Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1961-09-15
Skin Divers To Survey
Atlantic Coust Fishes

Attention all skin divers! The
newly formed American Littoral
Society has announced its first bit
program survey of marine fish
es of the Atlantic Coast from
Maine to Florida. The Survey.
scheduled for early September,
will be limited TO the shallow
waters of the shore area, or Tit
toral zone. All skin divers with
an interest in sea life may partici-
pate.
The lure of the sea. forever ir-
restible to mankind. now attracts
millions of skin divers each year.
AS with mariners down through
the ages, each diver responds TO
the lure in his own personal way.
Some divers go to explore and
others to hunt and spear fishes.
Some go for exercise, others to
socialize. But a great many are
attracted simply by the quiet
splendor of natures great under
water wonder-world
Unfortunately most divers are
getting less from their sport than
they might because, to them the
sea and its life remains puzzle
ment To enjoy the living Won
ders of nature one must have some
knowledge of the ways of her
creatures. Since most divers are
not trained in natural history,
this knowledge must be gained
by learning from books and from
others who have special training
or from nature herself. The Lit
toral Society will play an import
ant role in providing guidance for
divers interested in starting study
programs to acquire the necessary
knowledge.
The primary goal of the Society
is to enhance the divers enjoy
ment of his sport through great
er understanding of nature and
through personal participation in
natural history programs. That
marine science too will benefit
is insured by the active coopera-
tion of the U. s. Fish and Wild
life Service. The Society has been
guided in its formation and in the
design of the Survey by DR.. Lionel
A. Walford and John r. Clark of
the Fish and Wildlife's Sandy
Hook Marine Laboratory, at Sandy
Hook. New Jersey.
The September Survey will be
handled much the same as the
Christman bird count of the Au-
dubon Society. Each group partic- |
ipating will form an independent |
survey team. A survey area of |
an acre or more will be selected |
by each team according to a gen.
eral plan laid down by the Society. |
On the chosen day, the team will i
thoroughly search the area, ident-
flying, enumerating, and recording |
all species of fish to be found. |
The Society will furnish complete |
instructions for the Survey and |
helpful hints on fish Identification
procedure to all participants.
Since this first Survey will also |
be a first experience in precise /
observation for many divers, it |
must be considered a pilot oper-
alton. If the results are promising. |
the Society will sponsor a contin- |
uing series of surveys in future
years, which will include the Gulf
of Mexico and the Pacific Coast.
The experience gained this Sep
TENDER viii be invaluable in plan
ming future surveys. The complet-
ed survey reports will be printed |
in a Survey Volume to be dis
tributed to all diver participants. |
professional marine biologists, and |
other interested persons
The Society plans to establish |
local chapters in many areas "a
long the coast to serve as focal |
points for study of marine natural
history. Local meetings and study
sessions will be held at which
marine ebiologists and icthyolo-
lists can lead discussions on ident-
ification and life history of marine
animals.
All skin divers who wish to join
the Society and participate in the
Survey are invited TO apply to
Jack Schwalbe. Secretary. Anne
rican Littoral Society. r. o. Box AZ
s. Highlands. New Jersery. To sim.
plify the SOcietie work please
enclose a stamped, self-addressed
envelope