276 SOUTH-WEST FLORIDA. 



all the islands and keys are supplied with fresh water, 

 and the tourist will be informed that this indispensable 

 fluid &quot; can be obtained almost anywhere on the islands 

 or keys by digging a hole near the beach.&quot; Water of 

 fair quality can be obtained on most of the islands and 

 keys, if the proper site is selected for the well. In 

 digging for water, the experienced invariably select a 

 locality where there are no mangrove bushes, for wher 

 ever this growth is found, water will be impregnated 

 with salt. On the bay side of most of the islands and 

 main land a low-growing bush or tree will be found, 

 with circular shaped leaves four inches wide, and the 

 searcher for fresh water should prospect near this growth, 

 as fresh water will generally be found near the surface. 

 We dug a well on the northern end of Little Gasparilla, 

 forty feet from the beach, and curbed it with an empty 

 barrel we picked up on the beach. From half flood 

 until half ebb the water was very salt, but at low tide 

 we found it palatable. After finishing our well, we 

 explored the island, and found about its centre a la 

 goon several hundred yards in length, containing excel 

 lent water. 



From the fish ranch on the eastern end of Lacosta 

 Island, we started across, south-east by south three miles, 

 and found ourselves abreast of the northern end of 

 Uscppa Island. At six p. M. we landed on the eastern 

 side of the island, at the foot of a large shell mound. 

 To the south of the large mound we found two wells of 

 excellent water, and on the north side some very large 

 figs, with a full supply of superior limes. Searching 

 farther we discovered a luxurious banana patch, but the 

 fruit was not ripe. The island is over one mile in 

 length and one-third of a mile in width at the widest 



