Distribution of extracellular β-glucosidase activity (β-GlcA), bacteria abundance andTOC were investigated during tbe SCSMEX98 cruise in May and June 1998 in the South China Sea. Re-sults showed that β-GlcA varied significantly in both vertical and horizontal distribution. Hydrolysis rateranged from under detectable limit to 29% /h. In most cases, β-GlcA was highest in surface water; some-times there was a second-highest value at the bottom of the euphotic zone. Temperature controlled experi-ments showed that low temperature could significantly decrease β-GlcA; but that the low β-GlcA in deep