THE CARIBBEAN AREA ~ HONDURAS 



The winds along Honduran Caribbean coast are easterly throughout the year with a 

 pronounced diurnal variation. In the late night and early moming, caL-^s and lignt off- 

 shore winds are frequent. During the day and into the night, the trades blow, sojieti.iies 

 attaining considerable strength in the afternoon. 



Seldom do strong winds blow in the early morning except during the months of November 

 and Decent) er. Nearly every year during these months, there are a few days with northerly 

 winds of gale force and with heavy rain continuing throughout the 24 hours. 



Rainfall is plentiful throughout the year with a maximum in November and a miniimim in 

 March, April, and May. The amount increases from east to west along the coast. 



The climate is hot and hiimid, the temperature ranging from 74- degrees F. in January to 

 81 degrees F. in May. 



The coast is affected to a considerable extent by northers — cool winds from the north 

 of continental origin. These occur only from October to April. They have effects of lowering 

 water temperatures and modifying current and surf conditions. Tropical cyclones or storms 

 sometiines cut into the Gulf of Honduras region and are most frequent in Septaaber and October, 



The mcnths of best weather for fishing craft occur from February to July, but there are 

 other limited tiaes when good weather for fishing is afforded. During the period of the 

 northers, surf conditions are often very heavy, rendering small -boat operations hazardous in 

 the open sea. 



Pacific Coaat ; The Pacific coastline of Honduras is limited to the northeastern shores 

 of the Gulf of Fonseca — ain extension of some 40 miles from the boundary of El Salvador at the 

 Goascoran River to the Nicaraguan boundary between the Rio Negro and the Estero Blanco. 

 Practically the entire region is one of extensive shoals with greatest depths in the channels 

 of about 60 feet. Much of the area is estuarine with low-lying mangrove swamps. There are a 

 number of large bays — among them being Cismayo Bay, San Lorenzo Bay, and the estuaries of 

 Bio Pedregal and Rio Bernardo. Tigre Island, on which Amapala, the principal port, is located, 

 is the largest island in Honduran territoi-ial waters on this coast. Much of the inshore area 

 is navigable only with very small craft. There is ample shelter and good anchorage, and 

 Amapala is rated as a good port. 



Land and sea breezes blow regularly from the end of February to the beginning of May, 

 The former &re light, and blow from early evening until morning from northeast and from north- 

 northwest. The sea breezes set in about 11:00 in the morning and last until about 8:00 in the 

 evening, and these blow fresh from south and southwest. During these months, the atmosphere 

 over the land is thick. 



During the rainy season, from May to October, t he weather is variable with occasional 

 heavy rain squalls from the east, but when the weather is settled, light variable winds pre- 

 vail from northeast or north-northeast. Froin October to February, heavy northerly winds may 

 be expected, sometlnes lasting more than a week and interrupting all communications by boats 

 in the open giilf , In the intervals, when northerly winds are not blowing, slight variable 

 winds prevail. 



Communications by road are available between San Lorenzo at the head of San Lorenzo Bay 

 to Tegucigalpa, the capital. 



Tidal currents are often strong with practically no slack water. This causes whirlpools 

 in certain localities. Bottom is chiefly mud with some sand areas. 



Species and Distribution 



Caribbean Coaat ; The Caribbean coast is regarded as the most productive because of the 

 extensive lagoons on the coast and the tremendous reef areas to the northeast. The principal 

 types of fish are those of the lagoons and estuaries and those of the reefs. Inshore, pelagic 



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