MARINE ALG^B OP BEAUFORT, N. C. 



379 



Similar "fishing grounds" occur off other portions of our coast. To the south of 

 this region there are listed by Goode and associates (1887, pp. 53-55, chart 15) 13 

 fishing grounds off the coast of South Carolina, 3 off the coast of Georgia, and i off the 

 northern coast of Florida. These lie at various distances from the shore at depths of 

 13-5 to 35.7 m. (7 to 18 fathoms) and have sizes varying from a reef about 800 m. 

 (0.5 mile) square to a circular one having a diameter of u to 16 km. (7 to 10 miles). 

 The bottoms are variously described as consisting of rock, limerock, coral rock, coral, 

 shells, or sand, and all are said to bear gorgonian corals and sponges. Under these 

 conditions we can be sure that algae also occur there. 



To the north of Beaufort, rocks are said to occur off the coast of Virginia, and 

 fishing grounds with rocky or sandy bottoms are listed by Goode and associates (1887, 

 pp. 46-51, charts 12-13) off the coasts of Delaware, New Jersey, and the south shore 

 of Long Island, connecting with those off the coast of New England. 



These conditions the existence of a fairly continuous line of submerged rocky 

 reefs extending from subtropical to cold northern waters, the subtropical nature of 

 the flora found on the reefs offshore from Beaufort, the apparent existence of algae 

 and corals on the bottom in the Gulf Stream, together with the northern course of this 

 stream seem to furnish excellent means for subtropical species of plants and animals 

 to travel up our coast. Such species can live offshore in water warmed by the Gulf 

 Stream, and, if the local conditions permit, may establish themselves temporarily or 

 permanently on the mainland. These facts probably explain the occurrence of several 

 of the species found in Beaufort Harbor and probably account for all the species found 

 on the beach. 



It would be interesting to discover how far north of Beaufort subtropical species 

 may occur. A thorough survey of these reefs, including their geology, oceanographical 

 conditions, flora and fauna, would undoubtedly yield facts of great interest and 

 importance. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE ALG^E. 



The intermediate location of this region gives a flora of considerable interest, 

 containing both northern and southern elements, with southern species predominating. 

 Considering the flora as a whole, of the 142 recognizable species and varieties recorded, 

 133 have been obtained in proper condition and amount for determination. Of this 

 number, 62 (46.6 per cent) are found in New England, and 91 (68.4 per cent) are known 

 to occur in the Florida-West Indies region. In the different divisions the relative 

 numbers are as follows : 



Per cent of total number identified in Beaufort region. 



Per cent of total number in the division identified in Beaufort region. 



