ae a’ b! and the living reef a’ J” there is a ship-channel 3 or4 
On the Gulf Stream dnd-the Keys of Florida. 41 
agent at work, preparing the ground and laying the foundation 
for these builders, and that this agent has been the Gulf Stream. 
A clear understanding of the subject renders necessary a succinct 
account of the views of Tuomey and Agassiz. | 
Fig. 1 represents the peninsula of Florida with its keys and reefs ; af! the south- 
; a i a keys stretching from Cape cede et ie a 
Ta the living reef; GSS the Gulf Stream sweeping close around ; 
ampa Bay ; d’, Charlotte’s Harbor; @’’, Chatham or Gallivari Bay. 
The southern coast a, is elevated about 12-15 feet above the 
level of the sea; but within this line there is ¢, the everglades, 
an extensive swamp only a few feet above the sea level, covered 
ter an 
a'b'—a distance at the point } of about 40 miles—the water is 
very shoal, navigable only for the smallest fishing craft, and dot- 
ted over with small low mangrove-islands. Between the line of | 
Onn and 5 or 6 miles wide. Beyond the reef a” b” the 
Sea bottom rapidly into the almost unfathomable abyss of 
the Gulf Stream, 
’ 
ee 
