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August 18, 1983 - A Close Look at a Saltwater Aquarium)SECOND SECTION 01 ht-Nim-1-arvirw August 18, 1983 1 A Close Look at a Saltwater Aquarium By PAULSTOUTENBURGH It was one of those hot, humid days we'd been having lately, and try as I would I couldn't get enough energy to do any work at all. It was a day for loafing in some cool spot -- but where? The lounge on the back patio was hot and sticky. Inside was unbearable. There was no place to escape. But wait -- why not go swimming? If you were a kid, you'd have been there long ago. Well, not being a kid but knowing all about those good old days, I headed for the boat tied down at the dock. Luck was with me, for the tide was still half up. Low tide we just can't get out. Out in the bay the wind was blowing briskly from the southwest. You can usually count on a good wind each afternoon here on Long Island and today it was overdoing it. The waves battered my little boat and I was completely soaked when I reached the quiet waters of the cove. I tried for clams out on the outer beach, but the strong southwest wind had churned the bottom so that visibility was very poor. Where was it less turbulent? I headed the little boat back around and into the cove. I knew of a little break in the marsh there where a stream wound its way into a small salt pond, so I headed for that. As I nudged the boat into the soft bog just inside the opening, an adult osprey and young sat on a dock just up the way. It. was a good sign -- the platform we moved last winter in the cold and rain paid off. Looking across the marsh you could still see the nest; one of the young osprey was still there. Often, with birds of prey, one young gets more attention than the other. The result: a bigger and more developed bird. Perhaps now with the nest left to himself this last one will get the attention and soon be on his own. Under Water to Explore As I put on my flippers, mask and snorkel, I couldn't help but notice how lush the marsh or thatch grass was all along the edge of the cove. In some places it was well over four foot tall, the sign of a healthy marsh. Walking towards the mouth of this miniature creek, the water temperature immediately changed from the comparatively cool of the bay to a warm, almost hot, sensation. The sun had done its job well inland and now this flood of warm water was emptying out into the cove. Down I went. It was as warm as a bathtub and super clear. All about me were the elements that make up a productive estuary. I lay there n _' d RIBBED MUSSELS - -There are two basic kinds of In the cooler, saltier waters of the sound and ocean, mussels found here on Long Island. In our creeks we we find the blue mussel. find the ribbed mussel clinging to the boggy banks. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh submerged taking stock of what was around me. The sandy floor was dotted with small black mud snails that are so common in all our waters and an occasional hermit crab. Each was busy gleaning bits of nutrient that carpeted the floor. Half crawling, half swimming, I worked my way forward into the fast - moving water. All along the banksides were the common ribbed mussels that at this stage were open about an eighth of an inch, allowing the water to stream in. Here the nutrient laden soup moving out of the marsh is captured, providing them with the necessary materials for growth. Getting up close to the bank, I could look through the stalks of the thatch grass that anchored the bog in place. Here is nature's bulkhead to prevent erosion and here, too, is one of the oldest filter mechanisms that cleanses the water as it passes in and out of the marsh at each changing tide. On all the stalks in the marsh, silt is trapped, eventually making the muddy consistency of the common bog. Killies Dart About On I pressed. A small school of ribbed killies darted by, anxious to be rid of that invading monster. Occasionally I'd see Sheepshead minnows with their beautiful, iridescent blue that distin- guishes them from all others. Scattered on the floor were cloth -like patches of sea lettuce, the green color richer by far than any garden lettuce. I'm told it is quite edible and in the Far East and Asia it's collected and eaten as one of the staples in their food supply. (CIA00iral;ffiluoir Available on Records and Cassette Tapes AT lI CHARO5 SOUND ZINC. EASTERN L.Us LARGEST AUDIO - VIDEO SPECIALIST Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Sheffield Labs "ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM RIVERHEAD! Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9:30 - 6:00 28 Cameron St. • Persoaalittd Servke Just off Main St. The Complete • Over 50 Major Brands Southampton Hi -Fi Store • Custom Installatiors 281.4426 • SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS 4 Y f Further on two small snappers, startled by my intrusion, gave a burst of speed and disappeared from sight. Small "spat" oysters could be seen clinging to the banks utilizing the rich nutrients flowing past. Here was a truly complete ecosystem. Tiny schools of silversides jittered away in front of me. Often I'd stop and just lie there in the water. How relaxing and what a privilege to look in on this live saltwater aquarium. Soon I could go no further. The sharp stalks of the thatch grass were getting worse. Slowly I rose among the grasses all about me with most of my body still hidden. Surely I would have startled anyone who saw me rising out of this marsh, face mask, and snorkel dripping with water. My only observer was a startled green heron that quickly took flight to another part of the marsh. Monsters were not for him. Outside of this activity, a least tern that nested on the outer beach was all that saw me. I had had a true life adventure that made me more aware than ever of the wonders about me. I was at peace with the world. Agway Petroleum Corp. Introduces the Agway Cardtrol A New Convenient Way to Purchase Gasoline and Diesel Fuel • Open 24 Hours -- Everyday of the Year • Self Service • Computerized Record Keeping • Monthly Billing • 2 Locations -- Agway Petroleum, Pulaski St., Riverhead & Agway, Youngs Ave., Southold • No Extra Charge for these Services. AND the Lowest Fuel Prices in Town. -It's Like Having Your Own Gas Pump Passenger Cars, Truckers, Fleet Owners, Diesel Cars Applications for cards now being accepted. Write or call for more information. MMMMMMMMMM ' Agway Petroleum Pulaski St. Riverhead, N.Y. 11901 727 -3012 AGWAY ' Please give me more information on the ' Agway Cardtrol system: PETROLEUM ' Name We do more than bring down the cost of winter ' Address ar3lNnv ' Phone No. SECOND SECTION The *Uffolh Timvg August 18, 1983 A Clos-e Look at a Saltwater Aquarium By PAUL STOUTENBURGH It was one of those hot, humid days we'd been having lately, and try as I would I couldn't get enough energy to do any work at all. It was a day for loafing in some cool spot -- but where? The lounge on the back patio was hot and sticky. Inside was unbearable. There was no place to escape. But wait -- why not go swimming? If you were a kid, you'd have been there long ago. Well, not being a kid but knowing ali about those good old days, I headed for the boat tied down at the dock. Luck was with me, for the tide was still half up. Low tide we just can't get out. A few gentle words to the motor that changed as I yanked and yanked and soon I was off. Out in the bay our sailboat was at anchor and aboard her were my snorkel, face mask and flippers. I'd get them and do some snorkeling. Out in the bay the wind was blowing briskly from the southwest. You can usually count on a good wind each afternoon here on Long Island and today it was overdoing it. The waves battered my little boat and I was completely soaked when I reached the quiet waters of the cove. I tried for clams out on the outer beach, but the strong southwest wind had churned the bottom so that visibility was very poor. Where was it less turbulent? I headed the little boat back around and into the cove. I knew of a little break in the marsh there where a stream wound its way into a small salt pond, so I headed for that. As I nudged the boat into the soft bog just inside the opening, an adult osprey and young sat on a dock just up the way. It was a good sign -- the platform we moved last winter in the cold and rain paid off. Looking across the marsh you could still see the nest; one of the young osprey was still there. Often, with birds of prey, one young gets more attention than the other. The result: a bigger and more developed bird. Perhaps now with the nest left to himself this last one will get the attention and soon be on his own. Under Water to Explore As I put on my flippers, mask and snorkel, I couldn't help but notice how lush the marsh or thatch grass was all along the edge of the cove. In some places it was well over four foot tall, the sign of a healthy marsh. Walking towards the mouth of this miniature creek, the water temperature immediately changed from the comparatively cool of the bay to a warm, almost hot, sensation. The sun had done its job well inland and now this flood of warm water was emptying out into the cove. Down I went. It was as warm as a bathtub and super clear. All about me were the elements that make up a productive estuary. I lay there submerged taking stock of what was around me. The sandy floor was dotted with small black mud snails that are so common in all our waters and an occasional hermit crab. Each was busy gleaning bits of nutrient that carpeted the floor. Half crawling, half swimming, I worked my way forward into the fast - moving water. All along the banksides were the common ribbed mussels that at this stage were open about an eighth of an inch, allowing the water to stream in. Here the nutrient laden soup-moving out of the marsh is captured, providing them with the necessary materials for growth. Getting up close to the bank, I could RIBBED MUSSELS - -There are two basic kinds of In the cooler, saltier waters of the sound and ocean, mussels found here on Long Island. In our creeks we we find the blue mussel. find the ribbed mussel clinging to the boggy banks. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh U00 @T M E.M look through the stalks of the thatch grass that anchored the bog in place. Here is nature's bulkhead to prevent erosion and here, too, is one of the oldest filter mechanisms that cleanses the water as it passes in and out of the marsh at each changing tide. On all the stalks in the marsh, silt is trapped, eventually making the muddy consistency of the common bog. Killies Dart About On I pressed. A small school of ribbed killies darted by, anxious to be rid of that invading monster. Occasionally I'd see Sheepshead minnows with their beautiful, iridescent blue that distin- guishes them from all others. Scattered on the floor were cloth -like patches of sea lettuce, the green color richer by far than any garden lettuce. I'm told it is quite edible and in the Far East and Asia it's collected and eaten as one of the staples in their food supply. Further on two small snappers, startled by my intrusion, gave a burst of speed and disappeared from sight. Small "spat" oysters could be seen clinging to the banks utilizing the rich nutrients flowing past. Here was a truly complete ecosystem. Tiny schools of silversides jittered away in front of me. Often I'd stop and just lie there in the water. How relaxing and what a privilege to look in on this live saltwater aquarium. Soon I could go no further. The sharp stalks of the thatch grass were getting worse. Slowly I rose among the grasses all about me with most of my body still hidden. Surely I would have startled anyone who saw me rising out of this marsh, face mask, and snorkel dripping with water. My only observer was a startled green heron that quickly took flight to another part of the marsh. Monsters were not for him. Outside of this activity, a least tern that nested on the outer beach was all that saw me. I had had a true life adventure that made me more aware than ever of the wonders about me. I was at peace with the world. ALL ISLAND EQUIPMENT POWER 1BOX sat" _ SpAvi" _ 6 M&I self Propelled Asphalt Paver. WEST BABYLON, N.Y. 11704 Unequaled in (516) 643 -2605 t / � � � Dependability, Rt. 58, Riverhead i'�' OKUKOTR � ' 727 -0434 ..<,a., TRACTORS TuUSi`Lent Turf Equipment Agway Petroleum Corp. Introduces the Agway Cardtrol ,4;wy. A New Convenient Way to Purchase Gasoline and Diesel Fuel • Open 24 Hours -- Everyday of the Year • Self Service • Computerized Record Keeping • Monthly Biliing • 2 Locations -- Agway Petroleum, Pulaski St., Riverhead & Agway, Youngs Ave., Southold • No Extra Charge for these Services. AND the Lowest Fuel Prices in Town. It's Like Having Your Own Gas Pump Passenger Cars, Truckers, Fleet Owners, Diesel Cars Applications for cards now being accepted. Write or call for more information. rmmmmmommmm Agway Petroleum Pulaski St. ' Riverhead, N.Y. 11901 727 -3012 AGWAY 1 e Please give me more information on the Agway Cardtrol system: PETROLEUM I Name We do more than bring down the cost of winter ■ Address aawav ' Phone No.