ST. JOHN


appears beneath the surface as it flows down to the main valley.
Reef Valley itself is the longest and broadest single valley on the
south coast of St. John and afforded during historic times a
period of active plantation development. Only those areas near
the valley mouth are swampy and subject to brackish flooding. The
valley contacts the sea with the usual bar formation observed in
the majority of the island's bays. Other than the petroglyphic
site (PI. VI), the survey was unable to demonstrate any appreciable
prehistoric usage. A sherd area was noted and is referred to as
Site 12. From it came a collection of 13 sherds. The total sea
frontage of Reef Valley, White Cliffs, Genti Bay, and Cocoloba
Point is subject to direct onslaught of wave and wind action,
despite certain growth of coral out from Reef Valley beach. Other
than Reef Valley all other areas back from Reef Bay are hostile,
rocky, steep and waterless.
 Fish Bay: Although this bay faces south, it is quite well pro-
tected from swells, waves, and winds due to the high projections
of Cocoloba Point and Ditlef Point. The innermost beach is
nearly half a mile from the open sea and would provide good
beaching for small native craft. Coral beds render hazardous
close navigation by modern boats-our own survey boat with
shallow draft had to anchor yards off the beach. Extending north
and east from the beach is a broad valley that soon becomes two
valleys due to the southwesterly extension of Seeven Ridge. In
usual pattern, the region immediately back of the beach bar is
brackish mangrove swamp followed first by gentle incline and
then by steep ascent up the valley drainages. These upper areas
are dense in thornbush and other tangles of vegetation as well as
rocky debris from the steep slopes of Gift Hill and Seeven Ridge.
Informants on the island reported as many as two, possibly three,
springs as high in the valleys as the 500-800 foot contour lines. As
small as these may have been, they would have been a source of
fresh water to reward a moderate climb. What we have designated
as Site 14 is a sherd area approximately 100 feet inland from the
beach at the southwest extension of Seeven Ridge. Only 8 sherds
were obtained here. Site 15 is a similar site further to the west,
but upwards of 200 feet inland from the beach. An intermittent
stream flows out of the west valley and forms the west limit of Site
15, at which a total of 6 sherds were found.