Increase in linear distance from the reef. Thus, there is a gradient 

 in fish grazing, which is dependent upon the proximity of a reef. Our 

 preliminary observations on fish grazing were encouraging enough to 

 suggest that significant findings could be made with a coordinated 

 botanical-zoological investigation. 



In conclusion, I would like to make a few general comments regarding the 

 usefulness of the habitat for our studies. Foremost, the results of our 

 investigations on transect 2 were 3-5 times greater than those 

 accomplished by the support divers of our crew. No doubt a large part 

 of this was because of the greater number of hours of diving time. We 

 averaged 3-4 hours of diving per day, and with that amount of diving 

 (which was minimal compared to other missions) we had another 5-6 

 hours of laboratory work. There can be little doubt in our minds that 

 the habitat provided us with an unprecedented amount of diving time and 

 it is a very effective tool. We could never have studied 20 individual 

 15 X 19m areas (a total area of 2700m2) in New England, 



VI-129 



