BY E. C. ANDREWS. 



157 



JSigiis of elevation were also present on this island in the shape 

 of beach rock apparently in situ, and some eight feet above high 

 tides. 



The reefs around the >S. Palm Island are of the small fringing 

 type, and in common with those existing on the other islands on 

 the Queensland continental platform lack the luxuriance and 

 beauty of those seen on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef 

 or those in Fiji waters (Fig. 3a). 





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Fig. 3a. — Sketch Plan of Frinuin(4 Reef at South Palm Island. 



1. Coast Mountains. 2. Beach. 3. Fringing Keef. 4. Gutter in 

 Coral Reef (5 chains long). 5. Sea (10 fathoms deep;. 



A curious and instructive feature was observed in the frinsin^- 

 reef to windward. Here the reef is about 10 or 12 chains in 

 width, and rises from 10 fathoms water. A long lane of water, 

 a chain in width, is cut clean as with a knife across the reef, 



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Fig. 36.— Sketch Section across Gutter in S. Palm Island Fringinu 



Reef. 

 1. Coral Keef. 2. Gutter (60 feet deep, 1 chain wide), 



reaching almost to the shore. No corals whatever were observed 

 growing in this lane; the sides are precipitous, and 10 feet below 

 the surface appear to be slightly overhanging in character (Fig. 36). 



