attendance. It is a frame building, and now more than thirty years old. It is too small for the number of keepers at the station, and affords poor protection from the weather in winter. An appropriation of $75,000 for commencing a new tower and keepers' dwelling is recommended.

269. Jordan's Point, James River, Virginia.-By act approved March 3, 1875, an appropriation of $2,000 was made for protecting the site and establishing a fog-bell. The exposed shore has been thoroughly protected by a dry-laid stone wall, 6 feet in thickness at the bottom, and backed with dry earth, adding slightly to the area of the grounds. A bell tower has been built and a bell, struck by machinery, established. It is proposed to place a new lantern on the top of the present dwelling. Dutch Gap Canal, James River, Virginia.-At the date of the last annual report work on these beacons had been temporarily suspended. In October work was resumed, and the station was ready for lighting in January, 1875. The structures consist of two frame beacons, each 27 feet high from base to focal plane, situated at the entrance of the canal on the port hand, ascending the river. The frame dwelling was built at the top of the hill, between the two beacons, and within easy distance of each. The buildings are of a substantial character. The lights of this station not being required to be of great brilliancy, it was determined to try small lanterns, burning mineral oil. These lights were first exhibited on June 10, and are found satisfactory.

270. Cherrystone, entrance to Cherrystone Inlet, Virginia.-The only work done at this station during the season has been repairs of a minor nature, and none are necessary except the establishment of a fog-bell rung by machinery. The present bell is rung by hand. It is proposed to do this work and pay for it from the general appropriation for fogsignals.

Too's Marshes, south side of the entrance to York River, Virginia.The work of establishing this light-station, under the appropriation approved June 23, 1874, was commenced May 24. The structure is now nearly completed, and will be lighted on the 15th of August. It is a screw-pile light-house, square in plan, the keeper's dwelling being surmounted by a lantern which contains the lens.

Solomon's Lump, in Kedge's Strait, between Tangier Sound and Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.-A site having been selected for the light-house to be built on Solomon's Lump, to take the place of the one at Fog Point, and plans having been prepared, the work was begun on the 21st of June, and is now in progress. The structure will be a screw-pile light-house, on five wrought-iron piles, square in plan, with a lantern surmounting the keeper's dwelling. It is expected that the light will be exhibited during the present season.

288. Thomas's Point Shoal, mouth of South River, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.-An additional appropriation of $15,000 having been made by act approved March 3, 1875, for this light-house, the location of which is one of great exposure, the plans were prepared, and proposals for furnishing the iron-work were invited by public advertisement. This work is now progressing well, and it is expected that the structure will be finished during the present season. It is to be an iron-pile light-house, the foundation piles of which are to be of wrought iron, ten inches in diameter. The superstructure will be of wood, and serve as a keeper's dwelling. It will be surmounted by a lantern of the fourth order. When this light-house is finished, the light on Thomas's Point will be discontinued.

290. Sandy Point, west side of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.-The light at this station, situated on the main land, is too far from the channel to be

efficient. The shoals make out from the point a distance of about one mile, and vessels drawing more than ten feet of water cannot approach within that distance of the light-house. The fog-bell at this station can seldom be heard on account of its distance from the channel. This light-house marks a turning-point. A change in the location to the outer edge of the shoal and the establishment of an efficient fog-signal is recommended, and an appropriation of $30,000 is asked for that purpose. A structure somewhat similar to that being built at Thomas's Point, it is believed, will answer the purpose.

291. Love Point, mouth of Chester River, Maryland.-After due adver tisement for bids, contract was made with the lowest bidder for furnishing the riprap protection to this light-house, under the appropriation made by act approved June 23, 1874. Since this riprap has been placed, the light-house has stood the severe test of the winter of 1874-75 without damage or material displacement of the stone. It may now be cousidered secure.

292. Craighill Channel range-beacons, mouth of Patapsco River, Maryland, upper or rear light.-Shortly after the date of the last annual report, work on this station was resumed, aud in March of the present year the structure was completed.

293. Craighill Channel range beacons, mouth of Patapsco River, Maryland, lower or front light.-The iron tubular foundation described in the last annual report was surmounted by a temporary structure until October of last season, when, the iron superstructure having been completed, it was placed in position. About 675 cubic yards additional of riprap was placed around the structure. The heavy ice of the past winter did no damage to this station, though the locality is one of great exposure.

295. Fort Carroll, on Fort Carroll, Patapsco River, Maryland.—The skeleton frame structure surmounting the keeper's dwelling on the parade of the fort having become so decayed as to endanger the safety of the keeper and his family, a new beacon was erected on the southwest salient, over the second tier of casemates. The lens and fog bell machine were removed into the new structure, and the light exhibited from it on the 5th of May, 1875. The change having been made, the old structure was removed, the roof of the keeper's house repaired, and the station put in thorough order.

- Mathias Point, Virginia, or Port Tobacco Flats, Maryland, Potomac River.—Under the orders of the board, the district officers made a careful examination of the Potomac River in this vicinity, with a view to determining the best location for this light-house. The board, after a careful consideration of their report, decided to locate the light-house on Port Tobacco Flats, and erect the day-beacon on the shoal off Mathias Point. The plans having been prepared, proposals for manu facturing the iron-work were called for by public advertisement, and awarded to the lowest bidder. The iron-work is now in process of construction, but will not be finished in time to erect the light-house at the site during the present season. This will be undertaken early in the spring.

311. Currituck Beach, sea-coast of North Carolina.-A full account of the foundation for this important structure is given in the last annual report, since which time the work has been prosecuted without intermission. The piles being driven for the foundation, they were inclosed by a coffer-dam, and the material inside excavated to a depth of about seven feet. The bottom around the piles was then well rammed with stone paving set edgewise, and the space between the heads of the piles tilled in

with concrete. The work on the superstructure was then commenced, and has been in progress since that time. The tower is nearly finished, and it is expected that the light will be exhibited about December 1. The material for this structure has been delivered at the pier near Church's Island, in Currituck Sound, and thence towed in scows of light draught a distance of about ten miles to the light-house wharf. The establishment of this light completes the chain from the mouth of Chesapeake Bay to Cape Hatteras, and supplies a want long felt by commerce.

315. Hatteras Inlet, Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.-The material for this light-house and a working force for its erection were shipped to the station early in July, 1874, and the erection of the structure immediately commenced. The work was finished in September and the light exhibited October 1, 1874. The light-house consists of a frame dwelling, square in plan, resting on a foundation of five solid wrought-iron piles, eight inches in diameter, which are screwed vertically into the shoal to a distance of about ten feet, the keeper's dwelling being surmounted by a lantern of the fourth order.

321. Neuse River, entrance to Neuse River, North Carolina.-The roof of this structure, which is a screw-pile light-house, was removed during the past season, a new one put on, and the station left in good order.

324. Roanoake Marshes, on the east side of the narrow channel_connecting Pamlico and Croatan Sounds, North Carolina.-An appropriation of $15,000 was made by act approved March 3, 1875, for rebuilding the light-house at this station. It was found upon examination that the soil upon which this light-house stands is very soft to a great depth, so that it may become necessary to select a new site in the vicinity. The iron-work for the structure is now in hand, but owing to the difficulties of the site it is estimated that it will require $5,000 additional to complete the structure, and it is recommended that an appropriation for this amount be made.

REPAIRS.

At each of the following-named stations there have been repairs and renovations more or less extensive during the year:

262. Old Point Comfort, entrance to Hampton Roads, Virginia. 263. Craney Island, near the mouth of Elizabeth River, Virginia. 264. Lambert's Point, Elizabeth River, Virginia.

266. White Shoal, James River, Virginia.

267. Point of Shoals, James River, Virginia.

268. Deep Water Shoals, James River, Virginia.

271. Black River, entrance to Black River, Virginia.

272. York Spit, entrance to York River, Virginia.

274. Wolf Trap, east end of Wolf Trap Shoal, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.

275. Stingray Point, mouth of Rappahannock River, Virginia. 276. Windmill Point, mouth of Rappahannock River, Virginia. 277. Watts Island, east side of Tangier Sound, Virginia.

278. James Island, entrance to Little Aunamessex River, Maryland. 299. Somer's Cove, north side of Little Annamessex River, Maryland. 280. Smith's Point, mouth of Potomac River, Virginia. 283. Point Lookout, entrance to Potomac River, Maryland.

284. Hooper's Straits, abreast of entrance to Honga River, Maryland. 285. Cove Point, north of entrance to Patuxent River, Maryland. 286. Sharp's Island, off north end of Sharp's Island, Maryland. 287. Choptank River, opposite entrance to Choptank and Treadhaven Rivers, Maryland.

289. Greenbury Point, entrance to Severn River, Maryland. 296, 297. Hawkins Point, upper and lower lights, south side of Patapsco River, Maryland.

298. Leading Point, south side of Patapsco River, Maryland. 300. Pool's Island, off mouth of Gunpowder River, Maryland. 301. Turkey Point, at the head of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. 302. Fishing Battery, entrance to Susquehanna River, Maryland. 303. Havre de Grace, south bank of Susquehanna River, Maryland. 304. Piney Point, east side of Potomac River, Maryland. 305 Blackistone's Island, north side of Potomac River, Maryland. 306. Lower Cedar Point, west side of Potomac River, Virginia. 307. Upper Cedar Point, opposite mouth of Tobacco River, Maryland. 308. Fort Washington, on wharf at Fort Washington, Maryland. 309. Jones's Point, west bank of Potomac River, Virginia. 310. Bowler's Rock, Rappahannock River, Virginia.

312. Body's Island, on Body's Island, coast of North Carolina.

313. Cape Hatteras, coast of North Carolina.

316. Ocracoke, entrance to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

317. Southwest Point Royal Shoal, on the southwest point of Royal Shoal, North Carolina.

318. Northwest Point Royal Shoal, on the northwest point of Royal Shoal, North Carolina.

319. Harbor Island, between Pamlico and Core Sounds, North Carolina.

320. Brant Island Shoal, southern part of Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.

322. Pamlico Point, entrance to Pamlico River, North Carolina.

323. Long Shoal, on the east point of Long Shoal, Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.

328. Roanoke River, near the mouth of Roanoke River, North Carolina.

329. Cape Lookout, near the extremity of Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

LIGHT-SHIPS.

There are no light-ships in this district.

FOG SIGNALS OPERATED BY STEAM OR HOT-AIR.

There are no fog-signals operated by steam or hot-air engines in this district.

DAY OR UNLIGHTED BEACONS.

The number and positions of the day or unlighted beacons in the fifth district remain the same as in the last annual report. Under the appropriation made by act approved March 3, 1873, sites have been selected for three day-beacons in the Potomac River.

The plans have been prepared, and the material is now ready to be put in place. It is not expected, however, to commence work at the sites until spring. The structures are to be of iron, one of them being a castiron tube filled with concrete; the others are to be made of solid wroughtiron piles, braced and tied together, and surmounted by a cage.

BUOYS.

Much trouble is caused from the Maryland line northward by schooners and other vessels making fast to the buoys and dragging them from

their positions, particularly in and about the Craighill and Brewerton channels and the approaches to Baltimore, there being no law in the State of Maryland, as in most of the seaboard States, making such conduct an offense to be punished by the courts.

The buoyage of the district in very extensive, and with the inferior vessels at the disposal of the inspector it is difficult to maintain it in proper condition. An efficient vessel for buoy service in much needed.

TENDERS.

The two steam-tenders Heliotrope and Tulip employed in this district are old vessels purchased some years ago to supply a pressing need. They are of small size and little power, low in the water, and unseaworthy in rough weather. They are as expensive to maintain as suitable vessels would be, while constant delay is caused by their unfitness for the work they are expected to perform. The recommendation contained in the last annual report, that an appropriation of $50,000 be made to build a tender for this district, is respectfully renewed.

DEPOTS.

Lazaretto Point, Patapsco River, Maryland.—At this depot a number of buoys, sinkers, &c., are kept for use as reliefs, and to supply losses in the channels leading to Baltimore and the upper part of the Chesapeake and tributaries. The recommendation in the following extract from the last annual report is renewed:

"The wharf at this depot is in need of considerable repairs, which should be made without unnecessary delay. It is too small for the purpose, and should be extended so that a supply of coal can be kept there. The depot is much in need of a blacksmith shop, which should be separate from the store-house, and in which small forging could be exe cuted. The estimated cost of repairs to the wharf, and building a black; smith shop, is $4,000, for which an appropriation is asked."

Portsmouth, Elizabeth River, Virginia.-At this depot are kept the principal supply of spare buoys and appurtenances, coal for the use of steam tenders and for light-house stations; also supplies to meet cases of emergency. Most of the spare buoys used in the district are made here. This depot is in good condition.

Washington, Pamlico River, North Carolina.-The wharf requires filling in and grading between the wharf logs and the lot, and several fender-piles in front to make it secure and prevent the tenders from over-riding it during freshets. Belaying-posts are also required to be placed on the wharf.

This work is being done from time to time without expense by the crew of the tender Maggie.

SIXTH DISTRICT.

The sixth district extends from New River Inlet, North Carolina, to and including Cape Canaveral light-house, Florida, and embraces part of the coast of North Carolina, the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia, and part of the coast of Florida.

Inspector.-Commander Charles S. Norton, United States Navy, to December 31, 1874; Captain A. E. K. Benham, United States Navy, present inspector.

Engineer.-Major Franklin Harwood, Corps of Engineers, brevet