Table 3. Electronic databases and CD-ROMs searched. 
CD ROMs 
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (CD-ROM), 1978 - 1993 (Searched 1/94). 
Water Resources Abstracts (CD-ROM). 
DATABASES 
[Search done 3/28/94. Search strategy: FLORIDA(W)BAY and EVERGLADES(W)COASTAL.] 
BIOSIS PREVIEWS (R) 
Dissertation Abstracts Online 
GeoArchive 
GeoRef 
Enviroline (R) 
Env. Bib. 
1969- 1994/Mar. 
1861-1994/Apr. 
1974-1994/Feb. 
1785-1994/Apr. 
1970- 1994/Feb. 
1974-1993/Oct. 
4. NAVIGATION AND CARTOGRAPHY 
An early account of exploration in Florida Bay gives a good description of the navigation 
difficulties encountered in the area (Simpson, 1920). 
‘The waters of the key region are exceedingly shallow, the bottom either being 
composed of ragged rock or very soft, almost fathomless mud. Navigation chiefly 
consists of getting aground and getting afloat again. One never makes an extended 
cruise among the keys without getting 'piled up' as it is called, often several times a 
day, and strangely enough, this generally seems to occur when the tide is falling. If the 
boat gets on the rock bottom one is fortunate it is not seriously injured; if it gets fast 
in the mud there is pretty sure to be an amazing amount of trouble getting afloat. In the 
former case, everybody must get overboard and try to lift the boat out of the grip of 
the ragged rock. If the vessel is fast in the mud poles will do little good as they can 
usually be pushed to full length into the soft marl. The engine is reversed, all must get 
out, sometimes sinking in to the waist, and lift until they can see stars." 
4.1. Charts and maps 
A historical account of geographical and ecological knowledge of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Florida, including a description of navigation charts produced since the 18th Century, can be 
found in Galstoff (1954). 
4.1.1. NOAA charts 
The NOAA charts covering Florida Bay currently available from NOAA are listed in Table 4. The 
marine Weather Services charts, published by NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS), list 
NWS radio stations and commercial radio stations that broadcast marine weather information. 
The Marine Boundary Charts portray the 3 n mi line and the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone 
(12-mi limit) and/or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (200-mi limit) boundaries in US waters. 
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