378 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



abundance of Dictyopteris polypodioides growing in scattered patches separated by 

 sand. This growth was observed partially covering the bottom over an area extending 

 at least 22 km. (12 nautical miles) alongshore eastward from the inlet, and from near 

 the shore to at least 13 km. (7 nautical miles) offshore, at a depth of 5.8 to n.6 m. 

 (3 to 6 fathoms). The actual area occupied by this growth was certainly larger than 

 this, since the inner limit was nearer the shore than the vessel could approach, and the 

 outer limit was in water too deep for observation. Moreover, it was found in abundance 



MAP. 3. Location of known "fishing grounds," mostly submerged coral reefs, offshore from the region of Beaufort, N. C. 

 (From Raddiffe, 1914.) The largest of these, the " Fishing Grounds," is larger than shown here, extending from New River 

 Inlet and probably including Station No. i . Algae referred to as coming from coral reef offshore were gathered from this reef. 



in July, 1915, offshore from Browns Inlet, about 25 km. (16 miles) northeast of New 

 River Inlet (toward Beaufort), and it may extend westward also from New River 

 Inlet. Its presence here is in striking contrast to the barren bottom observed at other 

 inlets and along most of the shore and raises an interesting question as to the sub- 

 stratum to which it is attached. This must be something other than sand, but its 

 nature was not determined. That rock of some sort is present over considerable portions 

 of the bottom is indicated, however, by the observations of Radcliffe mentioned above 

 and by the further fact that there was evidence of corals and algae on the bottom in 

 the Gulf Stream about 70 km. (38 nautical miles) offshore at a depth of about 115 m. 

 (60 fathoms). 



