ENGLISH CAY - ATOLL RESEARCH

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SPANISH CAY 1961

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RENDEZVOUS C A Y

PHYSIOGRAPHY

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s u r f a c e , The massive block was deenly undercut, r o s e 5 f e e t from t h e reef f l a t and j u s t broke surface. It was t h e only exposure v i s i b l e from t h e i s l a n d a t any s t a g e of t h e t i d e , One i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e , n o t marked on t h e mao, was a c i r c l e of c o r a l b l o c k s 15 y a r d s i n diameter between t h e two iiorthernrnost l i n e s of beachrock, which r e c a l l s t h e conch s h e l l f i s h t r a o s b u i l t by fishermen on p r e s e n t s h o r e s , arid may have a s i m i l a r o r i g i n .

During Hurricane H a t t i e , Cay Glory was completely destroyed, and no cay e x i s t e d a t t h i s p o i n t i n 1962, The o n l y f e a t u r e t o a t t r a c t a t t e n t i o n was t h e c r e s t of t h e massive beachrock s t i l l b r e a k i n g s u r f a c e . A l l t h e beachrock seems t o have survived, though c o n p l e t e l y s t r i p p e d of c o r a l s and a l g a e . The r e e f f l a t f l o o r n e a r t h e beachrock i s b a r r e n , 5-6 f e e t deep, and covered w i t h s t r o n g l y r i p p l e d sand. About 20 y a r d s t o t h e e a s t i s a s t e e ~ - s i d e d zone of r i p p l e d sand r i s i n g t o w i t h i n 2-3 f e e t of t h e s u r f a c e

-

an embryonic cay which, a s a t Paunch Cay, w i l l eventually b r e a k s u r f a c e a s a sandbore, Round t h i s r i ~ p l e d - s a n d a r e a t h e f l o o r i s covered w i t h T h a l a s s i a , l i t t e r e d w i t h s m a l l c o r a l d e b r i s ; t h e r e e f i t s e l f ( s e e

C h a ~ t e r 3 ) h a s been l a r g e l y d e s t r o y e d and r e p l a c e d by a r u b b l e c a r ~ e t , The beachrock i t s e l f seems more f r a c t u r e d t h a n p r e v i o u s l y , though t h i s may o n l y b e a n a n p a r e n t change r e s u l t i n g from t h e s t r i p p i n g of a l g a e .

Tobacco Cay

Tobacco Cay ( f i g u r e 31) l i e s a t t h e s o u t h e r n end of a long unbroken s e c t i o n of t h e b a r r i e r r e e f , 12 n a u t i c a l m i l e s due south of Cay Glory.

The r e e f f l a t immediately n o r t h of t h e cay h a s a width of 500-600 y a r d s ; while t h e lower platform t o leeward i s h e r e

3s

m i l e s wide and ~ z r r i e s 2$-3 fathoms of water, w i t h deeper h o l e s un t o 6; fathoms. MaXmum d e p t h s i n t h e lagoon h e r e reach

13

fathoms. The Tobacco Cay e ~ t r a n c e i t s e l f c a r r i e d 2-3 fathoms, s u f f i c i e n t f o r m a l l s a i l i n g v e s s e l s , which even t o d a y r e g u l a r l y use t h i s o r nearby reef-gaps when making f o r Glovervs Reef. I n t k e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e gaD was a l s o a n i m ~ o r t a n t e n t r a n c e t o t h e b a r r i e r r e e f lagoon: it i s marked with g r e a t prominence i n Speerqs

1771

c h a r t , and J e f f r e y s i n

1775

names t h e cay and a l s o g i v e s soundings i n t h e channel. Caiger (1951, 28-29) f o l l o w s ldinzerling (1946) i n speaking of tobacco c u l t i v a t i o n h e r e i n 1630-1640, b u t t h e r e i s no evidence of

t h i s a p a r t from t h e name. The f i r s t mention of Tobacco Cay i n t h e colonyvs a r c h i v e s seems t o be i n

1753,

i n connection w i t h a l l e g e d E n g l i s h lobarbari- t i e s i t a g a i n s t t h e Spanish on t h e cay ( c a i g e r , 1951, 74). The 1922 biutine survey d i d n o t extend a s f a r south a s Tobacco Cay, and c u r r e n t c h a r t s d a t e from Owenos Thunder s w v e y of

1834.

The i s l a n d was mapped i n e a r l y 1960, remapped i n J u l y 1961 fol1owins;"Iurricane Abby, and mapped a g a i n i n A p r i l 1962 following Hurricane ~ a t t : & l .

I n 1960 Tobacco Cay was roughly t r i a n g u l a r , w i t h a g r e a t e s t N-S length of 300 y a r d s and a maximum width of 150 y a r d s . The whole i s l a n d was s n d y , r i s i n g on t h e seaward s i d e t o a h e i g h t of

5

f e e t above s e a l e v e l ilear t h e s o u t h e a s t p o i n t ; b u t t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e s u r f a c e was remark- a b l y f l a t and f e a t u r e l e s s , w i t h a n e a r c o n s t a n t e l e v a t i o n of

3$-4

f e e t above t h e s e a . Towards t h e n o r t h and west s h o r e s t h i s s i n k s t o l e s s t h a n

3

f e e t . Conch s h e l l s had accumulated a l o n g t h e west shore, and t h e r e was a s h o r t f r e s h s a n d s p i t a t t h e n o r t h ~ o i n t . The l a r g e s t f r e s h sand accumu-

l a t i o n i n 1960, however, was a l o n g t h e s o u t h shore, where w h i t e sand, con- t r a s t i n g s h a r d y w i t h t h e d a r k humic sand of t h e cay nroner, had been thrown uo i n two r i d g e s , t h e innermost r i s i n g t o

3

f e e t above sea l e v e l and e n c l o s i n g two b r a c k i s h pools. The s h o r e behind t h i s accumulation, and behind t h e n o r t h e r n sandspit, was undercut. Two l i n e s of southward d i p p i n g beachrock were found 40 y a r d s o f f t h e s o u t h shore.

The cay was i n h a b i t e d , w i t h 1 0 h u t s , some s u b s t a n t i a l , i n 1960-61, and w e l l s t a p p i n g ground w a t e r gave a n o t a b l e s u p d y , I n 1960 t h e i s l a n d was covered with t h i c k v e g e t a t i o n . I n mid-1834 Owen noted t r e e s 70 f e e t high; L i e u t . Smith (1842, 732) s t a t e d t h a t iqTobacco Cay cannot w e l l be mistaken, having a h i g h f i g - t r e e (70 f e e t ) n e a r t h e n o r t h e a s t extreme.^^

I n 1960 coconuts were dominant, some r e a c h i n g h e i g h t s of 80 f e e t , t o g e t h e r w i t h a number of t a l l talmondsq, Terminalia catappa, and s h o r t bushy

Coccoloba u v i f e r a and Cordia s e b e s t e n a . The undergrowth was dense, mainly of C o n o c a r ~ u s , with a continuous ground cover, c o n s i s t i n g of l a r g e p a t c h e s of S t a c h f l a r p h e t a jamaicensis, Idedelia t r i l o b a t a , Ipomoea gescaprae,

I.

s t o l o n i f s , Sesuvium portulacastrum, H w e n o c a l l i s l i t t o r a l i s , with s p e c i e s of Euphorbia, and Canavalia r o s e a and Vigna l u t e o l a . There were a number of Rhi'ophora

-

s e e d l i n g s on t h e west s h o r e , It i s worth n o t i n g t h a t on t h e 1945 1:40,000 a i r ~ h o t o g r a p h _- - cover, v e g e t a t i o n on t h e cay seemed extremely s o a r s e , probably a s a r e s u l t of t h e h u r r i c a n e of t h e year.

I n mid-1961, b e f o r e Hurricane H a t t i e , t h e cay had s u f f e r e d c o n s i d e r - a b l e changes. Hurricane Abby of

1 5

J u l y , 1960, had sweot away t h e

s o u t h e r n sand r i d g e and t h e n o r t h e r n s a n d s ~ i t ( t h e new s h o r e l i n e i s shown i n F i g u r e 31a), and blown down a number of coconut t r e e s i n t h e south- c e n t r a l plzrt of t h e cay. I n a d d i t i o n , most of t h e bushes had been c l e a r e d by t h e i n n a b i t a n t s , t o g i v e a very d i f f e r e n t a s ~ e c t t o t h e i s l a n d . The ground cover of creeDers and recumbent n l a n t s , however, remained t h e same.

The damage caused by Hurricane H a t t i e may be summarised a s follows.

The o l d cay s h o r e s were eroded on t h e e a s t s i d e , and p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e s o u t h e a s t o o i n t , where t h e r e t r e a t t o t a l l e d 14 y a r d s . Coconuts r o o t s were exposed by sand s t r i p p i n g along t h e c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e e a s t s h o r e , and f o r s h o r t d i s t a n c e s n e a r t h e n o r t h p o i n t . F r e s h sand h a s been p i l e d up over t h e o l d s u r f a c e a l o n g t h e west and south shores. It i s most n o t i c e a b l e a l o n g t h e south shore, where it forms a s t e e p r i d g e r i s i n g t o a h e i g h t of 2-3 f e e t ; and a t t h e s o u t h e a s t p o i n t , now r i s i n g i n a g r a d u a l

s l o p e t o a h e i g h t of

6

f e e t , 2 f e e t h i g h e r t h a n formerly. Along t h e south s h o r e t h e f r e s h sand c a r n e t h a s a maximum width of about

15

y a r d s . About 70:' of t h e coconuts were knocked down, t h e d i r e c t i o n of f a l l vary- i n g from 10-60°, average 40°, i n d i c a t i n g winds s l i g h t l y s o u t h of s o u t h e a s t , The g r e a t e s t sand d e p o s i t i o n a l s o i % & c a t e s s i m i l a r w a t e r movement; b u t t h e g r e a t e s t e r o s i o n i s on t h e e a s t , seaward side. I n f a l l i n g , many of t h e t r e e s l e f t s u r f a c e h o l e s now f i l l e d w i t h b r a c k i s h w a t e r , The i s l a n d i s s a i d n o t t o have been submerged by a storm surge, b u t t h e freshwater l e n s was s c c o n t a m i n a t e d t h a t w e l l w a t e r i s now almost undrinkable; t h e i n h a b i t a n t s , who have no a l t e r n a t i v e , n e v e r t h e l e s s s u r v i v e on it. A l l t h e houses c o l l a p s e d , and i n 1962 a s i n g l e family was Living i n a makeshift t e n t of polythene s h e e t i n g .

T e m i n a l i a r e s i s t e d d e s t r u c t i o n i n n e a r - s h o r e l o c a t i o n s , b u t

-

Coccoloba and Cordia were b o t h much broken, Coconuts, i n c l u d i n g some of t h e t a l l e s t and most f r a g i l e - l o o k i n g , s t o o d on t h e e a s t and n o r t h s i d e s of t h e cay. None of t h e f a l l e n t r u n k s have y e t been c l e a r e d . The c a y s u r f a c e i s covered w i t h a v e r y s i m i l a r u l a n t assemblage t o t h a t e x i s t i n g

-

b e f o r e t h e storm: S t a c h y t a r p h e t a , Sesuvium, Tdedelia and Ipomoea; though V e d e l i a , which a p p e a r s t o l i k e shade,was much l e s s widespread, and Ipomoea had r e l a t i v e l y i n c r e a s e d . 1;uch of t h e Hymenocallis w a s b u r i e d by f r e s h sand but s u r v i v e d , Along t h e s o u t h s h o r e t h e f r e s h sand r i d g e h a s been invaded and a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y covered i n t h e p e r i o d November- A p r i l by I ~ o m o e a . O t h e r p l a n t s c o l l e c t e d i n 1962 i n c l u d e d E l e u s i n e

--

i n d i c a Vigna l u t e o l a , G a g r o s t i s c i l i a r i s and Euphorbia b l o d g e t t i i ,

--

⁹

P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a , dominant c o l o n i s e r on t h e h e a v i l y damaged n o r t h e r n

-

sand c a y s was seen, b u t n o t i n p r o f u s i o n .

Cays between Tobacco and South lister Cays

I n J u n e 1834 Owen c h a r t e d t h r e e i s l a n d s a l o n g t h e r e e f between Tobacco and South W a t e r Cays, w i t h t h e a n n o t a t i o n s , atdead t r e e s 1 m i l e n o r t h , vttrees

1 5

feetr1

1i

m i l e n o r t h , and q f t r e e s 20 feetbr 2; m i l e s n o r t h of South Water Cay r e s p e c t i v e l y . The h u t i n e d i d n o t f i n d t h e s e c a y s i n 1922, n o r d o t h e y e x i s t today. However, t h r e e s a n d b o r e s were s e e n h e r e , i n t h e s e approximate l o c a t i o n s , i n 1960. S i m i l a r sand p a t c h e s were a l s o s e e n n o r t h of Tobacco Cay. They were a l l l i n e a r , o r i e n t e d p a r a l l e d t o t h e r e e f , uw t o 50 y a r d s l o n g and l e s s t h a n 1 0 y a r d s wide, b u i l t of v e r y f r e s h sand, a l m o s t overtopped by t h e waves, and c l e a r l y ephemeral. They were n o t seen i n 1 9 6 1 o r 1962,

South Water C=

-

South Water Cay ( ~ i g u r e 32) i s s i t u a t e d on t h e n o r t h e r n s i d e of a r e e f gap, a t t h e end of a n unbroken r e e f segment

5;

m i l e s s o u t h of Tobacco Cay, It i s prominently marked on J e f f r e y ' s c h a r t (1775), and w a s l a s t c h a r t e d by Owen i n 1834, when he noted t r e e s 50 f e e t t a l l . The g e n e r a l physiography o f t h e r e e f i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t d e s c r i b e d a t Tobacco Cay, The i s l a n d w a s mapped i n 1960, r e v i s i t e d i n 1961, and re-mapped i n 1962.

I n 1960 t h e cay had a maximum n o r t h - s o u t h l e n g t h of a l i t t l e more t h a n 700 y a r d s ; i t s width v a r i e d from

75

t o 200 y a r d s ; and i t was a l i g n e d a t a n a n g l e t o t h e b a r r i e r r e e f , which it approached c l o s e s t a t i t s

n o r t h e r n end. The i s l a n d f a l l s into'two d i s t i n c t p a r t s : o v e r t h e s o u t h e r n t h r e e - q u a r t e r s t h e n a t u r a l v e g e t a t i o n h a s been c o m p l e t e l y c l e a r e d f o r coconuts, w h i l e t h e n o r t h e r n s e c t o r i s s t i l l p a r t l y covered w i t h d e n s e palm t h i c k e t , I n t h e c e n t r e of t h e c a y t h e r e i s a n a r e a o f ornamental gardens w i t h e x o t i c w l a n t s , a h a r d t e n n i s c o u r t , tomb ( i n c o r p o r a t i n g a f r e s h w a t e r w e l l ) , a n d house. A t t h e n o r t h e a s t p o i n t , where t h e shore l i e s 50-100 y a r d s from t h e r e e f , t h e beach i s composed o f c o r a l r u b b l e , much p i t t e d and blackened, merging i n t o t h e s c a t t e r e d d e b r i s of t h e

s h a l l o w r e e f f l a t , and backed landward by a s h i n g l e r i d g e

4

f e e t h i g h , I n p o c k e t s i n t h e f a c e of t h e s h i n g l e r i d g e , s m a l l sand b e a c h e s have

accumulated, composed e n t i r e l y of Halimeda f r a g m e n t s , A s t h e beach t r e n d s

away from t h e b a r r i e r r e e f towards t h e south t h e amount of s h i n g l e and r u b b l e d e c r e a s e s r a n i d l y , and t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e e a s t shore, b e f o r e t h e h u r r i c a n e , c o n s i s t e d of f i n e sand, r i s i n g t o a c r e s t 4-5 f e e t above s e a l e v e l , and overlooking a wide, sandy and very shallow r e e f f l a t .

The r e e f f l a t i t s e l f i s covered w i t h T h a l a s s i a : c l o s e i n s h o r e a r e numerous Fhizophora s e e d l i n g s , w i t h a few mature clumps. Behind t h e s h i n g l e

r i d g e a t t h e n o r t h end of t h e cay i s a n a r e a of b l a c k swampy s o i l w i t h s t a n d i n g water, s e p a r a t e d from t h e lagoon on t h e northwest s i d e by a low sand r i d g e , t h e o u t e r margin of which was s l i g h t l y c l i f f e d i n 1960.

I n 1960 and 1 9 6 1 t h e r e w a s a prominent s p i t o f f r e s h sand a t t h e s o u t h p o i n t , where t h e margin o f t h e i s l a n d c o r e was a l s o undercut, and a t t h e n o r t h end of t h e west bay. No beachrock was seen on t h e seaward s h o r e s o f t h e cay, b u t immediately s o u t h of a 70 y a r d long masonry w a l l i n t h e west bay t h r e e p a t c h e s of cemented sand were noted i n 1960, emerging from underneath t h e beachridge. P a r t of t h e rock was w e l l cemented, b u t much was s t i l l f r i a b l e ; i t s o u t e r edge extended 2-3 f e e t from t h e base of t h e beach, and t r e n c h i n g showed t h a t it extended a t l e a s t 4 f e e t under t h e beach sands. I t s t o t a l t h i c k n e s s was 1 2 i n c h e s -

Almost a l l t h e i s l a n d i e covered w i t h coconuts, w i t h a s p a r s e

ground cover o f Euphorbia b l o d g e t t i i and g r a s s e s ; t h e Mutine survey n,oted t r e e s 60 f e e t high i n 1921 (west I n d i e s P i l o t , I, 463). The n o r t h e r n s h i n g l e r i d g e w a s covered w i t h a p r o s t r a t e zone o f Sesuvium and a c r e s t - zone of T o u r n e f o r t i a and Suriana. Ground cover i n t h e n o r t h e r n palm t h i c k e t c o n s i s t e d o f Wedelia, Cakile, Ipomoea, Euphorbia, C.yperus

pla-

n i f o l i u s

,

Sporobolus and Andropogon glomeratus, w i t h B o r r i c h i a

a r b o r e s c e n s and Coccoloba round t h e margins. B o r r i c h i a and Coccoloba were a l s o s c a t t e r e d a l o n g t h e e a s t e r n sand r i d g e , w i t h p a t c h e s of Euwhorbia and Ambrosia h i s p i d a ,

During Hurricane H a t t i e t h e s h o r e l i n e r e t r e a t e d d i s c o n t i n u o u s l y on a l l s i d e s of t h e cay: a l o n g t h e whole o f t h e northwest shore, a l o n g t h e n o r t h e r n s e c t i o n of t h e west bay (i.e. t h a t

art

f a c i n g southwest), a t t h e south ~ o i n t , and i n p l a c e s a l o n g t h e e a s t shore. R e t r e a t on t h e northwest s h o r e exposed t h r e e p a t c h e s of cemented sand s t a n d i n g 6 i n c h e s above h i g h t i d e l e v e l , w i t h no d i s c e r n i b l e d i p , permeated w i t h coconut

r o o t s , and s t i l l f r i a b l e . Tne exposure l i e s 120 y a r d s from t h e n o r t h p o i n t , where t h e sand r i d g e narrows between swamp and s e a , and i s p r o b a b l y a cay sandstone r a t h e r t h a n a beachrock. The i n c i p i e n t beachrock noted i n t h e west bay i n 1960 was c o m ~ l e t e l y e m o s e d , forming t h r e e o v e r l a p p i n g l i n e s , now s t a n d i n g 2-3 y a r d s o f f s h o r e , with a t o t a l l e n g t h of n e a r l y 3 0 y a r d s . The rock i s now g e n e r a l l y w e l l cemented, and h a s a marked lagoonward d i p . It i s l o c a t e d immediately s o u t h o f t h e end of t h e con- c r e t e w a l l , now much broken and nd l o n g e r i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e shore. The southernmost sand s p i t was washed away, and t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t of t h e c a y h a s t h e appearance of submergence by t h e sea. On t h e e a s t s i d e t h e r e a r e a number of shallow s c o u r h o l e s which may have been c u t by southwes- t e r l y storm w a t e r s c r o s s i n g t h e cay s u r f a c e . Along t h e s h o r e s of t h e west bay, t h e r e i s f i r s t a narrow beach zone, t h e n a n undercut s a n d c l i f f , towped by a zone of b a r e coconut r o o t s from which t h e l o o s e sand h a s been s t r i p p e d , and t h e n a w i d e r b u t i r r e g u l a r zone of patchy f r e s h sand, d e p o s i t e d by storm waves. These f r e s h sand d e p o s i t s a r e found o n l y on t h e west and south s h o r e s of t h e cay.

Tree f a l l d i r e c t i o n i s i n harmony with t h e ~ i c t u r e of e r o s i o n arid d e p o s i t i o n : d i r e c t i o n of f a l l e n coconuts v a r i e s from 11-62' and averages 30-40°, corresponding, a s a t Tobacco Cay, t o s o u t h w e s t e r l y winds, Pany t r e e s a r e s t i l l s t a n d i n g a t t h e south and n o r t h ends of t h e cay, b u t i n t h e c e n t r e about 80Z of t h e t r e e s a r e down. The s h o r e s of t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e west bay a r e l i n e d by t h e u ~ t u r n e d b o l e s of f a l l e n t r e e s ,

According t o i n h a b i t a n t s o t h e r t r e e s were d e f o l i a t e d , b u t i n 1962 E r r i c h i a and Coccoloba were s t i l l l i v i n g , and two l a r g e Avicennia on t h e e a s t

s h o r e were not k i l l e d .

The j e t t i e s and some houses were d e s t r o y e d , b u t t h e cay i s s t i l l occupied and s e v e r a l houses a r e i n h a b i t a b l e . i\!iost s e v e r e p r o p e r t y damage w a s l i m i t e d t o nearshore l o c a t i o n s on t h e west s i d e .

C a r r i e Bow Cay

C a r r i e Bow Cay, owned by and named a f t e r t h e Bowman f a m i l y of Stann Creek, was mapped by Owen a s flJack E l l i n v s Cays' ( ~ 5 7 , 1830) and a p p e a r s on c h a r t s a s G l l e n Cay*?. It i s s i t u a t e d a t t h e southern end of a small s e c t i o n of t h e b a r r i e r r e e f , bounded n o r t h and south by channels c a r r y i n g 1$ fathoms, and it l i e s about

$

m i l e south of South Water Cay.

The i s l a n d i t s e l f was a n e l o n g a t 3 s t r i p of sand 150 y a r d s l o n g and 35-45 y a r d s wide when n a m e d i n 1960 (Figure 3 3 ) . A t t h e t i m e of t h i s survey a temporary f r e s h s a n d s ~ i t extended

35

y a r d s t o t h e n o r t h of t h e main body of t h e cay. The s u r f a c e of t h e i s l a n d i s f l a t , of r a t h e r g r e y sand, r i s i n g t o a maximum h e i g h t of

3-4

f e e t above sea l e v e l a l o n g t h e e a s t s h o r e . The e a s t e r n beach was t h e n narrow and covered w i t h s m a l l l o o s e b l o c k s of dead c o r a l . A t t h e n o r t h e r n and southern ends, where t h i s rocky zone was a b s e n t , t h e s h o r e was s l i g h t l y c l i f f e d , and l i t t e r e d with f a l l e n and l e a n i n g coconut t r e e s , The sand c l i f f was up t o 2 f e e t high, t h e t o p 1 2 i n c h e s forming an impenetrable t a n g l e of coconut r o o t s . The

e a s t shore overlooks a shallow and sandy r e e f f l a t , t h i c k l y covered with T h a l a s s i a , with a number of s t r i p s of r e l i c t beachrock. I n 1960 t h e s e E r e n o t v i s i b l e from t h e shore, b u t were e a s i l y seen from t h e verandah of t h e house, and from t h e a i r . The s t r i p s of beachrock were roughly p a r a l l e l t o t h e beach; Group I (Figure 3 3 ) showed no c l e a r d i p and were l i t t l e more t h a n c l e a r e d p a t c h e s i n t h e t u r t l e g r a s s . Between Groups I and I1 t h e reef f l a t was s c a t t e r e d w i t h P o r i t e s , S i d e r a s t r e a , and

&

c e r v i c o r n i s , and c a r r i e d a b o ~ t 2 f e e t of water a t low t i d e , Beachrock I1 shows a d e f i n i t e seaward d i p ; l i v i n g r e e f approached w i t h i n a s h o r t d i s t a n c e of t h i s o u t e r exposure. No beachrock was seen a l o n g t h e s h o r e s of t h e cay i t s e l f .

I n 1830 Cavtain Owen noted +%ops of bushes 20 feetvf (Adm. liS H61), probably denoting a t h i c k e t o f Suriana, Coccoloba, perhaps Cordia, palms and s t r a n d p l a n t s . By 1960, however, a l l t h e s e had been removed f o r coconuts and t h e ground was kept c l e a r of a l l v e g e t a t i o n , except f o r

s c a t t e r e d g r a s s e s and E u ~ h o r b i a . The i s l a n d was used a s a h o l i d a y c e n t r e ; it had a l a r g e house and c h a l e t s , and a r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e p i e r g i v i n g anchorage i n 1& fathoms on t h e l e e s i d e .

Physiographic change during Hurricane H a t t i e was minor. There was a l i t t l e shore r e t r e a t a t t h e south and north extremities, giving low sand c l i f f s , and t h e whole of t h e e a s t shore r e t r e a t e d 5-6 f e e t , exposing a f r e s h l i n e of beachrock (III), This new l i n e of beachrock showed a d i s t i n c t d i p t o landward along i t s whole length ( c f . a s i m i l a r exnosure a t Southwest Cay 11, Gloveros Reef: ARB

87,

97). The northern sandspit was a l s o washed away, revealing two l i n e s of poorly cemented beachrock, corresponding t o i t s former s h o r e l i n e s ( ~ r o u ~ IV), The sandsnit i n 1960 was low and c o n t i n u a l l y overtopped by waves; it i s d i f f i c u l t t o r e c o n c i l e t h i s exposure with t h e view t h a t beachrock formation i s connected with a freehwater h o r i ~ o n

usse sell,

1962). A f u r t h e r exposure i n Group I was a l s o seen i n t h e Thalassia.

A number of coconut t r e e s @ill stand, e s p e c i a l l y a t t h e north end;

f a l l e n t r e e s t r e n d from 345-035

,

and average almost due north, i n d i c a t i n g more southerly winds than a t Tobacco and South ldater Cays. The j e t t y was undamaged, while damage t o buildings was considerable, though a l l except one house stood. A boat i s now stranded near t h e north end of t h e cay, presumably by storm waves. The only p l a n t c o l o n i s e r since t h e hurricane aopears t o be Eunhorbia. The i s l a n d has a r e s i d e n t caretaker. Damage t o t h e reef has a l r e a d y been outlined (chapter 3 ) ; southeast of t h e cay i n A p r i l 1962 a s t r i p of c o r a l rubble broke surface t o form a ridge everywhere l e s s than 2 f e e t high.

Curlew Cay

Curlew Cay (Figure 34) must a t one time have been very s i m i l a r i n appearance t o Carrie Bow Cay, one mile t o t h e north, Here a l s o Owen noted bushes 20 f e e t high i n t h e 18309s ( ~ 6 1 ) ~ but i n 1960 and 1961 t h e i s l a n d was simply a low, c r e s c e n t i c sandbore, 40 yards long and UP t o 10 yards wide, b u i l t of f r e s h sand and unvegetated a p a r t from two Rhizophora seedlings. Traces of t h e o l d e r i s l a l ~ d can be seen i n t h e extensive development of beachrock e a s t of t h e cay. There a r e t h r e e d i s t i n c t exposures. The f i r s t t r e n d s STIWE and shows a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c d i p t o t h e Md; it was t h i c k l y covered with algae, j u s t broke surface, and was p a r t l y buried by t h e sandbore. The second consisted of a s i n g l e l i n e of beachrock t r e n d i n g E-W; it was r a t h e r more submerged and dipped t o t h e north. The t h i r d l i e s 60-70 yards seaward of t h e f i r s t zone, was 1-2 yards wide and i t s uoper s u r f a c e l i e s 1-1$ f e e t below sea l e v e l . A t i t s northern end it was a low mound with no d i s c e r n i b l e d i p ; i n t h e south t h e d i p was d e f i n i t e l y seaward. This l i n e of rock marked t h e i n n e r edge of l i v i n g r e e f , and t h e rock i t s e l f was colonised by P o r i t e s and YIllepora, The a r e a enclosed by t h e s e t h r e e zones of beachrock c a r r i e d 2 f e e t of

water, and i t s f l o o r was covered with Thalassia and s c a t t e r e d P o r i t e s . It i s u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e beachrock was a l l of t h e same age. The d a t e of d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e vegetated cay i s unknown;

t h e g r e a t hurricane of 1945.

Curlew Cay presumably disappeared a f t e r April-Nay 1962, it had again b u i l t up, a few 1960 position. The beachrock was undamaged.

and of f l u c t u a t i n g dimensions.

it may have been during

Hurricane H a t t i e , but by yards t o t h e west of i t s

The cay i s s t i l l unvegetated

B o Cays of C e n t r a l B a r r i e r

-

Reef lagoon

South of Curlew Cay t h e b a r r i e r r e e f i s fragmented f o r f o u r m i l e s t o South Cut, and t h e r e a f t e r i s c o n t i n u o u s and w i t h o u t sand c a y s f o r t h e 1 4 m i l e s t o t h e Gladden S p i t elbow, The n e x t southernmost sand c a y s on t h e b a r r i e r r e e f p r o p e r a r e 2 1 m i l e s due s o u t h of Curlew Cay. A t t h e Gladden S p i t elbow t h e c o a s t a l s h e l f and lagoon r e a c h t h e i r widest e x t e n t o f 23 m i l e s ; i n t h i s l a t i t u d e t h e maximum lagoon depth is 19 f a t h o m . Within t h i s a r e a , d e l i m i t e d b y S i t t e e R i v e r and G r e a t honkey Cay on t h e c o a s t , and b y Curlew Cays and S i l k Cays on t h e b a r r i e r r e e f , i s a n a r e a of

extremely i n t r i c a t e bottom topography, w i t h a l a r g e number of cays, both sand and mangrove. The bottom tonograohy cannot b e d i s c u s s e d i n d e t a i l , b u t some b r i e f c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y f o r a n understanding of t h e d e v e l o ~ m e n t and l o c a t i o n o f t h e c a y s ,

The f l o o r of t h e lagoon, a s i n t h e n o r t h , f a l l s away f r o m t h e c o a s t toward t h e b a r r i e r r e e f , r e a c h i n g maximum d e ~ t h s a t d i s t a n c e s of 10-14 m i l e s from t h e c o a s t , o r g e n e r a l l y t w o - t h i r d s t h e width of t h e c o a s t a l

s h e l f , Near t h e edge of t h e s h e l f t h e r e i s a n a b r u p t r i s e t o t h e lower p l a t f o r m a t 2-4 fathoms d e p t h , which i s i t s e l f edged on t h e seaward s i d e by t h e p r e s e n t s e a l e v e l b a r r i e r r e e f . The g r e a t e s t d e ~ t h s i n t h e lagoon i n c r e a s e from 1 2 fathoms i n t h e l a t i t u d e of Curlew Cay t o 24 fathoms i n t h e l a t i t u d e of S i l k Cays, a s t r a i g h t - l i n e d i s t a n c e of 2 1 m i l e s . T h i s i n c r e a s e i n maximum d e p t h i s about t e n t i m e s g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t between t h e T r i a n g l e s and Curlew Cay (2 fathoms i n 40 m i l e s ) , b u t s t i l l g i v e s a north-south g r a d i e n t of o n l y 1:1800. F i g u r e 35 shows t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of d e p t h s l e s s t h a n t h r e e fathoms i n t h i s p a r t of t h e lagoon; t h i s i s o b a t h a ~ p r o x i m a t e l y d e l i m i t s t h e lower p l a t f o r m . Note how a l o n g narrow submerged s p u r t r e n d s away from t h e main lower p l a t f o r m n e a r South \dater Cay, a n d c o n t i n u e s southwards by Blue Ground Range t o P e t e r Douglas Cay. From t h e r e , Admiralty c h a r t s , based on t h e 1830-34 surveys, show t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n southwards of a r c u a t e r i d g e s , p a r a l l e l t o t h e b a r r i e r r e e f and convex t o t h e e a s t . The most ~ r o m i n e n t of t h e s e i s t h a t c o n n e c t i n g C r a w l Cay, Bakervs Rendezvous, Cary Cay and Long Cocoa Cay. E a s t and west of t h i s r i d g e dohens of s m a l l e r p a t c h e s , some w i t h cays, many w i t h o u t , r i s e t o o r n e a r t h e s u r f a c e , These a r e a p p a r e n t l y c o n c e n t r a t e d a l o n g a n a x i s extending from P l a c e n c i a on t h e c o a s t t o Gladden s p i t ; i n t h i s l a t i t u d e many of t h e p a t c h e s s u ~ p o r t c a y s , Imme- d i a t e l y t o t h e s o u t h of t h i s a x i s i s a n a r e a of numerous s h o a l s r i s i n g t o w i t h i n

3

fathoms of t h e s u r f a c e ( p a n t i l e ~ e a d s ) , without cays; and y e t f u r t h e r south a zone of a p p a r e n t l y similar p a t c h e s which do n o t r i s e above a d e p t h of 4-5 fathoms. F i n a l l y , t h e r e i s a zone where such s h o a l s a r e a l m o s t e n t i r e l y a b s e n t . T h i s d e ~ t h - d i s t r i b u t i o n may s u g g e s t d i f f e r e n - t i a l movement a l o n g an a x i s t r a n s v e r s e t o t h e b a r r i e r r e e f lagoon, which may a l s o have s h a ~ e d t h e Gladden S p i t elbow. It i s c l e a r t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n h e i g h t of t h e p a t c h e s i s n o t a r e f l e c t i o n of d i f f e r i n g d e g r e e s of r e e f growth depending on d i f f e r e n c e s i n d e p t h of t h e lagoon f l o o r ; f o r i n t h i s c a s e t h e t o p s of t h e p a t c h e s would become d e e p e r t h e f a r t h e r from t h e s h o r e , and t h i s is n o t so. But t h e problem h e r e i s more complex t h a n simple warping o r f a u l t i n g about a n east-west a x i s , f o r t h e t o p o g r a ~ h i c h i g h s a r e themselves n o t simnle f e a t u r e s . I n t h o s e c l o s e t o t h e s h o r e c o r a l s a r e n o t s i g n i f i c a n t , and it i s p r o b a b l e t h a t i n a l l of them p r e s e n t - d a y c o r a l s o n l y v e n e e r p r e - e x i s t i n g s t r u c t u r e s .

Figure 36 i s derived from an a i r p h o t o mosaic of t h e a r e a between South Cut and i h s q u i t o Cay; f o r i t s p r e c i s e l o c a t i o n , s e e Figure

35.

The i n t r i c a t e n a t u r e of t h e ~ ~ p a t c h e s ~ ~ i s a t once apparent: many f o n elongate, almost closed r i n g s , r i s i n g extremely s t e e p l y from depths of

15

fathoms o r more. The r i m s of t h e s e r i n g s a r e e v e m e r e narrow, r i s e t o within t h r e e fathoms of t h e surface, and a r e i n t e r r u p t e d by deep gaps; t h e y enclose a c e n t r a l ~vlagoonbs with denths o f t e n comparable t o t h o s e out s i d e t h e rim. These r i n g - l i k e f e a t u r e s vary up t o 7 m i l e s i n l e n g t h , but most a r e smaller. Cays a r e l o c a t e d a t i n t e r v a l s on t h e rims. The rims themselves have a f u r t h e r d i s t i n g u i s h i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c : t h e i r o u t e r margins a r e smooth i n plan and g e n t l y curved; t h e channels between t h e r i n g s p a s s smoothly i n t o each o t h e r without marked angles; and t h e i r g e n e r a l shape i s smoothly c u r v i l i n e a r , o r lozenge-sha~ed. But t h e i n n e r edges of t h e rims a r e i n t r i c a t e l y d i s s e c t e d and highly i r r e g u l a r , The uDper s u r f a c e of each rim i s a l s o i r r e g u l a r and ~ i t t e d with deep holes.

The only e x t e n s i v e surface-breaking reef i s t h a t between Baker's Rendeb- vous and C r a w l Cay, but most of t h e patches have mcderate reef growth on t h e i r e a s t e r n s i d e s .

These f e a t u r e s a r e c l e a r l y not t h e r e s u l t of modern r e e f growth;

t h e i r g e n e r a l form and i n t r i c a t e d i s s e c t i o n p o i n t t o karst e r o s i o n during g l a c i a l low s e a l e v e l s . The channels between t h e patches may r e p r e s e n t lagoon f l o o r drainage channels of g l a c i a l age. It i s ~ o s s i b l e t h a t

wrt

a t l e a s t of t h e i r form r e s u l t s from s o l u t i o n weathering of limestone of t h e t y p e described from Okinawa by EacNeil (1954) and demonstrated experimentally by Hoffmeister and Ladd (1945) ; some of t h e small patches, with t h e i r a r c u a t e o u t l i n e and deep holes, r e c a l l i n a s t r i k i n g way t h e small e l e v a t e d limestone i s l a n d s of t h e Palau Archipelago ( ~ o s b e r g , 1960, P l a t e l 2 ) , except, of course, t h a t i n B r i t i s h Honduras t h e forms a r e e n t i r e l y submarine. They may o r i g i n a l l y have been extensions of t h e T e r t i a r y limestone h i l l s o f t h e mainland, o r old reef forms, but i n t h e l a t t e r case it i s d i f f i c u l t t o e x p l a i n t h e i r absence i n o t h e r p a r t s of t h e b a r r i e r r e e f lagoon. Very s i m i l a r f e a t u r e s l y i n g a t g r e a t e r depths

(4-7 fathoms) can be t r a c e d on a i r photographs a t t h e southern end of t h e b a r r i e r r e e f , west and southwest of S e a l Cays, These may r e p r e s e n t e r o s i o n f e a t u r e s e i t h e r down-warped s i n c e foundation o r developed a t a lower l e v e l on lower limestone masses. I f down-warping o r f a u l t i n g has occurred it must have predated t h e foundation of t h e h o r i z o n t a l lower platform. The i d e a t h a t t h e patches have developed on drowned limestone h i l l s e x p l a i n s more e a s i l y t h e i r r e s t r i c t e d l o c a t i o n and e n t i r e absence over t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e lagoon. I f t h e f e a t u r e s d i d p r e d a t e t h e lower platform t h e y were presumably a l l t r u n c a t e d a t t h e 2-4 fathom l e v e l when t h e platform was formed. Enough has been s a i d t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e c e n t h i s t o r y of t h i s p a r t of t h e s h e l f may b e more complex t h a n Vermeer (1959) supposed; deep d r i l l i n g f o r o i l a t Placencia may h e l p u n r a v e l events when t h e r e s u l t s a r e a v a i l a b l e .

I n t h e following s e c t i o n s t h e cays of t h i s c e n t r a l b a r r i e r r e e f lagoon a r e discussed i n t u r n from n o r t h t o south. No e a r l y d e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e s e cays e x i s t : it i s not p o s s i b l e t o i d e n t i f y Speeros (1765) b r i e f r e f e r e n c e s , nor t o r e c o n c i l e t h e r a t h e r schematic c h a r t s by Speer (1765, 1771) and J e f f r e y s (1775) w i t h modern maps. Only t h e p r e s e n t F a l s e Cay and Placencia Cay were named by them; t h e r e s t were grouped a s Reed9s Cays (Tobacco and Blue Ground Ranges?) and t h e Coconut Cays ( a l l t h e r e s t ) . J e f f r e y s (1775) a d d i t i o n a l l y names Bugle, Colson, S c i p i o and a d j a c e n t

cays t h e i@Placentia T r i a n g l e st!.

Weewee Cay t o Bekervs Hendezvous

Weewee Cay l i e s on a r e e f ~ a t c h 4 m i l e s west o f t h e b a r r i e r r e e f and 4; m i = s o u t h w e s t of South Water Cay. It i s a small t r i a n g u l a r i s l a n d w i t h s i d e s 100-150 y a r d s l o n g , e n c l o s e d on t h e n o r t h and s o u t h e a s t s i d e s by d e n s e mangrove. R h i z o ~ h o r a a l s o e x t e n d s a l o n g t h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e N-S t r e n d i n g west s h o r e , e x c e n t f o r a s m a l l onening g i v i n g a c c e s s t o t h e low-lying sandy i n t e r i o r , I n A n r i l 1962 t h e n e r i p h e r a l mangrove was s t i l l a l i v e a l o n g t h e n o r t h and s o u t h e a s t f a c i n g s h o r e s , and had been k i l l e d o n l y a t t h e s o u t h e r n t i p , where f o r a s h o r t d i s t a n c e t h e s h o r e t r e n d s h 1 6 0 ~ ~ . L i v i n g r e e f f r i n g e s t h e e n t i r e e a s t e r n s i d e of t h e cay, b u t i s a b s e n t a l o n g t h e west s i d e ; a n r o t e c t e d s i t u a t i o n presumably a c c o u n t s f o r t h e a b s e n c e o f a w e a t h e r s i d e sand r i d g e on t h e i s l a n d , and t h e a n p a r e n t r e v e r s a l of ~ h y s i o g r a n h i c zones compared w i t h t h e ~ o r m a l mangrove-sand cay. The cay i s n o t p e m a n e n t l y i n h a b i t e d , b u t i s used a s a f i s h i n g s t a t i o n by Stann Creek C a r i b s ; a number a r e b u r i e d or1 t h e i s l a n d under p i l e s of conch s h e l l s , F i s h a r e c l e a n e d , s a l t e d and d r i e d

( c o r n e d ) h e r e . The d r y land a r e a h a s a c i r c m f e r e n c e of about

75

y a r d s ; i t s v e g e t a t i o n i s r e s t r i c t e d t o coconuts and a n undercover of g r a s s e s and s e d g e s i n c l u d i n g Cyperus ^- p e r u v i a n u s F i m b r i s t y l i s c p o s a , C h l o r i s p e t r a e a ⁹ and B a t i s m a r i t i m a . A l a r g e number of t r e e s was knocked down by H u r r i c a n e H a t t i e : d i r e c t i o n of f a l l v a r i e d from due n o r t h t o due s o u t h , w i t h a few due e a s t and due w e s t . The p a t t e r n i s i n f a c t a l m o s t r a d i a l , perhaps a s a r e s u l t of t h e e n c l o s e d c h a r a c t e r of t h e d r y l a n d a r e a ; p e r h a p s 50:: o f t h e measured d i r e c t i o n s l a y between 345' and 045O, i n d i c a t i n g predominantly s o u t h e r l y winds.

S t e w a r t Cay (un-named on c h a r t s , b e a r i n g 316-323' from Weewee c a y ) and Bread-and-Butter Cay ( b e a r i n g 274-282O from Weewee Cay, named S t e w a r t Cay on c h a r t s ) a r e mangrove i s l a n d s , l a c k i n g d r y l a n d , w i t h no i m p o r t a n t h u r r i c a n e e f f e c t s e x c e p t mangrove d e f o l i a t i o n on s o u t h - f a c i n g & o r e s .

Crowos Nest Cay ( s p r u c e Cay on c h a r t s ) l i e s 2$ m i l e s SSW o f Meewee Cay;

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it i s e n t i r e l y o f mangrove, and b e c a u s e of i t s s h e l t e r e d p o s i t i o n e s c a ~ e d much d e f o l i a t i o n . P e t e r Douglas Cay ( ~ o u ~ l a s Cay of c h a r t s ) L i e s

1s

m i l e s

SThT of Crowvs Nest Cay; t h e i n t e r v e n i n g Norval Cay of c h a r t s was n o t s e e n i n 1962. P e t e r Douglas i s a l a r g e i s l a n d , mainly mangrove, of i r r e g u l a r o u t l i n e , f r i n g e d by r e e f on i t s n o r t h e a s t and e a s t s i d e s . R h i ~ o o h o r a on t h e n o r t h e a s t and s o u t h e a s t s h o r e s was n o t s e r i o u s l y d e f o l i a t e d ; b u t complete d e f o l i a t i o n o c c u r r e d a t t h e s o u t h ~ o i n t , and a l o n g t h e west s h o r e a number o f t a l l Rhizophora had been uprooted, a p p a r e n t l y by south- w e s t e r l y waves. There i s a s m a l l a r e a of d r y l a n d on t h e w e s t s i d e of t h e ^C% n e a r s h o r e , it i s formed of c o a r s e sand with much s h e l l d e b r i s , r i s i n g 1% f e e t above t h e s e a ; it e x t e n d s f o r a n unknown d i s t a n c e toward t h e c e n t r e o f t h e cay, and s u p p o r t s a d e n s e nalm t h i c k e t w i t h Sonhora tomentosa. According t o i n f o r m a n t s t h e r e were a b o u t 3 0 c o c o n u t s b e f o r e

-

t h e h u r r i c a n e ; 1 2 were counted a f t e r w a r d s . L i t t l e P e t e r i s a s m a l l i s l a n d immediately t o t h e s o u t h , t h e g r e a t e r p a r t b e i n g d e f o l i a t e d Rhizophora, w i t h Sophora on t h e d r y l a n d a r e a ; and immediately t o t h e s o u t h of t h i s l i e s a n o t h e r v e r y small mangrove i s l a n d , Old Rendezvous Cay, a l m o s t c o m ~ l e t e l y d e f o l i a t e d , N e i t h e r o f t h e s e s m a l l i s l a n d s i s named on c h a r t s .

South o f P e t e r Douglas Cay, Saddle Cays ( ~ l b o w Cays of c h a r t s ) were n o t v i s i t e d , b u t i n s t e a d we s a i l e d through Idortheast Cay Ran=, t h e P e l i c a n Cays of c h a r t s , i n l a t i t u d e 16°41V0 These cays a r e s i t u a t e d midway between c o a s t and b a r r i e r r e e f , h e r e

7

m i l e s d i s t a n t , They con-

s i s t of a s i n g l e l a r g e mangrove cay, Northeast Cay, w i t h many small mangrove cays, d e f o l i a t e d on t h e west s i d e , some w i t h small amounts of

s h i n g l e thrown ^UD on t h e west shore. Of t h e s e , Cat Cax l i e s on t h e southwest s i d e of t h e group. It i s a s m a l l i s l a n d w i t h a narrow f r i n g e o f R h i ~ o p h o r a on i t s n o r t h and e a s t s h o r e s , and a l o n g t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e west s h o r e a l s o . The g r e a t e r

art

of t h e c a y i s d r y l a n d , though t h e c e n t r e i s low-lying and marshy, w i t h s c a t t e r e d M c e n n i a , Fresh s m a l l s h i n g l e h a s been thrown up a l o n g t h e west s h o r e , and a number of coconuts have been knocked down. D i r e c t i o n of f a l l v a r i e s from 270-020°, w i t h t h e m a j o r i t y 340-360°, a g a i n i n d i c a t i n g s o u t h e r l y winds, The v e g e t a t i o n of t h e d r y l a n d a r e a i n c l u d e s , i n a d d i t i o n t o cococuts, t h e p a l n e t t o ⁹Thrinax and Thespesia populnea; t o g e t h e r with Conocarnus e r e c t u s , Eunhorbia s p , , C n e r u s s p , , Wedelia t r i l o b a t a , and

-

g r a s s e s . Ospreys

andi ion

h a l i e t u s

-+-

were n e s t i n g h e r e i n 19620 Ean-of-Mar Cay i s one of' t h e southernmost of t h e Northeast Cay Range,

I n A ~ r i l - P a y 1962, t h o ~ g h s m a l l and c o n s i s t i n g only of almost completely d e f o l i a t e d Rhizophora, it was i n h a b i t e d by l a r g e numbers of F r e g a t a magnificens,

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w e p a r a t o r y t o n e s t i n g . T h i s b i r d was n o t s e e n on any of t h e neighbouring cays a t t h i s time.

Other cays m e r i t l i t t l e comment. The two Lagoon Cays s o c a l l e d because t h e y each e n c l o s e deep lagoons ( t h e l a r g e r c a r r y i n g 8 fathoms), and

Crawl Cay a r e e n t i r e l y mangrove; &uamino Cay i s almost e n t i r e l y mangrove,

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with a l i t t l e d r y l a n d on i t s e a s t s i d e . S l a s h e r Sand Bore, where Owen noted t r e e s

1 5

f e e t high i n 1830, h a s n o t been v i s i b l e f o r many y e a r s , b u t reappeared as a n unvegetated s a n d s ~ i t f o l l o ~ d n g t h e h u r r i c a n e . Bakerqs Rendezvous c o n s i s t s of two l o n g mangrove i s l a n d s and two much s m a l l e r

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ones t o t h e south; t h e y a r e wholly mangrove, except f o r two coconuts on t h e s o u t h e r n l o n g i s l a n d , A 1 1 t h e s e c a y s show some mangrove d e f o l i a t i o n on t h e i r s o u t h shores.

Cary Cay ( ~ i g u r e 37) o c c u p i e s a very similar p o s i t i o n t o Crawl Cay and Bakervs Rendezvous, b u t i s much f u r t h e r south, where t h e l i n e a r r e e f on which i t s t a n d s t r e n d s NNE-SSW, r i s i n g from maximum d e p t h s of

17-18

fathoms. The i s l a n d i t s e l f t r e ~ d s north-south, and h a s a maximum l e n g t h of 500 y a r d s ; i t s width v a r i e s , from a narrow sandy s t r i p only 10 y a r d s wide i n t h e south, t o a 2C0 yard wide mass of E ~ o p h o r a i n t h e n o r t h , Reef extends a l o n g t h e whole e a s t s i d e , but n o t on t h e west. Along t h e e a s t s i d e of t h e i s l a n d t h e r e i s a narrow dry-land a r e a , with palms and s t r a n d v e g e t a t i o n ; and a lower d r y a r e a , p l a n t e d t o coconuts, e x t e n d s a l o n g much of t h e west s i d e . These two d r y l a n d a r e a s d i v e r g e northwards, and t h e i n t e r v e n i n g a r e a i s occupied by s t a n d i n g water, Acrostichum marsh, and, towards t h e n o r t h Rhizophora.

During t h e h u r r i c a n e , f r e s h s h i n g l e was thrown up f o r 400 y a r d s a l o n g t h e e a s t s h o ~ e , and a l s o i n t h e form of s e p a r a t e r i d g e s a t t h e s o u t h end.

These s h i n g l e s p r e a d s c o n s i s t mainly of c e r v i c o r n i s d e b r i s ; t h e s e p a r a t e

r i d g e s have a maximum h e i g h t o f 2-2$ f e e t , though on t h e s o u t h e r n t i p of t h e cay t h e s h i n g l e i s p i l e d a g a i n s t v e g e t a t i o n t o a maximum h e i g h t of 5; f e e t . I n p l a c e s a l o n g t h e s h o r e t h e r e a r e s m a l l s t r e t c h e s of e r o s i o n , w i t h c l i f f i n g and r o o t exposure. Immediately o f f s h o r e , toward t h e s o u t h , a r e numerous s c a t t e r e d c o r a l b l o c k s , m o s t l y l e s s t h a n 1 f o o t d i a m e t e r . The main w e s t e r n s h i n g l e r i d g e v a r i e s i n h e i g h t from 2-5 f e e t , and i n width from 10-20 y a r d s ; it i s o f t e n h i g h e r where narrower, because of banking a g a i n s t v e g e t a t i o n . The i n n e r edge of t h e s h i n g l e r i d g e , where it a b u t s a g a i n s t s t a n d i n g w a t e r r a t h e r t h a n v e g e t a t i o n , i s c h a r a c t e r i s - t i c a l l y s t e e p . The c a l i b r e of t h e m t e r i a l v a r i e s from f i n e s h i n g l e up t o c o a r s e r u b b l e and some l a r g e c o r a l b l o c k s .

Near t h e n o r t h n o i n t , and a l o n g much of t h e west s h o r e , t h e sandy beach i s s l i g h t l y c l i f f e d , i n s p i t e of p a t c h e s o f p r o t e c t i n g Rhizophora.

Thin b l a n k e t s o f f r e s h sar,d c o v e r t h e n e a r s h o r e a r e a i n t h e s o u t h , The v e g e t a t i o n of t h e d r y l a n d a r e a c o n s i s t s of c o c o n u t s , T h r i n a x ( e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g t h e n o r t h e a s t s h o r e ) , Coccoloba, Cordia s e b e s t e n a , and a n under- c o v e r of H y n e n o c a l l i s , Wedelia, Ageratum, m c h y t a r ~ h e t a , g r a s s e s and sedges. Only a few c o c o n u t s have been knocked down, and t h e s e have g e n e r a l l y f a l l e n t o t h e n o r t h and n o r t h e a s t . The Acrostichum a u r e m marsh i s surrounded by Avicennia and Rhizophora. k a j o r h u r r i c a n e e f f e c t s a t Cary Cay a r e t h u s p r a c t i c a l l y l i m i t e d t o s h i n g l e and sand d e p o s i t i o n , a p p a r e n t l y i n r e s p o n s e t o m&ly s o u t h e a s t e r l y waves,

T r a p ~ q s Cay

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Trappvs Cay ( ~ i ~ u r e 3 8 ) , t h e Noho Cay of c h a r t s , l i e s 2 m i l e s s o u t h - e a s t of Cary Cay on a n i s o l a t e d r e e f o a t c h r i s i n g from 18 fathoms. The i s l a n d i s r e g u l a r l y shaped, w i t h maximum dimensions of 260 and 210 y a r d s , N-S and E-Id, and a n a r e a of some 55,000 sq. y a r d s , The margins o f t h e cay a r e low and sandy, e x c e p t on t h e southwest, s o u t h and e a s t s i d e s , where t h e o l d s h o r e was b u r i e d by f r e s h s h i n g l e d u r i n g H u r r i c a n e H a t t i e , Underneath t h i s s h i n g l e a c c u m u l a t i o n , and i n t e r m i t t e n t l y exposed, t h e o l d s h o r e i s undercut and eroded; much of t h e f i n e r m a t e r i a l h a s been washed o u t , l e a v i n g o n l y a r o o t mat. Before t h e h u r r i c a n e t h e s e s h o r e s were p r o b a b l y comparable t o t h e p r e s e n t n o r t h a n d e a s t s h o r e s , Vegeta- t i o n a p p r o a c h e s c l o s e t h e s h o r e on a l l s i d e s , e x c e p t a t t h e n o r t h e a s t c o r n e r , where a new s ~ i t of f r e s h sand i s b u i l d i n g outwards.

The whole of t h e e a s t s h o r e i s b l a n k e t e d by a c a r p e t of s h i n g l e 9 v a r y i n g i n w i d t h from 10-25 y a r d s , and i n c a l i b r e from s m a l l c e r v i c o r n i s d e b r i s t o o c c a s i o n a l l a r g e b l o c k s , i n c l u d i n g one M o n t a s t r s a n n u l a r i s b l o c k

35

f e e t l o n g , The o l d s h o r e l i n e a l o n g t h i s s i d e of t h e c a y h a s c l e a r l y been much eroded; i t s edge can be t r a c e d a l o n g t h e c e n t r e of t h e s h i n g l e c a r p e t . The o l d n e a r s h o r e v e g e t a t i o n h a s been l a r g e l y d e s t r o y e d o r b u r i e d by t h e s h i n g l e , b u t i n many o l a c e s broken p a l m e t t o e s ( ~ h r i n a x ) p r o t r u d e t h r o u g h t h e s h i n g l e c a r o e t . The i n n e r edge of t h e f r e s h

s h i n g l e i s everywhere a r c u a t e i n o l a n and s t e e p i n s e c t i o n , r i s i n g 18-24 i n c h e s above t h e o l d c a y f l o o r , h e r e low-lying, w i t h c o c o n u t s o r

C o n o c a r ~ u s bushes. Along t h e s o u t h s h o r e t h e s h i n g l e c a r p e t h a s a s i m i l a r width b u t i s much t h i n n e r , and t h e eroded o l d s h o r e l i n e i s

v i s i b l e e v e r y w h e r e w i t h i n a few f e e t of t h e p r e s e n t s h i n g l e shore. P a t c h e s o f a r a t h e r s o f t s a n d - s h i n g l e con@ome r a t e a r e e x p s e d a t s e a l e v e l a t

one ~ o i n t , The h e i g h t of t h e s t e p a t t h e landward edge of t h e s h i n g l e i s h e r e g e n e r a l l y l e s s t h a n 1 f o o t . Northwards a l o n g t h e west s h o r e , t h e

s h i n g l e t a i l s o f f r a ~ i d l y i n both width and t h i c k n e s s . A t i s g r e a t e s t accumulation on t h e e a s t s h o r e t h e s h i n g l e c a r p e t i s roba ably n o t t h i c k e r t h a n 22 f e e t . A low a r c u a t e spread of s h i n g l e h a s been thrown up o f f t h e

south shore; it i s about 100 y a r d s long, and m o b a b l y d i d n o t e x i s t b e f o r e t h e h u r r i c a n e .

The v e g e t a t i o n of t h e i s l a n d was n o t i n v e s t i g a t e d i n d e t a i l ; h u r r i - cane e f f e c t s were l i m i t e d t o near-shore f e l l i n g of' c o c o i ~ u t s , l a r g e l y by wave-sapping of t h e s u b s t r a t e i t s e l f . A l a r g e Coccoloba w a s a l s o uprooted on t h e west shore. Dominant d i r e c t i o n of t r e e f a l l i n d i c a t e s winds from t h e south and southwest, i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e s o u t h e a s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n

i n d i c a t e d by s h i n g l e d e n o s i t i o n . Thrinax i s widespread round t h e cay mar- g i n s , and a o p e a r s t o have r e s i s t e d t h e h u r r i c a n e b e t t e r t h a n coconuts.

Other t r e e s noted i n c l u d e Thesoesia oonulnea and Coccoloba u v i f e r a ; with a ground v e g e t a t i o n of H p e n o c a l l i s l i t t o r a l i s , Cyperus, P h y l l a n t h u s amarus, S Q o r i s p e t r a e a and Paspalum ~ a n i c u l a t u m . The c e n t r e of t h e cay was not i n v e s t i g a t e d . There a r e a few R h i ~ o g h o r a bushes round t h e shore.

The name T r a w f s Cay i s referred t o t h a t givgn on c h a r t s , which i n v i t e s confusion with o t h e r Noho Cays ( l a t i t u d e

17 31;0~,

88'12~; and 160099N9 8 8 ° 4 ~ f ~ ) and i s n o t known l o c a l l y . Co-ordinates of T r a p p f s Cay a r e 1 6 O 3 0 $ f ~ , 8 8 ° 1 0 f ~ .

I s l a n d s between T r a ~ p l s Cay and Gladden S p i t

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Some of t h e i s l a n d s l y i n g t o t h e n o r t h e a s t of Trappvs Cay were a l s o v i s i t e d . Rendezvous Cay i s a mangrove i s l a n d w i t h a small c e n t r a l sand a r e a covered with coconuts, used by Carib fishsrmen b u t n o t permanently i n h a b i t e d . A number of coconuts had been knocked down, t h e i r d i r e c t i o n v a r y i n g from 305-35r0, with a few 140-150°. A s on o t h e r cays n e a r Gladder!

S p i t , some o f t h e s e t r e e s were c e r t a i n l y knocked down by Hurricane Anna i n 1961; and t h e r e was no doubt t h a t a t l e a s t two d i f f e r e n t s e t s c f f a l l e n t r e e s were r e p r e s e n t e d h e r e , d i s t i n g u i s h e d , f o r example, by g r e a t e r

amounts of f u n g a l growths on t h e o l d e r t r u n k s . Long Coco Cax i s very s i m i l a r t o Rendezvous Cay, b u t t h e r e h a s been l i t t l e damage t o coconuts.

There i s some d e f o l i a t e d mangrove a t i t s s o u t h e a s t p o i n t , but no d e p o s i t s of f r e s h sand o r s h i n g l e . This cay was b r i e f l y d e s c r i b e d by Vermeer (1959, 91-92). T a r ~ u m and J a c k f s Cays a r e wholly mangrove, with l i t t l e of i n t e r e s t . L i t t e r Water Cays, noted by Vermeer (1959, 91) w a s not v i s i t e d , b u t seened from a d i s t a n c e t o be s i m i l a r t o Rendezvous and Long Coco Cays.

Buttonwood Cay ( ~ i g u r e 39) was m a ~ p e d i n 1960, s h o r t l y b e f o r e i t s v e g e t a t i o n w a s s e v e r e l y damaged i n Hurricane Anna.

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The sand a r e a i s low- l y i n g , measures 80x100 y a r d s , and i s surrounded 3n i t s west and southwest s i d e s by mangrove. The v e g e t a t i o n c o n s i s t s of coconuts, Coccoloba,

Conocarpus, Rhiz ophora and Avicennia, with ,s- E r a ~ r o s t i s

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domingensis, P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c z , Euphorbia

so.,

and Vigna l u t e o l m name i t s e l f i s t h e l o c a l term f o r t h e buttonwood mangrove, Conocarpus e r e c t u s . Because of t h e occurrence of two h u r r i c a n e s s i n c e t h e i s l a n d w a s mapped, it was n o t thought worthwhile t o re-map t h e cay.

Dalam dokumen ATOLL RESEARCH (Halaman 70-98)