THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 11 



water beyond. Although these ocean-holes are occasionally met with they 

 cannot be considered of common occurrence. Agassiz states that the principal 

 ones are as follows : " 



One 5 to 6 miles from Hawks Bill Eock; three, of 18, 24 and 13 fathoms, 

 a little north of Blue Hole Point. These are about 5 miles apart on a 

 northerly line. There are two more, of 17 and 38 fathoms, in the extension of 

 a line of Blossom Channel leading from Tongue-of-the-Ocean upon the bank. 

 There is also a 15 fathom hole at High Point on Andros, and a 20 fathom hole 

 in the middle bight between Gibson Key and Big Wood Key. 



The senior author of this paper had a novel experience at this particular 

 ocean-hole during his first cruise in the Bahamas. After a long search the 

 locality was discovered one evening at sundown, and the ship brought to anchor 

 for the night close by. The boat, as she lay at rest, was about an eighth of a mile 

 from the ocean-hole. The surface of the water above the hole was covered with 

 a circular mass of foam about 15 feet in diameter, rotating slowly in a direc- 

 tion contrary to the hands of a watch. All hands on board could plainly 

 see from the distance at which the boat stood that the surface of the water 

 above the hole sagged and took on a saucer-like depression. A boat was 

 quickly lowered and rowed cautiously toward the ocean-hole. As soon as it 

 arrived in the saucer-like depression it was caught in the whirlpool and 

 moved slowly round and round with the motion of the water. Looking down, 

 the opening into the cavern beneath could be distinctly seen and it was 

 evident, as the tide was flowing, that this ocean-hole communicated with 

 other caverns at a distance, possibly on the island of Andros, and that the water 

 was being sucked down through the opening to find its way into unknown parts. 

 The walls of this ocean-hole were lined with living coral and marine plants. 

 An attempt was made at sounding but the lead did not succeed in reaching 

 bottom. 



Distribution of Islands.- — These various islands and keys are distributed 

 unequally throughout the archipelago. By far the greater number are confined 

 to the northwestern half and lie for the most part around the periphery of the 

 banks, where they descend suddenly to deep water. In the southwestern portion 

 of the Bahamas the islands are less numerous and are assembled in clusters, 

 which rest on isolated banks, while in the extreme south, keys and rocks give 

 place to submerged banks. 



"Loc. dt., p. 42. 



