The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-18

defIuI UOuleFdluFS "AS oNs
smooth and several miles in length.
Al raised cement sidewalk fourteen
feet in width runs the entire length
as does also a fine curved sea-
wall. The boulevard is on the
shore line of both the Atlantic
Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
On the south shore is the Casa
Marina Hotel, owned by the Flor
ida East Coast Railroad, "The
Railroad that went to Sea-
Many conch Shells
There are several varieties of
immense Coneh shells found in the
waters around Key West king
Conch, Queen Conch, etc., etc.) Al
SO the little Baby Conch are found
and the tremendous Horse
Conch" which has a playful habit
of killing other varieties of she'll
fish when the opportunity offers.
It spreads over them, smothers,
and eats them. Other varieties
derive their nutriment from mi
croscopic animal and vegetable
life found in the water and at
times eat the exceedingly fine moss
which grows on the under water
stones and seagrass. The finest
specimens are found on or near
the reefs, where they are taken
by diving, or hooked up from the
bottom with "Conch Hooks" at
tached to long poles. At times,
the great pink Conch, Strombus
gigas, moves over the bottom in
great droves of hundreds. What is
called the foot" is purposely
elongated; the bony hook at the
end is pushed into the bottom, and
the muscle contracted with CON
siderable force. In this way the
Conch moves forward about IL in
ches. BY throwing its foot, with
the bOny hook, to the side, the
Conch can turn over when desired.
They have VERY high hutritive
value and are much priced as food
throughout southern Florida and
the Bahamas. The race Of ire
mendous people who in the long
ago inhabited the district left inn
mense shell mounds Covering
acresl mixed with much broken
pottery and flint tools. Most of
these mounds were Kitchen Md
dens". Therefore, it is certain
that these gigantic people con-
sumed vast quantities of she'll
fish and probably drank she'll
fish soup. Did this account to
some extend for their extraordi-
nary size? There must Of been
some primary reason why their
skeletons measured seven feet in
Iength.)
OF the many fine organizations
in the city, probably the most
outstanding Is The W0man's Club.
II has done some wonderful things
and some Of it's members seen
to be devoting their lives to the
betterment of the city, and to
helping others who are less for
tunate.
In Key West, while many of the
citizens come from the very best
families Of England, america and
elsewhere, there Is none of the
shoddy, high-hatting aristocracy.
All are treated according to their
personal merits. If you are like
able, then you will be liked. even
If your family tree proves that
you descended in direct lire from
King Midas.
The Shark Fishery is an inter-
esting thing. Immense nets are
set and raised about every third
day. Many shark are taken and
as the leather is of high grade,
the hides are in great demand. All
parts of the shark are utilized and
even the fins are shipped to China
where they are considered to be q
great delicacy. 1t is . wonderful
and thrilling sight to see the shark
nets raised At such times, ex-
citing events are quite common.
Fruit Growth
Peculiar and delicious tropical
and semietropical fruits grow on
the island. Shrubs, trees, and
flowers not elsewhere found in
the United States are cosnmon.
One Of the curious fruits is the
Spanish lime which grows on .
very large tree. the fruit occur
ring in great clusters. Their man
ner Of growth u somewhat like
that of d Lichce-nnt-a large
round nut covered with q deli
clous semi-aeid pulp, while around
the outside there II tight skin
that hardens. They are much
in favor and are usually peddlei
on the streets at Cineo Centavos
five eentsl per bunch. finding q
ready sale. In q Tor on Simonton
street stands an enormous tree
that Is IF much intereat TO strang-
ers. lNuteIn Popular Science