and most interesting to find both Rappia' ^' maritima and Ealodule wrightii 

 growing in the same water' with the dwarf -ed. Zo stera ". This indicates a 

 marked extension of the recorded, northward range of the Halo dale , which 

 ■is the dominant species in at: least a; part of the ITew River area. 



Information from Pamlico Sound reveals rather widely differing con- 

 ditions. Eelgrass can now he fofund there in only a fraction of its former 

 abundance. Many shoals where Zostera was formerly abundant are now shift- 

 ing sands, and others are now covered with wigeongrass. More drift is 

 noticeable in many places along the shore line than has been seen during 

 any of the past six years. Some of this is of recent origin, as was noted 

 in an inspection made during the last week of January, and appears to be 

 relatively healthy. Fishermen and coastguardsmen report a large patch of 

 eelgrass between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet. A fair growth of rather 

 spindling eelgrass that was coming into fruit was observed near Hatteras, 

 yet all of it was diseased. In other areas where the plant was formerly 

 abundant not a single specimen could be seen. On certain shoals near 

 Ocracoke Island a sli^t improvement in the abundance and condition, of 

 the plants was reported. 



Summary of Conditions 



The wasting disease of eelgrass is still active along the entire 

 Atlantic coast. Prom Long Island, N. Y. , northward, however, there is 

 encouraging progress toward the reestablishment of Zostera . On the whole, 

 there are indications of a definite advance in the beds observed. New 

 growth, has more than offset the loss from disease. No evidence was found 

 of any bed being completely destroyed by disease in the course of the 

 season. Moreover, fruiting seemed to progress satisfactorily, a factor 

 increasing the margin of safety of the eelgrass against future attacks of 

 disease. It is not known whether a more resistant strain of the plant is 

 developing, whether environmental conditions were unusually favorable during 

 the past season, or whether the causative organism is becoming less virulent 

 along that section of the coast. 



No improvement was noted in the condition of the eelgrass along the 

 coast of New Jersey and of the Delmarva peninsula. Throughout that exten- 

 sive section the plant is surprisingly rare and the prospects for its in- 

 crease are not enccfuraging. New growths of Zostera are slow to appear, and 

 the present beds are suffering badly from disease. In areas of reduced 

 salinity, such as the Chesapeake Bay section, continued improvement is 

 manifest. 



But little change is noted from the conditions existing a year ago 

 along the North Carolina coast. Because of its surprising and unparalleled 

 rapidity of attack and because of its present baffling nature in affecting 

 some areas and not others, this disease may be considered one of the most 

 remarkable biological phenomena of recent times. 



EXPERIMENTAL PLANTINGS 



Because the eelgrass was almost extirpated from much of the Atlantic 

 coast and because it has been found to be so highly important to bird life, 

 fishes, and shellfishes, it was deemed advisable to make certain planting 



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