THE CARIBBEWI AREA — BRITISH H0NDURA5 



FISHERY RESOURCES 



The Character of the Coast 



The Colony of British Honduras has a coastline only on the Caribbean. It extends 

 northward from the Guatemalan boundary at the Sarstoon River to the Rio Hondo, the Mexican 

 boundary. The coast is approximately 2{X) miles in length, disregarding the numerous bays 

 and lagoons, islands and cays. Much of the coast is low-lying and backed by extensive man- 

 grove swamps and lagoons. For considerable stretches, there is sandy beach. Just back of 

 the beach, there is often extensive brushwood areas, and further back, lagoons and swamps. 

 On the higher lands are scrub pines and other trees. A number of rivers and creeks enter 

 the sea on this coast, but most are navigable only for small flat-bottom boats or canoes. 

 Usually the bars at the entrance are shalloTi and obstructed by sand bars. Ihe banks are 

 often indefinite mangrove-swamp areas and there are numerous creeks eoctending in all 

 directions. The principal rivers are the Sarstoon, Sibun, Belize, Rio Nuevo, and Rio 

 Hondo, but there are many smaller ones. Extensive lagoon areas, many ujmamed, are fouiii 

 along the coast. One of the largest is the Placentia Lagoon, which extends for about 10 

 miles parallel to the coast. 



The edge of the bank of soundings, to the depth of 100 fathoms, fronting the head of 

 the Gulf of Honduras, is about 20 miles offshore abreast Negro Head; thence, its edge trends 

 north-northeastward for 35 miles to a sharp elbow named Gladden Spit, distant 22 miles from 

 the mainland. Here it curves northwestward and northward to another elbow, 3^ miles distant, 

 and 15 miles from the coast; »rtience, it continues its northerly direction for 50 miles to 

 Ambergris Cay at the entrance to Chetuinal Bay, 



The whole of the line is skirted at the very edge by small, low cays and reefs which are 

 of dangerous character and which in most parts have a heavy surf. 



Within the cays and reefs is the Inner or Main Channel, the southern approach to Belize. 

 Most of the Cays here are small and bare and are composed of coral, rock or sand. Some 

 support palm trees and grush, others have mangrove growths. A few have fresh-water wells 

 available. The cays are often frequented by fisheimen for fishing and drying their catches. 



Outside of the lOO-fathom curve are Glover Reef, Lighthouse Reef, and Tumeffe Cays. 

 These are each practically surrounded by a barrier reef, but amal I channels are available 

 to small boats. The bottom is chiefly of coral, coral sand, and coral mvid around the reefs. 

 Closer inshore, there are large expanses of mud bottom, and in some areas sandy bottom. 

 The river mouths may be mud or sand, depending upon the degree of washing. 



Prevailing winds are from southeast to east; they blow from the middle of February until 

 the end of September, increasing in strength about the end of February. North, northeast, 

 and northwest winds blow frcwn the end of September to the middle of February. The northwest 

 winds, however, blow for oily about 20 days. Northers occur mostly in November and December, 

 though they are occasionally experienced as late as the end of February, but they never blow 

 at a force of more than 4 to 5 (Beaufort scale), the weather b^ing as a rule fine and cool 

 with them. Gales occur during the suimer months, and are generally from the southeastward. 

 Calms are almost unknown and south and southwest winds are rare. 



The mean range of tides at Belize is 1.2 feet with a spring range of 1,5 feet. These 

 tides are much influenced by wind. Easterly winds have the effect of raising the water, 

 northerly winds cause it to fall; directly the wind comes to the northward of east, a set to 

 the southward ensues, irtiich sometimes attains a velocity of l-l/'i knots. In the winter months, 

 when the northers blow, there is a fall at times of from 2 to 2-1/2 feet, at this time there 

 is also a strong southerly set in the offing. 



Rainfall is abundant throughout the year, the least coming in March, April, and May. 

 The amount increases from north to south, averaging 52 inches at Corozal and 172 inches at 

 Punta Gorda. The climate would be very oppressive were it not for the prevailing winds which 

 blow off the ocean during the hot months. May to September are the warmest months with an 

 average of 81 degrees F. and December and January the coolest, with an average of 74 degrees F. 



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