160 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



depth decreases going up the Old Bahama Channel to 700 

 or 800 fathoms south of the Great Bahama bank. 



This in a general way shows the relation between the 

 islands forming the Bahamas, and between this group and 

 Florida, and the two islands Haiti and Cuba. 



The charts show that there is a submarine ridjje con- 

 necting Yucatan and Cuba. The shortest distance is about 

 fifteen miles, but the shallowest water lies somewhat to the 

 north with a depth of about 600 fathoms, and an extreme 

 depth* of over 1,000 fathoms. A similar ridge connects 

 Honduras and Jamaica, but the extreme depth is only 700 

 or 800 fathoms. Jamaica and Cuba are separated by deep 

 water of 1,100 to 2,000 fathoms; Jamaica and Haiti by 

 shallower water, but an extreme depth of over 1,000 

 fathoms. Cuba and Haiti are connected by a submarine 

 ridge lying north of the shortest line connecting them, 

 which is probably nowhere over 900 fathoms deep. From 

 Haiti through Puerto Rico and the Windward Islands to 

 South America, the islands are not separated by more than 

 1,000 fathoms of water. There is a narrow channel east 

 of the Virgin Islands which is somewhat deeper, but a nar- 

 row ridge separates this from the Caribbean Sea, and con- 

 nects Puerto Rico with Santa Cruz, which is covered by 

 less than 1,000 fathoms. 



If from any cause the depth of the water of the ocean 

 should be lessened by 100 fathoms there would be exposed 

 the Little Bahama and Great Bahama banks and several of 

 the smaller banks to the southeast. The Bahamas would 

 be separated from the surrounding islands and from Florida, 

 and the important channels would still occupj' the same 

 places. If reduced by 300 fathoms the Great Bahama 

 bank would be united with Cuba. If the water were 500 

 fathoms shallower than at present, the Little and Great 

 Bahama banks would be united with Florida, and some of 



* By extreme depth is meant the deepest point on a curve connecting 

 the shallowest points. 



