intriguing study of the ocean.

Mrs. Joell, of Horsehoe Road, Southampton, noticed the barnacle-encrusted bottle contained a message.

And in eager anticipation she rushed it round to The Royal Gazette .

The message turned out to be from a Robert N. Morgan, of Miami, Florida.

Headed "Number 2266'', it contained photocopied maps of Florida and the Bahamas.

It stated: "I'm making a study of the current flow of the Gulf Stream. These bottles are being dropped in the `straits of Florida' while enroute from Miami to Bimini in the Bahama Islands.

"Bottles are dropped starting 15 miles offshore and approximately 2 miles apart.

"Each bottle is numbered and a record is kept of the date and location it is set adrift.'' Mr. Morgan then asked finders to tell him the number of their bottle, and where and when it was found.

At the bottom of the message, barely legible, are the years 1970-1985.

"I assume that was when the study was carried out,'' said Mrs. Joell, who came across the bottle last week at Boat Bay beach.

"It's really exciting. I still can't believe I found it.'' Mrs. Joell said she would be writing to Mr. Morgan. PHOTO VINTAGE DISCOVERY -- Mrs. Joeann Joell shows the message she found in a wine bottle at Sonesta Beach Hotel.