BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 237 



growth. Observations which I have made from time to time have 

 shown me that oysters grow as rapidly at Saint Jerome's Creek as at 

 any phice in the bay, and that they are exceptionally "ftit" and "large 

 in the flesh" early in the season, and that they are possibly on that ac- 

 count more prolific than the oysters from the open waters, which get 

 less food than those in the waters of this creek, where the choicest food 

 of the oyster is to a large extent held in by the partially land locked 

 condition prevailing, while this food is generated much more ruindlyin 

 such places on account of the more effective action of the sun's rays in 

 warming the shallow confined waters. 

 Washington, D. C, June 17, 1884. 



137 OIV THK OCCURRENCE OF COKAr,S ON THE CiRANJD bANKS. 



By Capt, J. W. COL.L.IWS. 



Eelative to the occurrence of corals on the slopes of the outer fishing- 

 banks, I beg to say that the place of greatest abnudance— of the Prim- 

 noa reseda more particularly — is on the eastern slope of Banquereau, 

 in from 150 to 200 lathoms or more, and latitude 44° 28' N. This 

 " spot," which is several miles in extent — the latitude given marks about 

 its center — is covered to such an extent with a coral growth that it seldom 

 happens that trawl-lines set on it are all recovered. The fishermen have 

 learned to avoid the place somewhat, and they have given it the name 

 of " The Stone Fence " Stones of considerable size (as large as the 

 fishing lines will lift) are not infrequently pulled up, and it is possible 

 that a proper investigation of this locality might result in securing some 

 rocks containing interesting fossils. 



On what is called the " Middle Prong " of Banquereau, in 44° 13' north 

 latitude and 58° 02' west longitude, in from 250 to 350 fiithoms of water, 

 I found considerable many corals in July. 1879, and among others 

 several specimens of the gold-banded coral, the latter being more 

 plentiful than I have seen it elsewhere. This place is small, however, 

 not more than three-fourths of a mile in diameter, and would prob- 

 ably be somewhat difficult to find, unless the weather was fine and clear. 



Eeferring to the last-mentioned locality, I find the following in my 

 journal, under date of July 30, 1879, the vessel then being anchored 

 in 205 fathoms, latitude 44° 14' north, longitude 58° 03' west: " Four 

 of our trawls were on the ' Spot,' which bears about southeast by east 

 from the vessel, and is about two-thirds of a mile distant, to its near- 

 est edge. It is about three fourths of a mile in diameter; the bottom, 

 'catchy,' having a growth of corals of various kinds, including the fol- 

 lowing varieties: Gold-band coral {Keratoisis or«rt^«), great tree coral 

 {Fuvugorgia), bush coral {Acanella normani), and tree coral {Primnoa 

 reseda).'''' 



Washington, D. C, June 6, 1884. 



