ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, BY AUSTIN EARLY. (O 



like IV. 3. By eggs. All polyps produce eggs and out of these eggs comes 

 a little animal. These little animals float about in the water, and so cor- 

 al spreads. The force of the waves also moves the coral, but only to a 

 limited degree. 



In building, coral is arranged in three classes ; reef building, lagoon 

 filling, and barrier building coral. Solid heavy coral grows on reefs and 

 barriers, as it has to withstand the great force of the waves, while the frail 

 coral fills lagoons. Coral has its largest growth as well as man. The larg- 

 est growth of the coral is about ten feet in diameter. 



On land sloping gradually deeper into the ocean, the coral usually be- 

 gins its building about one hundred and fifty feet down from the water line. 

 The tendency of the coral is to grow outward, but the force of the waves is so 

 great that it pushes it towards the land, and therefore it grows up almost 

 vertical. Where the land slopes gradually there is a wide lagoon. If the 

 land goes suddenly down into the water the coral starts at about the usual 

 depth, but there is only a narrow lagoon between the shore and the coral 

 reef. These reefs are called barrier reefs. The coral polyp makes no effort 

 to build these reefs. 



The only barrier reef in the United States, before the Cuban War, ex- 

 tends from Cape Florida, an island just off the southern point of Florida, to 

 the Dry Tortugas. This barrier is one hundred and seventy-five miles long, 

 and ships drawing only a little water, not more than twenty-five feet, can sail 

 between the barrier and the islands, with a heavy sea beyond it, and be in 

 perfect safety. The largest barrier reef in the world is off the coast of Aus- 

 tralia and is over one thousand miles long. 



The reefs which come close to the land are called fringing reefs. There 

 are many kinds of coral, four of which are brain, branching, rose, and fan 

 coral. Some corals grow quite rapidly, and others grow very slowly. 



Best Answers to Questions, by Austin Early. 

 The three questions asked were; 



1. Is the coral polyp beneficial or injurious to man 

 and how? 



2. Has the coral polyp had any influence upon the 

 climate of the world; if so, in what way? 



3. Has the coral polyp had any influence upon com- 

 merce ; if so, in what way ? 



1. The coral polyp has been beneficial to man in many ways. It has 

 made safe harbors, - where man could not even pretend to. It has served the 

 purpose of a break-water in many places. Made land for man to live on. 





