North of the reefs, inside the Lagoon, Michel and

 Tabb (1968) found that water movement was always northerly.

 Their measurements were made north of Bovoni Cay, between

 Long Point and Patricia Cay and between Patricia and

 Cas Cays.

 Tidal Variation along the southern coast of St. Thomas

 is of mixed character (both diurnal and semidiurnal) although

 it is primarily diurnal, i.e. one high and one low per day

 (McNulty, at al, 19608 Michel, 19701 U. S. Dept. of Commerce,

 ESSA, 1970). The average tidal range is about 0.8 feet.

 McNulty (1968) and Michel (1970) both found that the

amount of water entering over the reefs to the south of the

Lagoon depends on the height of the tide and is modified by

the state of the offshore seas. This circulation, which is

generally quite good, tends to increase on the high tide and

is enhanced by strong wind and wave activity. According to

McNulty, et al, (1968) the general wind and surf induced

circulation through the Lagoon is north, northwest into the

Lagoon from the reefs which run from Long Point to Cas Cay;

water then moves easterly from the Lagoon into Benner Bay

via the channel north of Bovoni Cay, and then south, southeast

into Jersey Bay. Circulation in the northwestern Lagoon and

in the head of Benner Bay is usually somewhat retarded. Our

observations support this description.


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