68 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 
mercial importance, might be classed within the legitimate pro- 
vince of the American Fish Cultural Association, I will relate 
some matters connected with the marine resources of the west 
coast of Florida, at the request of Mr. Goode. 
A large portion of the gulf coast of Florida consists of shoal 
water, the bottom being limestome rock, which is usually cov- — 
ered with mud, a few inches deep. Upon the bottom many spe- 
cies of sea weed grow in great abundance, affording both food 
and shelter to a vast amount of animal life, such as molluscs; 
worms, crabs, and other crustaceans and fish. 
The annual consumption of the latter especially, from natural 
causes alone, is very great, as vast numbers of aquatic birds may 
be seen there, attracted by the abundance of animal food existing 
in the shoal water. 
The most numerous of these birds are cormorants, which live 
chiefly upon fish; though I have sometimes found shell fish in 
their stomachs. Being gregarious, they habitually roost at night 
in large colonies; selecting one or two islands for that purpose, 
from among a large cluster, without any apparent reason for 
such preference; and they do not abandon them unless greatly 
disturbed by man. I think two or three thousand cormorants 
would be a moderate estimate for the number resorting to one 
of those islands; and I considera half pound of fish for each, 
per day, within the limits of their consumption, as they are very 
voracious. 
I have frequently examined their stomachs, which were always 
found to be well supplied with fish. Near the mouth of Crystal 
river I have lately seen four of those island rookeries, and I 
believe the cormorants in that vicinity consume more than five 
thousand pounds of fish daily. : 
In addition to the cormorants great numbers of herons of 
several species resort to the same islands, presumably consider- 
ing that there is increased safety in great numbers. These birds 
are also great consumers of fish. 
While cruising lately along the coast between Cedar Keys and 
Punta Rassa, I hurriedly collected some specimens of sponges 
for the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences, in Phila- 
delphia. Many of them were collected while living, in shoal 
