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cruising, hunting, and even traveling or socializing; and 4) aesthetic 

 appreciation of the total environment. 



Based on attendance, the most heavily used beaches in the United 

 States are Long Island in New York and the coastal beaches of 

 Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, and California. The 

 majority of these beaches face the open sea rather than an estu- 

 ary or coastal sound. It is estimated that less than 10 per cent 

 of the entire coastal swimming activity, or less than 3 per cent 

 of all swimming participation, occurs inside embayments. This 

 apparent lack of utilization of swimming is based on several factors 

 varying from personal preference to environmental quality. The 

 most significant reasons are these: 



(1) There is a lack of large sandy beaches, surf, and expansive 

 seascapes. 



(2) Public access is limited bacause of marshy terrain and pri- 

 vate development along the shoreline. (For example, of all 

 Maryland's 41 State parks, including those authorized or 

 under construction, only five are on the estuaries. In 

 Connecticut only five of the 82 State parks are located on 

 the coast, despite a recreation shoreline of 162 Miles). 



(3) Swimming is often prohibited or is disagreeable in embay- 

 ments because of low water quality. 



