As one who is very familiar with the Hawk Channel, I cannot imagine
that it would be a barrier to Strombus gigas migration.  It just isn't
that different or that much deeper from other areas.  The water quality
may not be as good as at the the Sombrero Lighthouse Tower, but.......
 
There is a new missive from our conch man Bob Glazer, in regards to
S. gigas, which appears in the current (April 1999) issue of  "Florida
Scuba News."  It is somewhat of rehash of previous articles with a
little new material on optimum release size and water quality thrown
in.  Nothing new of merit worth republishing!
 
Bill Frank
1865 Debutante Dr.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
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--------------------
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----- Original Message -----
From: Emilio Jorge Power <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 1999 6:55 PM
>
> Hello!
>
> Hi Peggy and all,
>
> Hawk channel runs parallel to Key Largo to Lower Matecumbe and sort of
beyond that
> along the Fl keys ie between the mainland (Keys) and The Reef line. Hawk
channel has
> grassy bottom in most areas and is only about 15 to 20 ft deep (there may
be some
> nice deep 30 ft holes here and there). It seems improbabble that conchs
are
> prevented from crossing such a shallow food-friendly channel. Where does
the
> offshore population live, on  the reefs? As you go out from land and cross
the
> channel you first hit the patch reefs and sand areas and then the more
continuous
> reef line. Where is the offshore Strombus habitat?  I thought Strombus
were grazers
> only where the Turtle grass grows, not on the patch reefs or sandy areas
between the
> shallows near the mainland and the main reef line.
>
> Any more info?--
>
> Later,
>
> Emilio Jorge Power
>
> Please visit;
> "The Liguus Home Page"
> http://pw1.netcom.com/~ejpower/lighompage.html
> West Melbourne, Florida  USA