but serve well in the manufacture of oilcloths and fireproof paints. This region contains the only deposits which are suitave for these purposes in any part of the country north and east of New Jersey; therefore their development has an important relation to the industries of New England. The greater part of the clay now exported finds a market in Boston and the towns neighboring to that city. The shipping industry in the region about Gay Head is already large. The grounds are known to be richer in food fishes than at any other point on the coast north of Cape Hatteras. The great difficulty which men find in this employment is that theme is no place of reinge during stormy weather. There is indeed no adequate shelter for the craft which are employed in this industry nearer than Woods Holl. If a place of refuge could be provided at this point it would be greatly to the adVantage of the fishermen. The regten about the month of Vineyard Sound is subject to sudden storus of corsió, rible violence. When these occur small vessels are often put in jeopardy for Lack of shelter. In strong gales blowing from points between northeast and sonth west, around by the west, it is often difficult for vessels of say 100 tons burden or less to make their way up the channel. Any refuge which might be made at Menerisha Bight world be of very great value to those who are navigating such It is a well-known fact that Vineyard Haven is often in times of storm greatly overy rowded by shipping. Many of the accidents which happen there are due to the lack of samout Shelter. This port is particularly dangerous to small vessels. Any », ace of refuge at Menemsha would serve in an important way to supplement wles mate ancherage ground at the Haven. the If there be any other points which I may not have touched, I beg you to call my It may not be ent of place to say that I have known the region about Menemsha Bight be a think of a century, and that for many years I have resorted to this part et the Ôi re as a summering place. I may say, furthermore, that in case the Government desires to make any improvements at this point there will be no land damages Those who ask for this improvement desire a safe harbor of refuge for light-draft vessels, a large number of which remain in this vicinity during the fishing season. In threatening weather these vessels find it necessary to proceed to Tarpaulin Cove, Woods Holl, or Vineyard Haven for Safety, thereby frequently losing a good catch. If, however, a safe harber were established here as many as 40 or 50 of these vessels would be enabled to reach the grounds in the early morning, when the fish are most abundant. As many as 42 catboats and 24 two-masted schooners were at work in the hight when this survey was made, and residents say that when the water on the bar was of sufficient depth as many as 40 of them sought refuge in the outlet. It is estimated that this improvement can be made at a cost of $20,000 or $25,000 by the construction of jetties extending out from the banks on other side of the mouth of the outlet to 10 feet of water in the bight, thus coining the current and producing a scour, and by stone and brush walls so placed as to prevent the erosion of the banks of the entiet. l ́e approximate position of the jetties and walls is indicated on the accompanying sketch by heavy lines. In my report of the preliminary examination of this locality it was stated as follows: In my opinion Menemsha Bight is worthy of improvement by the General Government, but this improvement can not be recommended at present, as a survey may disclose that it will involve an outlay incommensurate with the advantages to be gained. The survey just made shows that it is extremely doubtful whether it be possible to maintain a depth of 5 feet in this sandy formation by the means proposed, and in view of this uncertainty it is doubtful whether the present demands of commerce would justify so great an outlay. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. W. R. LIVERMORE, (Through Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northeast Division.) [First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION, ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, November 21, 1891. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. This improvement belongs to the class of channel works in which success is always doubtful unless large and regularly continuous appropriations are available. I do not consider that the importance of the work will justify such expenditures. HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel of Engineers, Brt. Brig. Gen., U. S. A. C 21. [Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 59, Fifty-second Congress, first session.] PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF CANAPITSIT CHANNEL, MASSACHUSETTS, BETWEEN THE ISLANDS OF CUTTYHUNK AND NASHAWENA (NESHAWANA). ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Newport, R. I., December 19, 1890. GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in Department letter of September 20, 1890, I have the honor to submit the following report upon the preliminary examination of Canapitsit Channel between the islands of Cuttyhunk and Neshawana, provided for in the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, and made by me from time to time. This channel, connecting the waters of Vineyard Sound with those of Buzzards Bay, is bounded on the east by the island of Neshawana and on the west by the island of Cuttyhunk. The improvement desired is the deepening of the channel and the clearing of the same from obstructions, so that fishing and other lightdraft vessels, when in the sound, may, in case of southerly storms, run through to Cuttyhunk Harbor, at the north end of the channel. This harbor is protected from all directions except the northeast, and in the event of a storm from this point vessels could make use of the channel to find safety on the south side of the islands. It seems probable that the removal of a few bowlders, and a small amount of dredging, is all that will be necessary for the completion of this improvement. Within the past year three vessels have been wrecked in this locality, one of which, the schooner Quilp, was removed by the General Government. Several lives have also been lost. These vessels and lives would probably have been preserved had this channel been navigable. In my opinion Canapitsit Channel is worthy of improvement by the General Government, and a survey of the locality is recommended at an estimated cost of $200. Canapitsit Channel is in the collection district of Edgartown, which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Edgartown in the last fiscal year was $310.94. The nearest light-house is Cuttyhunk Light. The nearest fortification is fort at Clark Point, New Bedford, Mass. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. W. R. LIVERMORE, (Through Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engi neer, Northeast Division.) [First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION, ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, January 8, 1891. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. I concur with Maj. Livermore in considering that Canapitsit Channel, between Cuttyhunk and Neshawana, is worthy of improvement. HENRY L. ABBOTT, Colonel of Engineers, Bet. Brig. Gen., U. S. A., Engineer Northeast Division. SURVEY OF CANAPITSIT CHANNEL, MASSACHUSETTS, BETWEEN THE ISLANDS OF CUTTYHUNK AND NASHAWENA (NESHAWANA). ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Newport, R. I., November 14, 1891. GENERAL: In compliance with Department letter of January 10, 1891, I have the honor to submit the following report of survey of Canapitsit Channel, Massachusetts, accompanied by a sketch of the locality." My report of the preliminary examination of this channel was submitted December 19, 1890. * This waterway lies between the islands of Nashawena and Cuttyhunk, and connects the waters of Vineyard Sound with those of Cuttyhunk Harbor. A channel having a least depth of about 43 feet at mean low tide and varying in width from 100 to 300 feet, with shores and bottom composed of large and small bowlders, interspersed with cobblestones Not reprinted; printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 59, Fifty-second Congress, first session. and gravel, is made use of by owners of light-draft boats, who are thoroughly acquainted with the location of the large number of bowlders lying in its shoalest part. These obstructions cause the heavy swell, which at times comes in from the ocean, to break across the south entrance, thus preventing the passage of boats which otherwise would seek refuge in Cuttyhunk Harbor. For the same reason the Cuttyhunk life-saving crew can not make use of this channel at times when it is impossible to launch the lifeboat in the surf on the south side of the island of Cuttyhunk. The fishermen of this island would be greatly benefited by the improvement of the channel, as it would enable them to reach the fishing grounds in the sound in the early part of the day when the largest catches are made. The shaded lines on the accompanying sketch indicate that part of the channel from which it is proposed to remove all bowlders and to dredge to 6 feet at mean low tide. It will also be necessary to place a beacon on the rocks lying in 12 feet of water to the south of the channel. This work can be done at an estimated cost as follows, viz: Dredging 3,000 yards bowlders, cobblestones, and gravel. Removing 100 tons of bowlders. Contingencies, 20 per cent..... Total..... $2,700 1,300 800 4,800 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. LIVERMORE, Major of Engineers. Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, (Through Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engigeer, Northeast Division.) [First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION, ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, November 21, 1891. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. I recommend the improvement of this channel in the manner proposed by Maj. Livermore. HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel of Engineers, Bvt. Brig. Gen., U. S. A., Engineer Northeast Division. |