49 
among the rocks being always set down to the pre- | 
datory visits of the laughing gull. 
South-West Key and the other sandy islets around 
it, are beside, annually resorted to by the fishermen 
in the turtling season for a different harvest of eggs. 
The turtle, chelone midas, visits ‘these shoals to 
deposit their egos in the dry sand and leave them 
to the fostering influence of the sun. They repeat 
their layings thrice, at the interval of two or three 
weeks, laying a hundred at a time. Some experi- 
ence is necessary to trace the place of deposit, for 
the eggs are always laid in the night ; but few of 
-them escape the detection of the turtler. 
There is no fresh water on any of these keys.—~ 
They are surrounded by extensive reefs. There is 
tolerable anchorage for small craft in the south-east 
group upon a sandy bottom, broken by occasional 
rocks, on the lee side, when the usual eastern trade 
wind is blowing. From any other quarter they are 
unapproachable. It is not’ merely danger but de- 
struction, to be surprised by westerly breezes, when 
among them. ‘The hazard of gaining the shore amid 
swell and surf, except on the lee-side, with the ordi- 
nary sea breeze will be seen by a description of Seal 
Key. 
_ Some three miles out to leeward of the south-west 
key lies Seal Key. It may be about three acres in 
extent. its height is twenty feet. There is no 
approach to this islet, except in very fine weather, 
on account of what the seamen call “broken ground,” 
sunken reefs on which the surf breaks with fury. 
At the best of times, landing is not effected without 
x E 
