120 



Papers from the Department of Marine Biology. 



LOGGERHEAD KEY. 



This is the largest of the Tortugas group and also the highest above 

 sea-level and according to tradition it had in earlier times the largest 

 stand of trees. Old fishermen (and the report was current in the times 

 of the older light-house keei)ers) state that 75 or 80 years ago this 



/.r« T jt ,-« 5f 3f 'IT' 



Loggerhead Key, showing buildings of the laboratoiy on the north end and of the 

 Hght-bouse on the south. Walks and paths are indicated by lines. One inch 

 = one-fifth statute mile. 



island, as well as Garden Key and others of the group, supported 

 a large stand of old white buttonwood trees, Conocarpus erectus L. 

 These were largely cut down by fishermen, who occasionally camped for 

 perhaps several weeks or months in the Tortugas; fires also are said to 

 have had their share in devastating this old silvan flora. The central 

 group of verj'' old and large buttonwood trees in the parade-ground 

 of Fort Jefferson on Garden Key is the only remnant of this supposed 

 aboriginal silvan flora. 



