Executive Order 2584
In accordance with the authority vested in me by section 44 of the act entitled "An act to codify, revise, and amend the penal laws of the United States," approved March 4, 1909, as amended by the act "making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, and for other purposes," approved March 4, 1917, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do order that defensive sea areas are hereby established, to be maintained until further notification, at the places and within the limits prescribed as follows, that is to say:
MOUTH OF KENNEBEC RIVER
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Pond Island Light as center, radius 2 nautical miles.
Inner limit: A line east and west (true) through Perkins Island Light.
PORTLAND.
Outer limit: Arc of circle center Portland Head Light, radius 2 nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line Portland Breakwater Light to west bastion Fort Gorges.
PORTSMOUTH.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Whaleback Reef Light as center, radius 2½ nautical miles.
Inner limit: A line south (true) from southwest point of Clarks Island.
BOSTON.
Outer limit: Line from Strawberry Point to Spouting Horn.
Inner limit: Line west tangent Sheep Island to wharf on east side of Long Island. Line from wharf west side Long Island to large wharf west side of Deer Island.
NEW BEDFORD.
Outer limit: Arc of circle, center the east point of reef off Clark Point, radius distance to Dumping Rocks Lighthouse.
Inner limit: Line between Butler Flats Light and Egg Island beacon.
NEWPORT.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Beaver Tail Light as center and radius of 2 nautical miles.
Inner limit: Fort Adams fog bell to north tangent of North Dumpling. East and west line through Plum Beach light.
LONG ISLAND EAST.
Outer limit: Line joining Watch Hill and Montauk Point lights.
Inner limit: Line joining Plum Island Light and Mumford Point.
NEW YORK EAST.
Outer limit: Line joining Execution Rocks Light and east tangent of Huckleberry Island.
Inner limit: A line north (true) through Whitestone Point Light.
NEW YORK MAIN ENTRANCE.
Outer limit: Arc of circle center Romer Shoal Light, radius six (6) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line west (true) from flagpole on wharf at Fort Hamilton.
DELAWARE RIVER.
Outer limit: East and west line through north end of Reedy Island.
Inner limit: East and west line through Finns Neck Rear Range Light.
CHESAPEAKE ENTRANCE.
Outer limit: Line parallel to that joining Cape Henry Light and Cape Charles Light and four (4) nautical miles to eastward thereof, and the lines from Cape Charles Light and from Cape Henry Light perpendicular to this line.
Inner limit: Line parallel to line joining Cape Henry Light and Cape Charles Light and three (3) nautical miles to westward thereof.
BALTIMORE.
Outer limit: Line from Persimmon Point to Love Point.
Inner limit: Line joining Leading Point Range Light (Rear) and Sollers Point.
POTOMAC.
Outer limit: Line from Marshall Hall wharf to south extremity of Ferry Point.
Inner limit: Line from River View wharf drawn west (true).
HAMPTON ROADS.
Outer limit: Line from Black River Light to point one (1) nautical mile east (true) of Thimble Shoal Light; then south (true) to shore.
Inner limit: Line tangent to end of wharf on west side of Old Point Comfort and Fort Wool.
WILMINGTON—CAPE FEAR.
Outer limit: Oak Island Life-Saving Station as center of arc, radius five (5) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line joining south end of Fort Caswell and Smith Island Range Beacon (Rear).
CHARLESTON.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Fort Sumter Light as center, radius six (6) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line joining Charleston Light and Fort Sumter Light.
SAVANNAH.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Tybee Island Light as center, radius ten (10) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line across channel through southeast end of Cockspur Island.
KEY WEST.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Key West Light as center, radius seven (7) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line joining south tangent East Crawfish Key and south tangent of Fort Taylor.
TAMPA.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Egmont Key Light as center, radius six (6) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line tangent to southwest point of Mullet Key and east tangent of Passage Key.
PENSACOLA.
Outer limit: Arc of circle, center Cut (Front) Range Light, radius six (6) nautical miles.
Inner limit: South (true) from east corner of clock at navy yard, old dry-dock slip.
MOBILE.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Fort Morgan Light as center, radius (six) 6 nautical miles.
Inner limit: Fort Gaines to Fort Morgan.
MISSISSIPPI.
Outer limit: Lucas Canal.
Inner limit: Bolivar Point.
GALVESTON.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Fort Point Light as center, radius five (5) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line joining Bolivar Point and Fort Point Lights.
SAN DIEGO.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with Point Loma Light as center, radius two (2) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line joining Beacons Nos. 3 and 4.
SAN FRANCISCO.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with center at middle point of line joining Point Bonita Light and Rock at Cliff House, radius four (4) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line from Bluff Point to Point Campbell on Angel Island and line from Quarry Point on Angel Island to extreme western point on Goat Island; also line from extreme western point on Goat Island to North Point, San Francisco.
COLUMBIA RIVER.
Outer limit: Arc of circle with center three (3) nautical miles south (true) from North Head Light, radius three (3) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line from wharf at Flavel Tansy Point at right angles to axis of channel.
PORT ORCHARD.
Outer limit: Arc of circle, center Orchard Rock Spindle, radius two (2) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line from Point White at right angles to axis of channel to opposite bank.
HONOLULU.
Outer limit: Arcs of circles centers Diamond Head Light and Honolulu Harbor Light, radii nine (9) nautical miles.
Inner limit: Line across channel at No. 7 fixed light.
MANILA.
Outer limit: Line through Luzon Point and Fuego Point.
Inner limit: Line through San Nicolas Shoal Light and Mt. Sungay.
The responsibility of the United States of America for any damage inflicted by force of arms with the object of detaining any person or vessel proceeding in contravention to regulations duly promulgated in accordance with this Executive order shall cease from this date.
The White House,
- April 5, 1917.
Regulations for carrying into effect the Executive order of the President establishing defensive sea areas, April 5, 1917.
Whereas in accordance with section forty-four of the act entitled "An act to codify, revise, and amend the penal laws of the United States," approved March fourth, nineteen hundred and nine, as amended by "An act making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and for other purposes." approved March fourth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, defensive sea areas have been established by my order of April 5, 1017.
Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do hereby authorize and promulgate the following orders and regulations for the government of persons and vessels within the limits of defensive sea areas, which orders and regulations are necessary for purposes of national defense:
- In the neighborhood of each defensive sea area entrances have been designated for incoming and outgoing vessels, including, in the case of areas across which more than one channel exists, an entrance for each channel. Those entrances are described in Article X of these regulations in conjunction with the areas to which they respectively pertain.
- A vessel desiring to cross a defensive sea area shall proceed to the vicinity of the entrance to the proper channel, flying her national colors, together with international code number and pilot signal and there await communication with the harbor-entrance patrol. It is expressly prohibited for any vessel to enter the limits of a defensive sea area otherwise than at a designated entrance and after authorization by the harbor-entrance patrol.
- Boats and other craft employed in the harbor-entrance patrol will be distinguished by the union jack, which will be shown from a position forward; they will also fly the usual naval pennant. At night they may show a vertical hoist of three lights—white, red, and white, in the order named.
- On receiving permission from the harbor-entrance patrol to enter a defensive sea area, a vessel must comply with all instructions as to pilotage and other matters that she may receive from proper authority, either before or during her passage across the area. It is understood that only upon condition of such compliance is the said permission granted.
- No permission will be granted to other than a public vessel of the United States to cross a defensive sea area between sunset and sunrise, nor during the prevalence of weather conditions that render navigation difficult or dangerous. A vessel arriving off a defensive sea area after sunset shall anchor or lie-to at a distance of at least a mile outside its limits until the following sunrise; vessels discovered near the limits of the areas at night may be fired upon.
- No vessel shall be permitted to proceed within the limits of a defensive sea area at a greater speed than five (5) knots per hour.
- All matters pertaining to fishery and the passage of small crafts within a defensive sea area shall be regulated by the senior officer of the harbor-entrance patrol.
- These regulations are subject to modification by the senior officer of the harbor-entrance patrol when the public interest may require, and such notification as circumstances may permit will be issued regarding modifications thus made.
- Any master of a vessel or other person within the vicinity of a defensive sea area who shall violate these regulations, or shall fail to obey an order to stop or heave-to, or shall perform any act threatening the efficiency of mine or other defenses or the safety of navigation, or shall take any action inimical to the interests of the United States in its prosecution of war, may be detained therein by force of arms and renders himself liable to prosecution as provided for in the act to codify, revise, and amend the penal laws of the United States, approved March 4, 1909, as amended by "the act making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, and for other purposes," approved March 4, 1917.
- The designated entrances to defensive sea areas referred to in article 1 of these regulations shall be as follows:
DEFENSIVE SEA AREA Designated entrances for incoming vessels. Designated entrances for outgoing vessels. Kennebec River, Me.: Seguin Island Light bearing west (true) distant 1 nautical mile. In the channel between Perkins Island and Bald Head. Portland, Me.: Portland Head Light bearing northwest (true) distant 2½ nautical miles. In harbor north of Portland Breakwater Light.
Portsmouth, N. H.: At a point one-half nautical mile south (true) of Gunboat Shoal Buoy. In the channel to the westward of Clark Island. Boston, Mass.: Boston Light Vessel................................... In President Roads west of a line drawn north and south (true), one-half nautical mile west of Deer Island Light. New Bedford, Mass.: Dumpling Hooks Light heading northwest (true) distant 1½ nautical miles. In the channel west of Egg Island Beacon. Newport, R. I.: Beaver Tail Light bearing north (true) distant 2½ nautical miles. In the channel west of Goat Island.
In the channel northeast (true) of Plum Beach Light.
Long Island Sound, eastern entrance: Watch Hill Light bearing northwest (true) distant 5 nautical miles. Bartlett Reef Light Vessel. Long Island Sound, west end: Execution Rocks Light bearing southwest (true) distant 1 nautical mile. In channel west of a line drawn north (true) from Whitestone Light. New York, southern entrance: Sandy Hook Light bearing west (true) distant 10 nautical miles. In Narrows north of a line drawn west (true) from flagpole on Fort Hamilton Wharf.
Delaware River: In the channel below Reedy Island. In the channel off New Castle, Pa. Chesapeake Bay entrance: Chesapeake Bay Main Ship Channel Entrance Buoy. In the channel between buoys N2 and No. 3 Gas Buoy. Baltimore, Md.: At Buoy N2C, entrance to Craighill Channel. In channel on line between Leading Point and Sollers Point. Potomac River: In channel off Dague Creek............. In channel off River View. Hampton Roads: In channel 2 nautical miles to eastward and southward of Thimble Shoal Light. In channel to northwestward of entrance buoy of dredged channel, Elizabeth River.
Cape Fear, N. C.: At a point 4 nautical miles south-southwest (true) from bell buoy at entrance channel. In channel near Beacon No. 2A, off Battery Island. Charleston, S. C.: Charleston Light Ship................. Lower anchorage to westward of north and south line (true) through Fort Sumter Light.
Tybee Roads, Savannah, Ga.: 4 nautical miles east of Whistling Buoy. Quarantine anchorage. Key West, Fla.: Sand Key Light bearing west-northwest (true), distant 5 nautical miles. In channel of fixed red beacon to north-northwestward of Fort Taylor. Tampa, Fla.: Whistling Buoy, at entrance to dredged channel. Off quarantine station. Pensacola, Fla.: Pensacola Light bearing north-northwest (true), distant 8 nautical miles. East corner of dock at navy yard bearing northwest (true), distant one-half nautical mile.
Mobile, Ala.: Whistling Buoy at entrance bearing north (true), distant 2 nautical miles. Near Buoy C5. Mississippi River: South Pass Gas and Whistling Buoy. Buras Church. Galveston, Tex.: Lighted Buoy No. 1 off South Jetty, bearing west (true), distant 2 nautical miles. United States Quarantine Station. San Diego, Cal.: Entrance Whistling Buoy............. Between Beacons 5 and 6. San Francisco, Cal.: San Francisco Lightship........... Off Quarry Point, Angel Island, and off light, Goat Island.
Columbia River: North Head Light bearing northeast (true), distant 6 nautical miles. In channel to eastward of Tansy Point. Port Orchard, Wash.: In Sound to eastward of line joining Restoration Point and east end of Blake Island and 1 nautical mile south (true) of Restoration Point. To westward of Point White. Honolulu, Hawaii: Honolulu Harbor Light bearing north-northeast (true), distant 10 nautical miles. In harbor north of Honolulu Harbor Lighthouse. Manila, P. I.: Peak of Corregidor Island bearing north-northeast (true), distant 12 nautical miles. San Nicolas Shoal Light bearing south (true), distant 1 nautical mile.
The Secretary of the Navy will be charged with the publication and enforcement of these regulations.
Woodrow Wilson
The White House,
- April 5, 1917.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
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