BARRIER REEF.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1925, Page 1

BARRIER REEF.

WRESTING ITS SECRETS. SYDNEAL November J

One ot the wonders ot Australia and for that matter of the world—is the Groat Harrier Reef, the coral roof that runs for a thousand miles along the Queensland coast and at varying distances from it. Pages have been written about the root, but so multitudinous are its secrets and wonders that pages more might still he written without unfolding a tithe of all it holds enwrapped. Just at*present it is being surveyed, not: only by cartographers, but also by scientists. This survey, described as the greatest marine survey ever undertaken, has been in progress for more than a year. The Commonwealth Government is contributing £100.960 annually for the work, which is expected to occupy several years. It is in charge of Captain J. Kdgehill, a. British naval officer, and the vessels that are engaged are the Australian Navy survey vessels Aloros--liv and Geranium.

The scientific, director of the survey FMr Charles Iled lev. formerly of Sydney Museum, who recently issued a report on his work. 11l this, Air Medley says that many interesting phenomena have boon observed. He includes in these the facts that one roof was found to he growing fifteen different fiinds of coral and that another flourishing reef was suddenly destroyed by a deTuge of rain killing the coralbuilding polypi. The northern limit of the Barrier is believed to he due to the mitddiness of the water discharged into the sea hv the Fly and other Papuan livers, and its southern limit to the increasing cold duo to higher latitude. It has lioon discovered that the southernmost corals endure a minimum temperature of 60 degrees, hut only a few days in midwinter.

In reference to the many openings which occur in a general oast and west direction through the Great. Barrier. it was foremrlv considered that they marked old entrances to the sea of the present coastal rivers. This hypothesis has boon abandoned since a closer examination shows that no casual connection exists between these openings in the Barrier and the' present rivers, nor has any evidence of defined river valleys through the area lieen found. But the interesting fact is mentioned in All" Hcdloy’s report that- in the Port Curtis district the trend of the betrunked Fitzroy River may lie followed through the Barrier. The investigation is not confined to the surrey and examination of the coral reefs. It includes an examination of the geology, natural history, meteorology, and other scientific aspects of this immense natural feature. Interesting observations have already been recorded. Tt has been found, for example, that when the frigate bird fails to make its prey disgorge their fish, ho seizes the outstretched wing of his victim in his l>eak. and with a jerk dislocates a joint. From the ornithological point of view special interest lies in the enormous colonies of tropical seabirds which congregate to breed. The report states that though seabirds, excepting cormorants, are protected, no attempts seem to lie made to enforce the law. and consequently such important assets as eggs and guano are neglected. Surely this survey, in which many distinguished men representing id’ 1 branches of science, are co-operating with naval men. is as unique as the feature of the earth’s surface that they are investigating.