38 IN LOiVER FLORIDA WILDS 



nels having a north-northwest, south-southeast 

 direction and it is also likely that it formed pas- 

 sages under the rock which later became open tidal 

 streams. Johnson, Little Pine, No Name, Big 

 Pine, Torch, and Summerland Keys are long, 

 narrow islands lying between these channels and 

 conforming with them in general direction as do 

 several bars which lie just east of these keys. The 

 tidal periods differ in the Gulf of Mexico and in 

 Florida Strait, hence there is a rush of water from 

 one side to the other, which, even imder normal 

 conditions operates always to dissolve the rock 

 and scour out the debris. 



The westernmost of the larger north and south 

 channels is between Sugar Loaf and Cudjoe Key 

 and to the westward of this there is a different 

 arrangement of land and water. Apparently this 

 western area did not subside sufficiently to permit 

 the water of the Gulf to drive across it so freely, 

 hence, there are but a few small channels cut 

 through. One channel seems to be now forming 

 east of Big Coppitt and also another one west of 

 Boca Chica. There are two or three other rela- 

 tively small openings. 



Several years ago in company with Dr. Pilsbry 



