This destruction of new "beds of ^ostera seems to occiir generally 

 from late in summer to midwinter, except possibly in the extreme southern 

 part of its range, as in coastal Horth Carolina, vdiere failure is often 

 most in evidence from the middle- of- stunmer to early fall. New growths 

 recorded early in the season, therefore, can hardly he considered indica- 

 tive of recovery. The majority of the records included in this report 

 have "been verified to late Decemher 1936 or early January 1937. Some of 

 this rechecking was done "by airplane, the extent and general features of 

 the "beds "being noted, "but the remainder of the plots were more closely 

 inspected and the plants examined for evidences of disease. It may "be 

 pointed out that, ohserved from an airplane, there is usually a distinct 

 difference noticeable in the general appearance of eelgrass from other 

 su"bmerged aquatics. It is significant and encouraging that at the time 

 of this final check in all "but two localities "between Long Island and 

 Maine the eelgrass "beds were maintaining themselves, and several showed 

 definite improvement. In most cases close inspection revealed that the 

 rootstocks had vigorous growing tips and ample food storage, although 

 the foliage was not heavy — a normal condition for that time of year. 



Another encouraging feature that has hecome apparent in this sea- 

 son's work is the fact that Zostera frequently matures seeds in advance 

 of the late-summer season of maximum disease activity. This is especially 

 true in shallow "brackish "bays, as in the south-shore ponds of Ehode Island, 

 and in some of the Long Island "bays, where fruiting occurs in June. Seed- 

 ling plant s also were found in both these localities early in the summer 

 of 1935. In more southern waters fruiting is proportionally earlier, and 

 may be in evidence in March or April in Pamlico Sound, N. C It should be 

 stated, however, that fruiting is less common in the more southern parts 

 of the range of the eelgrass, as new growth is there produced largely from 

 the rootstocks. 



Several places have been noted on the coast v/here new growths of 

 Zostera show great progress near the mouths of fresh-water streams. One 

 such growth at Plymouth Harbor, Mass., which is bathed in almost pure 

 fresh water from Eel Hiver at low tide, has progressed remarkably in the 

 past season and has not shown any of the usual signs of disease, such as 

 leaf- streaking or blotching. A similar situation prevails on a still 

 larger scale among the eelgrass of Chesapeake Bay, where conditions have 

 been almost normal for at least two years. 



It must be understood, of course, that the present growths of eel- 

 grass are not by any means comparable vdth those of normal years. In 

 fact, in only two or three localities can the plant be said to have at- 

 tained a growth of economic significance. In Bellport and Shinnecock Bays, 

 Long Island, small flocks of brant and of the naturalized mute swan have 

 been observed feeding over the beds of eelgrass, and broken fragments of 

 the plants were noted drifting from the feeding place. As yet, however, 

 northern beds showing recovery have failed to attract many of the brant 

 daring migration, as most of the birds apparently migrate directly to their 

 wintering grounds near Atlantic City, N. J., or Pamlico So-ond, IT. C, 

 stopping only in small numbers at their former Cape Cod and Long Island 

 concentration points. The smaller total population of the brant (obviously 

 reduced through loss of their eelgrass food) may in part also account for 

 the facts noted. 



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