The beach face is steep and consists of an unconsolidated, 

 medium- grained calcareous sand. This is a relatively narrow zone 

 with the lateral distance from crest to the commencement of the 

 low tide terrace approximately 30 feet. At the low tide terrace, 

 the sand terminates abruptly and is replaced by a hard, well 

 eroded limestone. The low tide terrace is 275 feet wide along 

 the survey track and is similar in appearance and composition to 

 the terrace off Salvador Point. Occasional tide pools are present 

 in the beachrock which provide local topographic irregularities. 



The lagoon bottom between Big Wood Cay and the of flying reef 

 varies substantially from the bottom off Salvador Point. Here 

 the bottom consists of hard, eroded, and fractured rock which 

 supports numerous and varied organisms. Sea fans and whips 

 dominate the area and scattered coral heads provide relief of 

 from 1 to 2 feet. Plates 8 and 9 are typical of the bottom 

 throughout the lagoon. Lack of a thick sand covering and marine 

 grasses indicates strong water circulation. Circulation is 

 periodic and controlled by the ebb and flood of the tide in the 

 channel between Gibson and Big Wood Cays where a current speed of 

 1 knot can be observed. 



The barrier reef is less distinct along the survey track off Big 

 Wood Cay than at Salvador Point, and is delineated by an increase 

 in coral abundance and species. A few hundred yards north and 

 south of the survey track, the reef is well-developed and stands 

 a few inches above the water surface at low tide. Seaward of 

 the reef the outer platform is similar to that described at 

 Salvador Point. The bottom changes from a forest of coral heads 

 off -reef to a spur and groove configuration in intermediate areas, 

 and finally to a texturally rough and abrupt break-in-slope 

 (Plates 10 and 11). 



GOLDING CAY (SITE 4) 



Golding Cay is a small island located in the entrance to South 

 Bight. The cay is 600 yards long and 430 yards wide at the maximum. 

 It is 25 feet high in the center and rises abruptly on the east 

 from water depths in excess of 25 feet and slopes more gradually 



18 



