44 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



gas is now a naval coaling station, and a naval surgeon is stationed 

 at Fort Jefferson, which is in telegraphic connection with Key West. 

 A large naval tug makes two regular trips each week to and fro 

 between Key West and the Tortugas, completing the journey in less 

 than six hours. The climate is rendered cool by the small land area 

 and the almost constant breeze. There are no sand flies and practi- 

 cally no mosquitoes on Bird and Loggerhead keys, while the few mos- 





Gulf-Weed and Marine Animals cast upon the Beach of Loggerhead Key, Tortugas, 



BY A Gale of seven hours' Duration. 



quitoes at Fort Jefferson could be eradicated by screening the cisterns. 

 The quarantine station has been removed, and the place is most health- 

 ful on account of its isolation. 



With the exception of several species of gulls, numerous migrating 

 birds and a few insects, the land fauna of the Tortugas is uninterest- 

 ing, and the flora is limited to the few plants which can cling to 

 beaches of coral sand. In these respects Jamaica is incomparably 

 superior to the Tortugas. The social conditions, and opportunity for 

 the study of a diversified land and fresh-water fauna and flora in 

 Jamaica are far superior to those which may be enjoyed at the Tor- 

 tugas. On the other hand, the Tortugas has a far richer pelagic and 

 certainly equally good littoral fauna, the purest of ocean water, and 

 it affords the best situation in the world from which to study the life 

 and conditions of the Gulf Stream. To students from the middle 

 west the Tortugas are more accessible than is Jamaica. 



