The mangroTe trees bordering the channel leading into Mangrove 

 Lagoon similarly have many oysters attached. Here the bottom is 

 hard sand and broken shell, with few spots with silt or grass. The 

 bottom water temperature was 25.2°C., emd the salinity 37.03 parts per 

 thousand on March 25. 



Mangrove Lagoon is shallow and the bottom is mostly hard sand, 

 with a few areas covered by grass. Fswer oysters are present on the 

 mangrove roots in the lagoon proper than are found in the channel 

 leading to the lagoon. The bottom water temperature was 25.8 C, and 

 the salinity 36.02 parts per thousand. 



The island of St. John is mountainous like St. Thomas. The 

 ooast is abrupt and rocky, particularly along the northern shore 

 facing Drake's Channel, where the ocean beats against rocky cliffs, 

 lliere are few inlets suitable for the growing of oysters. Cruz Bay 

 on the western end of the island, and Coral Bay on the eastern end 

 are protected bodies of water and offer the best locations for oysters 

 in the waters of St. John. Coral Bay has three small tributary arms ; 

 Round Bay is open and has a rocky and sandy shore, while Hurricane Hole 

 and Coral Harbor are protected and are fringed with mangrove trees. 

 Hurricane Hole is a deep inlet with steep banks; the bottom is rocky 

 and has considerable coral. The animal oOBomvinity of Hurricane Hole is 

 typical for a coral reef and the clear and quiet water makes a study of 

 the bottom and its marine life particularly interesting. The mangrove 

 roots have a few tree oysters but no Ostrea rhitcphorae . Specimens of 

 Ostrea crista ta are present. Sponges, varied echinoderms, and colorful 

 reef fishes are abundant among the numerous different types of corals. 

 At the time of observation on March 26, the bottom water temperature 

 was 25.2°C., and the salinity 36.04 parts per thousand. 



Coral Harbor, the innennost part of Coral Bay, has many oysters 

 covering the roots of the mangroves bordering the shores. The concrete 

 dock at Coral Harbor is well covered with oysters of all sizes, but the 

 majority of the spat and young oysters are dead. The area receives 

 considerable fresh water at times of heavy rains; this brings in a 

 large amount of soil and makes the bottom in Coral Harbor a soft mud 

 close to shore where the greatest amount of water enters. "Bie salinity 

 of the water was 36.69 parts per thousand. The bottom water temperature 

 was 25.3 C, at the time of observation. 



The southern coast of the island of St. Johji, although less abrupt 

 than the northern coast, is still exposed and rocky. The few inlets 

 have rocky or sandy shores and bottans. 



Cruz Bay on the west coast of St. John is well protected and is 

 fringed with mangroves. "Hhe bott<»n here is muddy and soft and the roots 

 of the mangroves are nearly free of marine life. A few small barnacles 

 are attached to rocks along the shore, but no oysters were fovind. Clams, 



10 



