Report on a survey of the chemistry and hydrography of Great South Bay and Moriches Bay : made in June, 1957 for the Town of Islip, New York

Abstract

At the request of the Township of Islip, a chemical and biological survey of Great South Bay and Moriches Bay was conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution during the summer of 1957. The survey duplicated to a large extent those which have been made annually by this Institution since 1950. Due to previous commitments :of the scientists, the 1957 survey was made during June 24-25 rather than in late August, when the earlier studies were conducted. Water samples were taken for both direct and subsequent laboratory analyses from the same locations as in the earlier surveys, consisting of a line of 17 stations located approximately along the central channel from Fire Island Inlet, at the western end of Great South Bay, to Westhampton, at the eastern end of Moriches Bay. Eleven additional stations were occupied along the northern side of the embayments in the various coves, creeks and rivers which had earlier been found to contribute to the pollution of the bay waters. Station locations are shown in Figure 1. The survey was conducted from a boat provided by the New York State Department of Conservation, and the authors wish to acknowledge their generous assistance. Much credit is also due to Mssrs. G. H. Vanderborgh, Sr. and Jr., Mr. Joseph Glancy, Mr. Samuel Cross, and Mr. Kenneth Mockridge for their valuable help before and during the survey, and for making available the seasonal data on salinity, rainfall, and winds which were used in the preparation of this report.