est ports of entry. The revenue collected in the last fiscal year was: Providence, $201,977.87; Stonington, $1,511.76. The nearest light-houses are the Stonington and Watch Hill lights. The nearest fortification is Fort Trumbull, New London, Conn. Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available.. $143 04 143 04 C II. HARBOR OF REFUGE AT STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT. Stonington Harbor lies on the north side of the eastern entrance from the ocean into Long Island Sound. ORIGINAL CONDITIONS. Originally it was an open bay, unprotected from southerly storms and obstructed by a shoal, having at low water a depth of but 6 feet at the shoalest part. This shoal nearly filled the inner harbor, and left but a narrow channel on either side, of a depth insufficient to permit vessels of 12 feet draught to reach the upper wharves at low water. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 23 feet. PLANS OF THE WORK. A short breakwater was constructed in 1828-1831, at a cost of $34,776.65, for the protection of the commerce of the town of Stonington. The original project of 1871 for the further improvement of this harbor, and its subsequent modification, under which the work is now carried on, embraced dredging in the upper harbor to secure an increased depth for the accommodation of the local shipping interests, and the construc tion of two breakwaters in the outer harbor, designed to inclose a large anchorage or harbor of refuge in southerly storms for general commerce, and also to protect the shipping in the upper harbor. One of these breakwaters, the western, was to be built out from Wamphassuck Point, the southwestern limit of the harbor, and extend out about 2,000 feet, and the other, the eastern, on which we are now working, was to extend from the vicinity of Bartlett's Reef to the Middle Ground. The western breakwater was completed in 1880, at a cost of $103,190. The amount expended in dredging was about $45,000. A plat of this harbor showing the positions of the breakwaters was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, page 632. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1884. The amount expended upon the eastern breakwater up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $79,943.66, and its length at that date was 1,645 feet. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year, the former appropriation having been exhausted, no work was in progress. On the 28th of August, 1884, advertisements were issued for riprap stone for extending the breakwater under the provisions of the act of Congress of July 5, 1884, appropriating $10,000 for the work. The following proposals were received, and were opened September 22, 1884: Names and addresses of bidders. Price per ton of 2,240 pounds. James Scully, Groton, Conn.. John A. Bouker, New York City C. T. Derry and James Burr, Boston, Mass.... Charles F. Stoll, New London, Conn C. W. Parker, Rockport, Mass., and Isaac A. Sylvester, Newton, Mass $1 15 1 15 1 23 1 35 1 37 145 The lowest price having been named by two responsible bidders, Mr. James Scully and Mr. John A. Bouker, by an agreement between themselves and with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, the contract was awarded to Mr. John A. Bouker; contract dated October 13, 1884, to be commenced within thirty days from date of contract unless otherwise agreed, and completed June 30, 1885. Work under Mr. Bouker's contract commenced November 4, 1884, and was completed April 1, 1885. The total amount of stone delivered under the contract was 7,500 tons. Mr. A. H. Dickens was local inspector of the work. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND PROGRESS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $9,632.52, and the result was an extension of 205 feet on the western end of the eastern break water. Its total length at the close of the year was 1,850 feet. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886. No appropriation having been made at the last session of Congress, no work will be done during the next fiscal year. WORK REQUIRED TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The position of the western end of the eastern breakwater has not been determined, but it will probably be found necessary, in order to afford all of the protection desired, to extend the breakwater at least until it intersects a range from Stonington Light to the middle of Wicopessit Island. It may then be found desirable to carry it still further, possibly to the range from Stonington Light to the eastern end of Fisher's Island. In the former case the additional length required will be about 720 feet and in the latter 1,420 feet. The cost to complete cannot be stated with accuracy, on account of the uncertainty in regard to the prices at which future contracts may be let, but a fair estimate would probably be $53,000 for the shorter line and $101,000 for the longer one. There will therefore be required to be provided by future appropriation at least the sum of $53,000, and by reason of the great danger to navigation which the western end of the breakwater now is, and will be until it is completed and a light-house and fog-signal are erected upon it, it is very desirable that the whole amount required to finish the breakwater be granted at the next session of Congress. The completion of this work will afford a thoroughly protected anchorage for vessels drawing 18 feet of water, and a harbor of refuge for the immense commerce which daily passes between Long Island Sound and the eastward. Stonington Harbor is in the Stonington collection district, and is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected in the last fiscal year was $1,511.76. The nearest lights are Stonington Light and Latimer's Reef Light. The nearest fortification is Fort Trumbull, New London, Conn. July 1, 1884, amount available Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885, amount available.............. $56 34 10,000 00 10,056 34 $9,622 15 10 17 9,632 32 424 02 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 53,000 00 53,000 00 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. CUSTOM-HOUSE, STONINGTON, CONN., SIR: In reply to your favor of June 15, I herewith respectfully furnish commercial statistics for this port: Received Value of merchandise imported... Value of merchandise exported Amount of duties collected.. Hospital dues collected..... Miscellaneous... Entrance and clearance of coastwise steamers. Entrance and clearance of coast wise vessels Estimated value of cargoes in vessels entering and clearing coastwise: $33,800,000 32,100,000 130, 100 1,950 Tonnage of vessels registering in district. 110 Estimated tonnage of freight received and forwarded from wharf of Stonington Steamboat Company for year ending June 30, 1885.......... GEORGE H. ELLIOT, Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A. C 12. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF HARBOR AT HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS, WITH A VIEW OF DEEPENING THE HARBOR. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Newport, R. I., October 17, 1884. GENERAL: Referring to the circular letter from the Department, dated the 4th of September last, I have the honor to state that I have made a personal examination of the harbor of Hyannis, Mass., and submit the following report: Hyannis Harbor is on the southern shore of Cape Cod, nearly opposite the western end of Nantucket Island. By means of several appropriations by Congress, amounting to $70,904.82, a breakwater 1,170 feet long was constructed in the years 1827-38, for the purpose of making this harbor a harbor of refuge for vessels passing through Nantucket and Vineyard sounds. It was not as strongly built as we would now build a breakwater in a locality of like exposure, and, from 1852 to 1882, $52,452.76 was expended in increasing the width of its base and facing it with large stones. It is now in good condition, and bids fair not to require any additional repairs for many years to come. This is the only harbor on the north shore of Nantucket and Vineyard sounds, between Cape Monomoy and Wood's Holl, a distance of about 33 miles, and is much used for refuge by small vessels, but complaint is made that by reason of the insufficient depth of water inside the breakwater, vessels drawing 15 feet have to remain outside, under a partial protection furnished by the shoals. I think there is no doubt from what I learned that shoaling has occurred inside the breakwater, and in consideration of the former large expenditures in making this a harbor of refuge, and the increase in the size of coasting vessels, I deem it worthy of improvement by deepening, if it can be done with a moderate expenditure of money. On the 28th of June last the Chief of Engineers approved my sug gestion that a survey be made of Hyannis Harbor by means of a small remainder of a former appropriation, for the purpose of finding what changes had taken place. This survey has been made, but the results have not yet been fully platted. As soon as the map is completed I will submit a report of this survey. No further survey will be required. I inclose herewith letters from the light-keeper at Hyannis and Messrs. Crocker & Sons relative to the commercial statistics of the port, and the number of vessels making use of the harbor as a harbor of refuge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SIR: Your letter referring to river and harbor improvements received, and I write you the following reply: During the year 1882 there was received at this port by navigation Coal. Lumber ... tons.. 6,000 ....feet.. 1,250,000 Coal vessels with an average draught of 10 feet, about one-third the vessels harboring loaded to 13 feet. Average tonnage of coal vessels, 250; average capacity of grain vessels, 8,000 bushels; average capacity of lumber vessels, 100,000 feet. I remain, very respectfully, yours, Col. GEORGE H. ELLIOT, ALONZO F. LOTHROP, Keeper Hyannis Light Station. Engineer Office, U. S. A. LETTER OF MESSRS. T. CROCKER & SONS. Hyannis, Mass., September 3, 1884. DEAR SIR: We herewith mail to you in tabulated form the best information which we have been able to obtain in respect to the inquiry contained in your communication of August 27, relative to the commercial statistics of this port. We are, very respectfully, your obedient servant, There is a smaller commerce in brick, lime, clay, hay, shells, wood, boats, cement, and similar coastwise traffic. Hyannis is the only port with good facilities for discharging and shipping cargoes by water for a space of 100 miles from Provincetown to Wood's Holl. The railroad wharf has direct communication with all other towns on the cape. The yearly arrivals and departures comprise together 240 sailing vessels, also occasional steamers and various small craft. The number of vessels using this harbor for a refuge is about 1,650; steamers, 150. This harbor is known and considered to be the safest harbor, easy of approach, in the Vineyard Sound. SEPTEMBER 3, 1884. SURVEY OF HARBOR AT HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS, WITH A VIEW OF DEEPENING THE HARBOR. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Newport, R. I., December 12, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith the following report upon the survey of the harbor of refuge at Hyannis, Mass., which was |