became clear that growth rates of wild turtles are much slower than those of captive sea turtles (Balazs, 1979; Limpus, 1979). Estimates of the age at which marine turtles attain sexual maturity based on captive growth rates have had to be revised. Knowledge of natural growth rates and age at sexual maturity are fundamental for understanding demography, assessing habitat quality, and designing appropriate management plans and conservation measures for these endangered species. Data on growth rates for non-captive loggerheads, Caretta caretta, have been limited to turtles larger than 50 cm straight-line carapace length (CL) (Limpus, 1979, 1985; Mendonca, 1981; Frazer and Ehrhart, 1985). Based on these studies, the age at sexual maturity has been estimated to be 10 to 50 years. Data on growth rates of 24 cm CL loggerheads are presented in this note. This size represents a transitional stage for loggerheads when they first leave the pelagic habitat and arrive at benthic feeding grounds (Carr, 1986). Growth rates of these smaller loggerheads are more rapid than those reported for larger turtles and result in significantly shorter estimates for the time necessary for loggerheads to grow from 25 to 75 cm and, thus, for a younger age at sexual maturity. In 1975, three loggerheads that had hatched from eggs collected in Florida and that had been raised in a laboratory at the University of Florida were taken to Union Creek, Great Inagua, Bahamas (with all necessary permits). Union Creek, protected by the Bahamas National Trust as a wildlife sanctuary, is a saltwater bay of approximately 20 km2 located on the north coast of Great Inagua, the southernmost island in the Bahamas. Union Creek is covered with seagrass beds (primarily Thalassia testudinum) and is surrounded by mangroves. These habitats support a rich invertebrate fauna on which loggerheads feed. Union Creek is a natural feeding area for all sizes of loggerheads, green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) (pers. observs. and pers. comms. from island inhabitants). In 1964, Union Creek was fenced off to provide a protected area in which sea turtles could be studied on natural feeding grounds. The loggerheads were tagged for identification and initially introduced into a confined area (approximately 2 ha) of Union Creek to monitor their adjustment to free-living conditions. Following an initial decrease in mass, the turtles regained their original mass at the end of three months and were judged to be ready for release into Union Creek. Measurements at the time of release were used as the initial values