Adelphi University - Oracle Yearbook (Garden City, NY)

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Around 1812 the islands were experiencing a migration of British loyalists from the United States. I hese people relied upon agriculture as their prime means ol livelihood. Many of their first supplies were brought to them by the famed Captain Bligli. lately of the good ship Bounty. On the island of New Providence, Nassau spreads itself to the sun and the sea. f abulous, beautiful Nassau is the white heartbeat of the islands. Nassau s Bay Street ranks with any street ol the world, with a swashbuckling history. It is here on this street, that the milk cotton tree stands which served as the gallows-tree where pirates swung to the tinkle ol their chains in the light tropical breeze from the sea. I he population is about seventy-thousand strong, only a few thousand of whom are whites. I hese people are generally co-opera- tive with visitors; however, they are like most people in an isolated community, curious and suspicious. Strange as it seems, fishing is not their chief means of livelihood. Like their ancestors, they are predominantly farmers. Formerly sponge fishing was the main indus- try, but since a disease destroyed much of the sponge grounds this industry has been replaced by farming. Large juicy tomatoes and tender-sweet pineapples are a couple of their successful crops. It is to this place of scenic beauty and swashbuckling past that the group journeyed. It was the village ol Hopetown on Elbow Cay, one hundred twenty miles north of Nassau, which served as the base of operations for the group. 1 his expedition was the very first of its kind to operate in the name of Adelphi College. Under the direction ol John K Storr. it included I iarry Brenowitz and Miss Ruth Apple- git. faculty members of the Biology department; Catharine Schneider and I odd Calyon, Biology majors, and Mrs. John I . Storr and her young son. Cordon. I lopetown was chosen because of its long coral reef, which is a favorite place for sea life to congregate. 1 he coral reefs themselves are an underwater treat to the eyes. I his reef extends north in a

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HAMAS Off the East coast of Florida, a couple ol air miles out lo sea from Fort Lauderdale, lie the beautiful isles ol enchantment, the Bahamas. I he histon7 of these islands is comparatively short: nevertheless, it is packed with romance and adventure. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century the Bahamas gave refuge to the pirates preying on the ocean trade of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. When one learns that there are over two thousand islands in this group, it may be seen how easy it was lor the pirates to escape or at least to postpone British justice. It is known that the pirate Blackbeard used these islands as a stronghold for a long time. Still, for many years, the people ol the out islands practiced piracy, on land at least, if not on the high seas. reckers these people were called and they were that —no more, no less. It was their practice to hoist a light high on a reel, luring travel-weary ships to them at night. I he captains, thinking that these lights marked off harbor entrances, sailed their ships to their doom on the reefs. Im- mediately these people would board the foundering ships and methodically murder the crew and passengers. After looting the ships they would sell their prizes on the open market. I o demonstrate the brutal audacity of these people, consider this: When the British government put up per- manent lights to counteract the destruction of the 'wreckers, these people petitioned the government to desist, pleading that it was destroying their Ih clihood. Such practices are now a long time dead. 25

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broken line for two miles. On tlie sea side the depth of the water ranged between 50 and 60 leet. while on the inshore side the depth was from only 15 and 25 feet. However the danger to boats of any size lies in the shoaling trend of the reef. In some cases the cora I heads projected upward from the sea floor to within three feet ol the surface. I he expedition louncl that the coral on the sea side was more abun- dant with sea life. The diving was done in a Navy-type shallow water diving helmet with air supplied from the surface. Among the brilliantly colored coral formations are the tropical fish of all types which draw sports fishermen from all over the western hemisphere into these beautiful lagoons. One sees the tiny angel fish of 2 to 3 inches in length and then one looks with amazement upon the sixty to seventy pound dog snappers. Crawfish or rock lobsters abound and their tails make delicious eating. Some of the less welcome companions to the divers were the deep water sea urchins with poisonous spines. Most of the under- sea excursions were for the taking of underwater moving pictures. The method used in taking the pictures was quite primitive and lime wasting, but the primitive locality prevented the utilization of a better. The light meter was sent down in a preserve jar and the light and distance setting called to the surface over an intercom system. I he camera was set at the surface, placed in a heavy metal box with windows, sealed with an iron plate cover containing twenty-five bolts which had to be tightened individually. During the time that the group was at Hopetown only one barracuda was encountered. I he head was on display in the exhibit set up by I odd Calyon for the Science Conference. Many specimens taken in the Bahamas were on exhibition in the S building during the spring semester of 1949. I his exhibit has since been dismantled and removed to I acapausha. Nassau County's museum, where it has been reconstructed. P. J. Squicciarini - .j3