56 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



Our stay on Hutia Key was short, for the call of 

 the nearby reef was very urgent. Beyond the 

 little sand key we could distinguish dark patches 

 of this reef with water swirHng about them. 

 There was not enough sea at the time to break 

 over them and conditions were ideal for a visit. 

 Those of us who were especially keen about marine 

 mollusks were always hoping to discover a reef 

 exposed at low tide upon which we could prowl 

 about and overturn the dead coral rocks for our 

 treasure trove beneath. Such places are not in- 

 frequent along the Florida Reef, and some of them 

 had afforded us in times past most profitable 

 hunting grounds. Along the entire extent of the 

 Colorados we never encountered a dry spot, though 

 there are many patches where coral heads come 

 within a foot of the surface. 



Fully equipped for reef work the entire company, 

 excepting Torre and Lesmes, proceeded in the 

 launch to the sandy key. Each carried a water 

 glass and as many receptacles for specimens as he 

 could manage; several brought sieves and one a 

 'demijohn of copper-sulphate solution for "doping*' 

 the hiding-places among the corals. All wore shirt, 

 trousers, and canvas shoes. Wading along the 



