190 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



would make 6 feet the maximum depth that could be obtained without recourse to 

 blasting. I had no means of ascertaining how wide this reef is. Within the cut 

 and in the shoal inside there is a narrow channel about a mile in length, having a 

 depth of from 6 to 8 feet. The water then shoals up, and for the next 2 miles, going 

 toward the interior of the bay, there is an average depth of about 3 feet. The 

 mouth of the Miami River is directly opposite this cut. Near it there is a narrow 

 channel in the bay, having a depth of 7 feet. The best water to be found within the 

 bay and a range of 3 miles from the mouth of the cut does not exceed 8 feet. 



Bear Cut is 1^ miles to the southward of Norris Cut and separated from it by a low 

 island, called Virginia Key. It is about one-half mile in width, and has upon its bar 

 a low- water depth of 4 feet. I was told that there is a rock reef 8 feet below the low 

 water on this bar, covered with about 4 feet of sand. Eight feet, then, is the limit 

 of the depth that can be expected over this bar without recourse to blasting. The 

 width of the reef was not ascertained. 



From the bar there is a narrow channel about 3 feet in depth, leading into the bay. 

 Through this 10 feet could be carried with very little improvement of its present 

 condition into the bay, where the same depth is found. If the difficulty at the bar 

 were removed this would be a very accessible and desiralile route for vessels passing 

 between the bay and Hawk Channel. 



About 4 miles to the southwest of Bear Cut and at the lower end of Key Biscayne 

 we find Cape Florida. Immediately below this point there are three narrow chan- 

 nels making in across the low sand flats that here cover the coral reef. Through 

 these depths of 10 and 12 feet can be carried into the bay to where there is the same 

 depth ; but in order to get into either one from the Hawk Channel a tortuous course 

 oyer a shoal flat, having about 8 feet limit ui)on it, must be gone over. By this 

 course the distance is about 9 miles. The most direct course would be about 4 miles, 

 but over this there is a less depth of water, A small amount of dredging might 

 give 11 feet over this course, but owing to the exposed location of the shoal and 

 the attendant circumstances of light sands and prevailing storms it could not be 

 expected that the dredged cut would maintain itself. Permanent works, such as 

 training dikes or jetties, would be impracticable, as their cost would be out of 

 proportion to the benefits to be derived from them.* 



My observation and study of the country bordering Biscayne Bay lead me to 

 suppose that the bottom of the bay throughout its whole extent is a coral rock 

 formation, similar to that between its western shore and the Everglades, not always 

 level, but containing depressions which are filled with sand. This being the case, 

 the prospects for imjiroving much beyond their present depths any portion of the 

 bay or either of the cuts leading into it are not very encouraging. A series of bor- 

 ings will 1)e necessary to ascertain at what depth rock is to be found. 



Of the three different entrances here considered, that at Bear Cut seems to offer 

 the most encouraging prospects for imjirovement at a reasonable expense and to the 

 advantage of commerce. It is doubtful if this can be so improved that vessels of 

 the class now i)lying between Key West and other Gulf ports and New York can be 

 induced to make Biscayne Bay a stopping point. There might, however, be estab- 

 lished here a very considerable trade with the southern keys of Florida, the Bahamas 

 and other West India Islands, through the medium of light-draft vessels. This will 

 require some improvement at this entrance and extension of the East Coast Railroad 

 down to some point on the borders of the bay. By this means early vegetables 

 and tropical and subtropical products of this region could be brought several days 

 earlier to the markets of the North. 



The winter climate of Biscayne Bay is mild and salubrious and can not be excelled 

 by any to which our people resort for health-giving air and exercise during the 



* In 1896, a channel was opened between Cape Florida and the railroad terminus 

 at Miami; in the vicinity of the latter jilace a large amount of excavating was done 

 at private expense. — H. M. S. 



