He said their research found that a wet spring washed nutrients into the estuaries that promoted the growth of algae, though not of brown tide algae.

"The red tide algae we are talking about in the dolphin episode was more widely dispersed and more easily taken up by the fish," he said.

Since 1985, the single-cell, microscopic brown tide algae has bloomed profusely, dominating the water column and destroying scallops.

The scientists report that they have isolated a number of viruses that live in the sea water and can destroy the microscopic brown tide algae.

Dr. Cosper said in an interview that the filtered material was added to cultures containing the brown tide algae.

Its recent near-devastation by the brown tide algae focuses attention upon our overall concern for our ecological environment.

He said a current theory held that the brown tide algae might be linked to shellfish declines.

They theorize that the brown tide algae's growth over the last three years was due to the unusually dry conditions in that time, rather than pollution.

Then in 1985 came the first big bloom of brown tide algae, whose cause is still the subject of scientific conjecture.

And on some days, brown tide algae can muck up the surf.