wm^i^H

CHlman Drew.

Gulf Biologic Station

CAMERON, LOUISIANA.

BULLETIN NO. 4.

The Conditions For Oyster Culture in the Waters
of the Parishes of Vermilion and Iberia, Louisiana.

BY

L. R. CARY, M. S.

Issued By the Louisiana State Board of Agriculture and Immigration.
CHAS. SCHULER, Commissioner.

BATON. ROUGE:

TaB TiHES, Official Journal of Louisiana.

1906.

Gulf Biologic Station

CAMERON, LOUISIANA.

BULLETIN NO. 4.

The Conditions For Oyster Culture in the Waters
of the Parishes of Vermilion and Iberia, Louisiana.

L. R. CARY, M. S.

Issued By the Louisiana State Board of Agriculture and Immigration.

CHAS. SCHULER, Commissioner.

BATON. UOUUK:

The Times, Oh-ficial JouRNAr, of Louisiana.

1906.

GULF BIOLOGIC STATION

Camhk-ox. La., '.Mouth ol' (alcasitni Pass).

HOAlil) OF rONTKOl..

N. ('. l>i,\N(ii AKM). I'rrsidcnl : < Jovcnioi' nl' Louisiana.

IJ. ('. Cai.owkm.. \'ici' Pivsidcnl : I'l-csidciil ot! the State
.X..nii,-il.

• i. 1',. .\s\vi:i.i.. State SuiH'i-intciiilciit ol' iMliicat ion.

("HAS. SciHi.in^ ('(iiiiniissiducr of Aizficult lu-f aiw! Iniini-
lifatiiiii.

T. I). I'xivi.. I>ivsi(h.nt L. S. r. aiul A. and .M. roHegv.

W. K. Twi.oK. rt-csidcnt Louisiana State Lidnstrial Tn-
stitule.

K. L. Sti:i>iii:xs. I'fesident Southwostei-n Industrial Tusti-

lute.

KXKCrTlVE ("OMMITTEK.

(^iiAs. Sciiii.KK-. ('(niiiiiissioncf of Aericult ni'e and Innni
trration.

J i'>. .\^\\r,i.i,. State Supei-inlendent of Kfhicatiou.

T. 1). iSovi.. President L. S. r. and A. and ^L ColU'^v.

\V. K. TAVi-div. President Louisiana Slate Industrial In
stitnle.

H. II. (iiii.m-.Ai-. Directoi .d (inlf Liolouie Station.

STATK^X STAFF.

n. II. (JiiLiu'.Ai-. Dirertor of (Julf Bioioo-i,. Station and Soc-
retar\ of Hoard of Conti-ol.

L. P. ('\i;n. .M. S.. Z(.o]o<_;ist in Chartrc of Field OyMov Tn-
A-cstiii'atiiMis.

M. II. Si-AiLDixc. Zooloeist in ("hai-Lre of Expoi-imcnita!

M. W. MrC.Aii.i.. Custodian of Station T;aboratory.
Frank Roberts. Treasurer.

Office of the Director.
Batox Rocge, La., January 24, 1906.
His Excdh iici/. Gov. N. C. J>l<ntc]i.(ir(l, I're^ident of the Board of
Conlfol of duJf Biologic Station, Baton Rouge, La.:

Sir — 1 beg' to submit the rejjort of ^Ir. L. R. Caiy, Zoolo-
gist of the Gulf Biologic Station, upon the conditions for oyster
culture in the waters of Vermilion and Iberia Parishes, Louis-
iana. Tliis i-eport is the result of over two months' investiga-
tions in the waters of Vermilion Bay and vicinity. Mr. Gary's
report contains information Avhich should be of immense value
to oyster culturists and to every one interested in the protection
and develoi>ment of the oyster fields of Louisiana,
Very respectfully submitted,

B. H. GiJU.BEAU, Director.

Office ok thk Dikectok.
Ratox Rouge, La., January 24, 1906.
Hon. CIkis. Schuin-. Coiiniiissioner of AgricuUurc and Immigra-
tion. Baldii li>iug< . La.:

Sir— I lu'ivwith prtwiil to vdu llic report of ^Ir. L. R.
Cary. Zooloo'ist Gulf Riolosiic Slatioii. ui)on the eonditions for
oyster culture in the waters of Vermilion and Iberia Parishes,
Louisiana, and ask thai yon imhlish it as Bulletin No. 4 of the
Gulf Bioloo-i,. Station.

\r\\ i-cs])eclf"u]l\',

R. II. (irn.BEAr, Director.

CONTENTS

P.ViE.

Introduction 4 7-S

Methods S-9

The Natural Oj^ster Beds of Vermilion and Iberia Parishes —

General^ Description of the Region 9-12

Natural Reefs in Southwest Pass 12-lS

Natural Reefs in the Open Gulf 13-17

Oyster Planting in Vermilion and Iberia Parishes 17-21

Destructive Agents 21-23

Conclusions 23-25

Appendix 26

Food and Salinity Record , 26-27

Explanation of Chart 27

The Conditions for Oyster Culture in the Waters of Vermilion
and Iberia Parishes, Louisiana.

(Bv L. H. Cn.v

IXTK()[)i;cTl(!X.

The following ivporl is has.'d upon a slikly of the j)liysicai
aud biological conditions of the natural and plant<'d tiy.stci- beds
in A\'rmilion and Iberia Pai-ishes.

In July and August the writer, in cojui)any with Prof,
B. 11. Guilbeau, director of the Gulf Biological Station, spent
a period of eight days in this region nuddng a rapid preliminary
survey of the field. At the time it was expected tliat the work
would be taken up at onee. but owing to the interference of
quarantine restrictions, all further investigations were postponed
until a later date. On October 17 the work was resumed and
carried forward as rapidly as the weather would permit, being
completed on December 2-1

The objects of these investigations were, first, to aseertain
the location, the extent, and eojulition of th<' natural oyster
reefs in this locality; second, to .study eomparativdy the biologi-
cal condition of present pi-oducini;- ar^as; tliii-.l. to .study the
physical and biological charactei- of tli.^ bottom and water in
areas not now producing oysters, for comparison with the con-
dition prevailing in good oyster producing ni-eas in this and
other sections.

In studying tlie i)hysi,-al and l)i..loi:ir;i] conditions of any
area.s, the following factors wei-e tak.-n info arcount: First,
the character of the bottom as airectin- the eonditioii (.f oysters;
second, the salinity of the water; third, the organi.sms that make
up the food of oysters, tlieir abundance and distribution; fourth,
the destructive agents, ineluding under this h.'ad freshets, ani-
mals that directly destroy the oysters. an<l those aninuds and
plants which, by their i)resenee. intei-f<Mv will, th.- normal fune-
tions of the oyster.

It is a pleasure to a.-knuwl-du,. „iy iiid.-bt.'.ln.'ss to Prof.

B. H. Guilboau for his enthusiastic co-operation at all stages
-of the work. I am also indebted to Col. James Breaux, president
•of the Oyster Commission of Louisiana, for placing at my dis-
posal the data concerning the leased areas in the territory under
investigation.

Methods.

During the pursuit of these investigations, methods already
used by previous investigators have been used wherever pos-
t-jible, in order that the results might be more readily compared
with those already recorded for other locatlties.

The salinity of the water was determined in the usual man-
ner, Hildegard's Oceanic Salinometer being used. For absolute
accuracy in this determination a correction to a temperature of
15 degrees centegrade (60 degrees Falir.) must be made; but
as the temperature correction in any instance would be so slight
as to be of no practical importance, it was neglected in all cases.
Tlie sample of water for the salinity determination was taken
one foot from the bottom by means of a bottle lashed to a pole.
Water from the several stations was examined at various stages
of tide, and under various weather conditions. Averages of all
these readings were made, and are given in the food tables.

The apparatus for determining the direction and velocity of
the current was modeled after that used by Dr. Caswell Grave
in his study of the North Carolina oyster fields, and fully de-
scribed in his report, (a)

For determining the food value of the water over any bot-
tom, a sample was collected one foot from the bottom by means
of a litre bottle lashed one foot from the end of a pole. When
the pole was thrust to the bottom the cork was drawn by means
of a string attached to it, and when the bottle had filled it was
brought up, recorked and labeled. A number of oysters were
tonged from the same locality and three of average size col-
lected. The contents of the stomaeiis of these were removed,
as soon as possible aftei- they wei-e taken from the water, and
the number of diatoms estimated by means of the Rafter Cell.
The total numbei- food forms found when divided by three gives

(a) Caswell C,\
try Of Xurlh CMroli.

Invosii-;

lion

■..!•

111

' luomotion

of thp oyster indn

.•I.nrt I-

8. 1

'ish

<''

ininiissioner

mo.-?, pp. 247-341.

9

tin. ..uonnt Un- ..u-li nvstrr. Wl...,. Ih. ru.ul valu- of wnt.-.
„vrr ;i iK.nvn aiv;. was to be ai'trnnin.'.l. a nuinlMT ..I oysters
were transferred to that plaee. and aftrr l.avin- l-em left there
four days, were taken up and ihcMr slomarh contents exannned
in Ihe usual manner. The sample of water was allowed to stand
luitil all of the sediment and organisms, exeept actively swim-
uiinu' forms, had settled and formed a definite layer on the
bottom of the bottle. The water was now sii)honed otf to as
low a level as possible without dis1ui-l)ing the settlings. The
venmining water and sHtlings weiv. after being vigorously
shaken, transferred to a small graduated bottle and allowed to
settle.

After a seeond siphoning away of the watei-, the contents
of the bottle, which now had a volume of either teu or lifteen
cubic eentimetei-s, were shaken up and one cubic centimeter
Avas iaken off for a determination of its food contents. The
diatom emud was i-epeated twice and an average of the three
determinations taken, the niunber of diatoms of the same
species as those found in the stonmch of oysters from the sam--'
locality being given as the food value of the water. In all de-
tei-minations of the food value of water, and the contents of
the oysters' stonuichs/ the number of the smaller forms of
diatoms have been left out of account, since it has been deter-
mined that by counting the larger forms only can we get as
cU-cui-ate a measure of the amouid of available food material .. •
■we could if all foi-ms were included' in th(^ count.

The character of the bottom was detei-mined by the use of
a sounding pole. Intersecting lines of soundings were made at
•short distances apart so that each area was thoroughly gone
over. In dejei'mining the exterd of the natural reefs the method
f)f running intersecting lines of time soundings was used, and
points on the borders of the reef were located by compass bear
ings from chai-fered points.

The condition of the nalni-al reefs was determined by tong-
ing oystei-s fnmi several pai-ts of each reef and makinjx a carefi;'
count of the oysters, spat, dead shells, and aninuds living wilh
th.' o>-sters.

The Natural Oyster P)eds of Vermilion and Iberia Pai-ish(>s;
Oeuei-a] Description of the TJegion — The area in which these

uv

10

mvesti^Hlious were made incluck-s Vermilion Bay and its tribu-
taries lyii."- partly in Venuilion and partly in Iberia Parish,
and also' a portion of the Gnlf of Mexico, extending from a point
about six miles west of Southwest Pass, to the east end of Marsh
Mand Vermilion Bay is a body of water about twenty-five
miles Ion- and fifteen miles wid(^ It is separated ivoia the -ult
by a narrow strip of low, marshy land. Two communications
between the bay and -ulf exist; one of these, known as South-
west Pass, is a narrow inlet with a very deep channel; the other
outlet is through East and West Cote Blanche bays, on the
north sidi' of Mai-sh Island.

Many small bayous empty into the bay on its northern and
western sides. Some of these bayous are outlets of extensive
canal systems that drain large areas of the low, swampy countrv
lying to the north of the region under consideration.

The depth of the water in the bay varies from six to t"^vvlve
feet, being greater in the southern part than in the north^T^lie
bottom in the low,'^iuthern part of the bay, is soft, except in
places where natural or artificial beds of oysters exist. Over
the uppei- ])art of the bay the bottom is generally firm, only
isolated patches of soft bottom being found. In the south-
western eoi-ner of the l)ay there is another large area of finr.
bottom.

The tidal current is strong in all pai'ts of the bay. The
force and direction of the current dei)ending more on the wind
than upon tlie diurnal rise and fall of the water.

At the present time the only productive areas of any im-
portance in Vermilion Bay are included in what is essentially'
one large i-eef that extends in a northeasternly direction from
a point just inside of the entrance of Southwest Pass to a jioint"
about two miles southwest of Cypremoi't Point. Th.- depth o^
water over thjs reef is from three to six feet, except at tlie
upper end, where there is an area about two acres in extent that
is exposed at very low tide. The width of this reef varies from
two hundi-ed to six hundred yards. At a number of ])oints th-"'
reef is traversed by a narrow channel. A prolongation of this
reef extends at a right angle to the main reef nearei- its north
end. This last reef is one-half mile long by one-fourth mile
wide.

11

The ('.>ii(litions of lliis ivd" ;irc sliuuii in tlir rull..\\iii- liihir,

\vliicli uivt's llic jiiiiniiiit dl' (Milliiiiis roiiiiil while si'-Miri';'^- ii;m-
])0('k (.f s;il;il.l.' oystrrs.

Locntiim. \)^':\<\ Shells. Siiialls Oysters jiiid Spnl. Mussels.

S..u1h end ivef. . . . r)4 :n7 0

]\Ii(l(lle i);ii-1 ivef. . (iS 2S4 13

North end nvf. ... TJO r,(i:5 7!)

The most iintieenhle lejituiv of IIk'si' counts is the ^ivjit nuMi-
l)er of yoiiii'^ oysters jind si);it lound. .M;iny ol the spat wei-e
less than five iiiillinielers in diaiiietei-; some, indeed, heini;' only
thfee-roiii-ths of a ndllimeter, showinu' that they had been at-
tached not more than two weeks at the longest. The small por-
tion <»r adult oystei-s found is due to the fact that durin-- the
])ast spi-inu' and sununei- hu.idi'eds of barrels of oysters wei-e
taken from this i-e.-f to he bedded in other parts of the bay an. I
its ti-il)utaries: besides, the l)oat usiim di-edLics liad been at woi'l:
daily on this reef foi- some three weeks before the counts al)ove
re('or(h'd wi're made.

In other portions of the bay. and espeially in some (d" its
li'ibutaries there were foi'inerly som<' impoi-tant beds. The
lari!-est of th.'se wer.' the ones in Hell lloh' and in the bayous
about Lake Kearman.

'idle beds at Hell Hole were ill shallow water. a;i<l at times
Avlieii thi'i-e was a heavy north wind the entire bed was (lr.\-. .\t
such times the o\-s1ermen were accustomed to uo about and pick
up the oysters, leaviiii;' them in piles to be taken up when the
heds were auaiii co\'ered with water.

Tile beds in the bax'oiis about Lake Fearman wfre in froii
tMuht to tifleen feet of water.

As both of these areas produced especiall\- line oysters they
were kept llshi'd down very (dosely. The prolonL;v<l freshet of
Ihe past sprine' (m niph'bd their dest rui-t io,i. so that at the tiiii"
of my visit not a simjle live oysfei- could be found on any of
these n'cfs.

In the northeastern arm (d" \'ermilion Uay. <-alled Weeks
Bav. there are isolated (dusters of ovsters scatt.Mvd over llie

12

most of the bottom. JMost of the hu'ger oysters in these clusters
are dead, but most of those less than one and one-half inches in
length are alive and growing rapidly.

Natural Reefs in Southwest Pass.

Southwest Passywesterl}' connection between Vermilion Bay
and gulf, is about four miles in length. On the eastern side
there is a deep, narrow channel, while on the west side there are
extensive mud flats that are exposed at low tides. A narrow, tor-
tuous channel naviga])le for small boats, passes around on the
west side of these mud flats. The greater part of these flats are
covered with clusters of raccoon oysters. These are arranged
in long, narrow reefs that have their ends perpendicular to the
small shallow channels, which cut up the flats.

The oysters that make up these reefs are arranged in clus-
ters of ten to twenty. They are all small and misshapen on
account of being so densely crowded. A dense growth of a blue
green Alga about one-half of an inch long covers the entire
exposed sui-face of oysters and dead shells. Mussels occur abun-
dantly in the spaces lietween the oysters of each cluster. The
condition of the oyster on these reefs is always poor, as the
amount of food material available for each individual is small,
and the tiine in M'hich the food may be secured is limited to one
or two hours before and after high tide. These oysters are,
whil':> the reefs are dry, subjected to intense heat in the sum-
mer, and sometimes to freezing tem])erature in the winter.

On the western side of the small channel mentioned above,
there are ]nany small exposed reefs of "coony" oysters, and
also a few reefs that are covered at all stages of the tide. Oyf^-
ters of good quality are found over limited areas on some of
these deep reefs, but in small quantity only.

On the east side of the main channel of the pass there are
a number of scattered reefs that cover the greater part of the
area between the chnnnel and tlu^ shore. The reefs near the
channel ai-e covered by five to fifteen feet of water, while many
of those farther in shore are exposed at low tide. These reefs
are made up of highly elongated thin shelled oysters arranged
in elnst(M's. The clusters spring from an old empty shell buried
deep in the soft mud. As many as twenty-five or thirty oysters,

loii'^iiK'ii \V('r<' v.n)-k-

13

in si/e fn.n. six In s.-vn. in,-hrs lunt: In f suu.ll spat,
n-l.' clust.T.

On si.iiir pans .a" lliisr r.-rfs many of tl.r o.vst.Ts ;nv eov-
n.'.l with a (K'Hsr -rowtli ..1' Imlroids s.-wral iii.-h.-s in l.'njjth

Thr p.vsrlir." of llu' hvdn.i.l srrioUsl.V i.ll r.-rciv.; witll tllO f.'i'dillK

of these oysters, as is shown by ecn.i.arin- Ih. Uon.ach contents
(.f oysters taken from lli.sr areas willi that of oysters tak.Mi
neai- hy wliei'e no hydroids are fnimd.

I)urin>-' tlie present season a nnnil)
in^; on these reefs durin- tlie -reater part of the time. ?ikI
dnrinn periods of stormy weathei- many of the ht^ats that usually
work on reefs outside cf thr pass, were cn-a.uvd ii- Hshin- here,
where they would not be exposed to rou.udi watei-.

At the extreme western point of Marsli Islaii;! is a si.udl
reef that is exposed at low tide. This reef is made up of dead
shells, amoiifr which are a few scatterin^^ oystei-s of trood (paality.
Extending towards the channel from this dry reef is a r<ef
covered with two to six feet of water, composed of c1u>rers .■)f
elongated, densely crowded oysters of ])ooi- (piality.

NaTIKAI, KeEFS IX THE Ol'KX VxV\.V.

The natural reefs located in the open -iuif on eaeh sid.i cf
Southwest Pass are, both in regard to the ar<"a covered and the
(pudity of oysters produced, ]>y far tlie most impo'-^ant in this
region. The salinity of the water in this portion of th..' gull is
lowered by the flow^ of fresher water from Verndlion Bay through
the pass, and also to some extent by the wider coming from the
Atchafalaya Kiver around the east end of Marsh Island, so that
at all times it is well within the limit of salinity suitable for the
growth of oysters. During the time while these investigations
wee l)eing made extremes of salinity i-ecorded weic one pollll
/.0.093 and one point l.OlTfi fot- water taken one foot I'l-om the
bottom at a point one mile off shoi-e and tlire<' miles to the west
of tlie mouth of the |)ass.

On each side of the entrance to tlh' pass lliere is a lai-ge
T'eef extending out into the i^nlf. The wv'i on the west side is
the larger of the two. It extends (uit al..n- the ed^e of IIk-
channel for about tliive-fourt lis of ii mile. Its width v;iri.-s froiri
two hundred to six hundred yards. At ;i point near its inner

14

end there is a small area about on-half aere in extent that is
exposed at low tide. The water over the remainder of the reef
varies from two to sixteen feet in depth. The oysters on this
reef are mostly elongated, thin shells, and arranged in d'^nse
chisters.

At a few points on this reef there are a limited nui'ibe;- of
oysters growing singl}^, or in clusters of only two or three.
These are found on the borders of the reef, where th^'y have
been broken off fi-om the parent cluster and fallen on a clear
bottom of sufficient firmness to afford them support. Ari .ibun
dant growth of hydroids two or three inches long is found on
most of the oysters taken from this reef.

■' The reef on the east side of the entrance to the pass ex-
tends from the dry. reef at the end of Marsh Island along th;>
edge of the channel for about half a mile It is interrupted at
a point about half its length from shore by a channel fifty yards
in width. Throughout its length it is much nai-rower than the
reef on the west side, and the water covei-ing it is giMicrally
deeper.

The oysters over the greater part of this reef are of the
elongated cluster type; although there are /(^ood/many more*^
shaped ones than on the reef last mentioned. On the eastern
(inshore) side of the reef, whei-e the surrounding bottom is com-
posed of hard mud, many oysters of good shape and condition
are to be found. Near the r-uins of an old lighthouse that fov-
mei'ly stood on th(^ west eiul of IMarsh Island some especially
large, good shaped single oysters were taken by the tongmen.
'1 hese oysters were growing on a bottom composed of a few inchesJ
of soft mud overlying a substi-atum of firm clay. All the otliei'
conditions, besides the fact that these oystei's wei-e not eronc.i^d,
were the same as tliosi^ to Avhich the elongated oysters neiu-by
were exposed. ;ind yet their shape and coiulition were as differ-
ent as thougli Ihey IimcI eoiiie frnm diffVrent reefs.

A num])er of l),,ats weiv constantly working on thesi^ two
last mentioned re.ds. Most of t!.e oysters taken from here
were used for steam oysters by the cannery fit Avery Island,
although some of the me]i carrying oystei-s to Franklin and
other markets obtained ;, p^rt of their loads on Ihes.. reefs.

15

Alxmt four miles wi'sl from llic ciil niiic- (.f Soul Invest
P;iss ihtTc is ii riH'f t'mit extends from llie slioi-e. ;i|)|iro.\im;itely
lor one mile. Altliou-li uaiTow at its inshore end. wlieiv at low-
tide it is tlr\-. its widtli increases rapidly a litlle away fi'oiii the
sihore. so that at a dislatice of thn'O hundre(l >ards fi-oiii slior"
tile wei is half a mile wide. This reef, known locally anions
Iho fisiUM'meii as the "Little Hills'" reef, has in the past pro-
duced an altundance nf oysters of lariic size and exeeptionally
ii'ood (piality. At the present time the sui)ply of oysters on this
i-eef is very limited, due to excessive fisliinii". so tliat diirinfr the
])i'esent season few of the ton<>ers liave found it profitable to
work here. A number of dredge boats have worked over the
outer portion of the reef, securing a good catch of fine oystei-s.
Counts of the eullings separated while tonging one peck of good
oyst(M-s from different pai'ts of the i-eef ai-e given below:

Oy.sters. Voung Oy.sters and S[)at. Shells.

1 peek Si) li;i

1 peck 38 . 107

1 l)eck 21(1 183

Many. of the spat and young oysters less than two inches
in length are found attached to the large oysters, which usually
oeeui- singly, so that it is an extremi'ly difficult mattei- to sc^p-
ai-ate the culliniis without destroying them.

In the open uulf. off .Marsh Island, extending fi-om a i)oint
about two miles from the west end to the eastern point, there
is an almost continuous mass of re(-fs. Some of thesi- are hi'.:h
and composed almost entirely of d('ni\ shells, while others con-
stitute the most valiiable^producing ai-cas of the regions. The
beds where the i^Dod oystei-s are found are. in most cases, con-
nected with some of the dry reefs, and aroniid the ])orders of
all of the i]ry i-ecfs a t-reater oi- less number of oystei's of good
<|uality are to be foutid. The most imp<u-tant reefs will be men-
tioned in moi-e d-tail. A lar^c reef c(.veivd with fr.mi two to
five f.'.-t of w-atM,- iv h„. •,<,.,! ;it th. western boi'dcr of the aiv.a
under coMsider.-ilioM. This i-eef ext.'nds about a mile from the
shoi-e. and is from one-half to thre<'-foin-ths r.f a ndl- in width.
At its inshoi-e eihl it is nai-i'ow and exposed at low tide, 'j'hc
oy.sters found here are of good si/.e and <|uality. While fonnd iih

16

abundance in isolated patches only, the number present over all
of the reefs is sutificient to make profitable fishing for the tongers.
The number of spat and young oysters below marketable size
is large, almost every shell brought up having several attached
to it.

Outside and to the eastward of the one just described is a
large reef that extends outward for two and a half miles. This
reef is made up of oysters of good quality, but at present the
supply is limited, this reef, like most of the otbers, showing the
result of over fishing. Three or four dredging schooners have
fished on this reef for the greater part of the present season,
and between these and the tongers the supply of good oysters
is limited to isolated patches that have escaped notice.

Beginning at the outer edge of a large dry reef two miles
out from Chenier LaCroix, in a southeasterly^ direction, there
is a large reef known as Diamond reef. This reef covers an
area of two square miles and produces oysters of fine quality.
An account of the history of this reef since its discovery is
instructive as showing the rapidity with which an especially
productive area may be reduced to a state of commercial barren-
ness by excessive fishing. At the time when this reef was dis-
covered four years ago two men could load a small lugger in a
single day, as the oysters were large and most of them occurred
singly, so that the labor of culling was reduced to a minimum.
As soon as the existence of this reef became generally known,
most of the boats fishing in the region flocked to the place and
continued to fish there during the remainder of the season, with
the result that at the beginning of tbe next season more than
three times the amount of labor had to be expended to secure
the same amount of oysters as in the previous season. The
same extensive fishing with the correspondingly curtailment of
the catch has gone on until at the present season there were
only a few scattered areas of limited extent where it was profit-
able for the tongers to fish.

The men on the dredging schooners said that it was un-
lu'ofitable to work on this rc^ef because of the great amount of
cullings that must be handled while securing a small inmiber
of oysters, although these would be of better quality than most
of the ones secured elsewhere.

17

Two extensive beds, made up .iliiiost entirely of youn<r
oysters three to four inches long, jnc situated two and one-iialf
miles oilt' shore, about live miles east of Chenier LaCroix. Taken
together, these cover an area of about four square miles. Tlu'
depth of the water of these reefs varies from two to Hirer and
one-half feet. The clustiM-s on thes(> reefs consist of fr(»iii four
to six young oysters attaclicd to an oldei' shell. All of the
oysters more than tw(^ years old were dead froin some cause or
other. Because of the shallowness of the water over these reefs
they have not been woi-ked to any extent, since all of the
schooners Avorking in this region are of too deeji draft to pass
over the reef except at full tide, and tlie size of tlie oysters is
not such as to attract the tongmen.^l^i'se oyslei-s are growing
very rapidly, and unless llie clusteiSAfi bi'oken up soon, they will
become elongated and pooi- like those on all of the densely
crowded reefs.

Farther to the eastward, along the shore of ^M'arsh Tslan-I
and between the high reefs of coon oystei-s, there arc reefs of
limited extent, where especially fine oystei-s are foiuid. These
reefs are kept cleaned up by the men fishing for the i-aw houses
at Morgan City, and at the time of a visit to these n'ofa in De-
cember the men working in that vicinity said that tluM-e were
only a very few oysters to be secured in any one place in the
region.

Oystkk Pr.AXTiXG IX Verivuliox AXi) Thkkia Pauisiihs.

lentil a very recent date no attempt at i)ianling oysters on
a commei-cial scale was made in this i-egion. The fishermen have
been accustomed to bed their catch fi-om day to day, awaiting
the completion of theii- hiad. These temjxu'ary bedding grounds
were usually on oi- neai- smne i-eef, as that afforded the hai'dcst,
cleanest bottom to be found. The oysters wei-e dei)osited in a
layer of a foot or more in thickness to facilitate tak-ing them nj)
when they were to be marketed, the bedding grounds being
marked off by stakes. In some instances oysters taken from the
very important reefs in ITell ITole and Lake Fearman that were
especially of good siz(> and condition, but on acconnt of the low
salinity of the water in which they grew, of poor llavor, were
put down for a day or two in the more salt water of the pass

18

or nciybboriiiy gulf before being carried to market. ]>y tbis
means tbeir flavor was mueb improved and tlieir valiu^ corre-
spondingly increased. *

A feAV years ago a small plant some acres in extent was
made at tbe north side of Weeks Bay by the superintendent of
the salt mine on Weeks Island. At the time this i)]ant was
visited in Aiignst, 1905, all of the oysters, large and small,
were tlT^i^ SXjOl^ .

At the present time there are in Vermilion and ll)eria Par-
ishes fourteen leased areas, aggregating 1,622.1 acres. These
leased areas are all in Vermilion Bay and its tributaries, witb
the exception of four small holdings in Mound Lake and l)ayou.
on the outer side of ]\rarsh Island.

The bottoms selected for planting i)urp()ses have ])eeti, willi
one or two exceptions, those where in the ])asl oysters ol" good
quality were found, but whereas the result of over tisbing and
freshets, the reefs have become practically extinct.

The method of planting used has been that of bedding seed
oysters taken from the natural reefs in the bay of pass. The
seed has been in most cases coony oysters taken from the densely
i;rowded reefs. In some cases, at least, the seed oysters were
put down just as they were taken from the natural i-eefs, with-
out any attempt to break up the clusters and liberate the oysters
com])()sing them from the oppressive condition to wbicli they
had been subjected.

The beds were made with no preliminary hardening of the
bottom, and over some parts of the plants tbe oysters wer(>
found to have settled into the mud until they >vere completely
covered.

In no case, so far as cc^dd be learned by inquii-y, has any
attempt been made to estal)]ish an artificial reef l)y exi)osing
clutch to afford a place of attachment for the free swimming
fry when they are ready to settle down.

That fry are abundant in these waters during the breeding
season is shown by the presence of young oysters on almost
every foreign substance that would afford them supi)ort.

Owing to tbe unusually adverse (-ouditions that prevailed
during the past spring and early suiinner. when th<' \vat<M- in the
upper i)art of Vermilion Bay and its ti'ibutaries was alisolutelv

19

fiTsh for a l(.n- tiiur. all llu' l)''<l'l'-a oyst.Ts, as well as the few
natural ones remainin- m^.ake Fcnvmnn and its bayous, Shark
Bayou, Bayous Chin, (Mk^ and M.))n('h;«i, suecuinbed, so that at
the time these investi-afn.ns were made not a single living;
oyster was found amonu the hundreds of dead shells taken up
from these beds.

As the future development of the oyster industry nuist
depend ehietly on the pi-oduet of artificial beds, since the nat-
ural ones are being so rapidly depleted, particular attention
was given to the consideration of area available for planting
purposes. The character of the bottom, salinity of the watei-,
the amount and distribution of food organisms, was carefully
studied in places not now containing natural reefs nor artificial
beds. Where oysters from the natui-al reefs were put down in
bai-i-eii areas to determine the available food sni)ply. the effect
of the changed conditions on flieir condition and Mavor was care-
fully recorded.

Tlie area of bottom availal)le for cultural pui-i)Oses in Ver-
milion Bay is limited chiefly by the pr()bal)ility of freshets.
Damaging freshets in this region come fi'om two sources: First,
fnmi the bayous emptying into the upper part of the bay, and.
secondly, from the Atchafalaya River, which in limes of freshets
sends large volumes of its water westward through the bays on
the north side of Marsh Island to empty into the gulf through
Scmthwest Pass. The writer is informed that during the past
spring the water on the sui-face at the pass was absolutely fresli
for several weeks from the tlow of Atchafalaya wafer. If is
] i-obable, however, that a little wa>' below the surface the salin-
ity of the water was very near to noi'iiial. since very few dead
oysters were found on the natural reefs at this point. Tn the
lower part of the bay, where the salinity of the water is more
stable, the bottom is so generally soft that the few hard sjxits
may be left out of aecounl foi- all practical purposes. AVbile
too soft to suppoi-f seed oystei-s in the (plant it ies best suited to
their growth, this bottom at its worse is susceptible to hardening
by the application of shells or sand. When prepared in the
manner above described these hardened an^as would undoubtedly
produce an abundance of frood oysfei-s, since tlie food supply is
constant and abundant and the salinitv of the water stable.

^

20

The luany bayous and lakes in the nuilh side of Marsli
Ishiiul are exposed to the pei-iodic tioodings with fivsli water
from the Atehafalaya, and as a rt'sult of the fresh(>t <d' llir past
.spriiiii' all of the oysters iu them were killed.

Ill the southwestern arm of the bay the effect of freshets
is less noticeable than in most other pa-rts. Large aiH>n:s of hard
bottom suitable for the reception of shell or- seed oysters aiv^
found here, and as the food and salinity conditions are favorable
it aifords one of the best locations for planting purpi ses.

That the conditions which prevailed in these waters during
the past spring and early summer were unusually severe, is
shown by the fact that up to the beginning of this protracted vy/"
period of fresh water, adult oysters several years of age '^^■''^''' V^
to be found in most parts of the bay©^ and in many jiUtees-m^
the upper part of the bay. The presence of large oysters in
these places would show that for some years {)revious to 11)05
the freshets had not been sc^vere enough to destroy the oysters
iu places where the full elfeet of the lowered salinity would
be felt.

In Southwest Pass the area of bottom available for planting'
oysters is very small and everywhere composed of soft mud, so
that artificial hardening would have to be resorted to in oi-der to
•establish a bed.

In the open gulf, on both sides of Soutiiwesr Pass, there
are large areas of bottom that offer exceptionally good condi-
tions for planting.

Beginning at the bordei- of the reef at the west side of the
entrance to the pass there is an area of firm bottom, consisting
of a substratum of clay, covered with two or three in.-hc,-! of
soft mud, that extends for six or seven miles along the sl'on .
The condition of the bottom is practically the same foi- a pniod '
of three miles off shore, while the depth of water is luuvhere
over twelve feet. The salinity and food conditions ov-'-- tin's
bottom were found to be essentially the same as those at Litllc
Hills reef, which lies within the limits of the area uuder dis-
cussion, and which, for many years, has produced sotiu- )!' r!>e
best oysters found in these waters. The firmness of thi- l)i.^1(,]ii
nakes it directly available for planting without any prelimi-
nary hardening. The presence of natural reefs within, or on

21

tlif linrUiTS of this area, as well as the fact that it is su- pt by
cun-cnts coming directly across these reefs, would iiisun- a set
of spat on shells exposed liere.

On the east side of the pass olT Marsh Ishiiid tlu n- is a
lariif tract of bottom whei'c the conditions arc iiiiich th.' .sa!:if
as over tlu' ai'ca just nu'ul ioucd. Tliis tr;ict t'.\1<ii<ls i'roni tlu'
reef al the entrance to tlic pass to the wesicin boi-der of the
<>'rea1 mass of i-eefs off .Mai'sh Island. 'I'lie boltom is uniformly
fii-m for a distance of two miles from the shore. Heyimd this
l)oint there is fi-om live to lifteeii inches of soft mud on top of
the lirm clay sul)stratum. 'flie salinity of the wjitei- and the
amount of food contained in it over the whole of this area is
favoivible for the g-rowth of oysters, and wheiivei- any hard
body is found on this bottom it has oysters growini: en it.

Between the reefs fartho- to the west there are areas of
soft bottom, which could, by some heardening atit-nt. be broughr
to ;i state whei-e they would afford sui)poi-t for ai-titicial l)eds.
The bi()lo<iical conditions on these areas are the same as thoso
finnid on the natural reefs nearby, so that if the bottom were
made lirm euouuli to give suppoi't to oysters, we have every
, reas(»u to expect good results from any jilant that might 'm'
made here.

Foi- a distance of from five to eight miles outside of Mai-sli
Island, or one to foui- miles beyond the ])resent reefs, there is
a vast ti-act covei'cd by not more than twelve feet of water,
wliich, by artificial hardening of the bottom, would become avail-
able for oyster culture if the growth of the industry ci-eates a
demand for more jdanting ground than is found near shore.

DRSTRrcnvK Agkntp.

The enemies to the attack of which the oysters <if this region
are subjected are extremely few. No star fisli are fouiul : conks
and drills, although present in small nimilx'rs, do no api)re-
ciable damage.

The drum fish, which does so inncli damage to biihled stix-k
in some ])ai'ts of the State, is comparatively hai-mless iiere, al-
though one or two instances where bedded oysters have bei^n
destroyed l)y some enemv, probablv the drum. ai'(^ reported.

A boi-iiu:- sjion-i-e. probably Cliouv' sulphuiva. is found quite

22

abundantly on sohk" of the natural reefs. Most of the speci-
mens found were small, and as they make only superficial bur-
i-ows in the shells of the oyster, they are of no particular im-
portance. In a later stage of its development this sponge forms
large orange colored masses, that nuiy entirely cover the oysters.
and interfere ^vith their feeding, but, as before stated, none of
the adult foj-ms were found.

A boring clam, ]\Iar'Tesia ciuieiformis, is abundant in this-
i-egion. This clam when very small bores into the shell of the
oyster, and as the size of the clam increases, its burrow becomes
correspondingly enlarged. These burrows are found in th(^
superficial layei's of the shell only and do no damage of im-
portance.

The presence of algae and hydroids on the shells of oysters-
from some of the natural reefs acts as a detrimental agent by
collecting sediment and decreasing the amount of food material
that can be o])tained by the oyster.

Among the oysters on some of the reefs mussels are present
in sufficient numbers to seriously interfere with the oysters.
Since the food of these forms is composed of the same kind of
plants, the amount available for each oyster is lowered by the
pi-esence of the mussels.

By far the most formidable destructive agent to be encoun-
tered l)y one engaged in oyster culture in this region is the
annual spring freshet, which lowers the salinity of the water
in the bay and its tributaries during tlvfleedmg season of the
oyster. "While no authentic record of the freshets in years past
is availal)le, the best evidence obtainable shows that severe
freshets like that of the past year have been of infrequent occur-
rence. However, the increasing number of drainage canals
emptying into the head watei's of Vermilion Bay make it prob-
able that more damage from fresh water will occur in the future
than has l)een the case in past seasons. These canals offer a
means of escape for the water in the swamps which formerly
could reach the bay only after a slow passage through the small
branches of the bayous passing through the swampy area. The
large volumes of fresh water that can reach the bay through

23

thcsi' (•;iii;ils at'tci- evci'v heavy niiii will iiiakc III.' salinity iA'
tlu' water in the upper part of tlu' l»ay so uiistalile that oysters
irrowiiii-- in this ro^-ion will lie in conslaiit daiiLier of l)ein^' killed.

coxcLrsioxs.

Tlu' oyster reefs in \'erniilion Uay and Southwest I'ass are
susceptible of being greatly iin[)roved by breaking up the clus-
ters of oysters so that each individual oyster would have room
to grow to its normal shape. This result will naturally follow
from the working of the reefs, as only the larger oysters ar.^
removed, the smaller ones being returned to the bay. In any
region where oysters grow on a soft bottom they are elongatetl
and of poor (luality until the reefs are^broken up to some extent
by the i-emoval of ovstgrs. The reefSin the gulf where goo; I
oysters are produeea^ in a depleted condition as a result of
over fishing. A marked exception to this rule is seen in the
two r(H^fs of young oysters a couple of miles out in the gulf.
Oysters are very abundant all over these reefs, and unless they
are broken apart, densely crowded reefs of elongated oysters
will result.

The prospect of building up a profitable industry by plant-
ing oysters is very favorable; large areas of bottom, admirably
suited for this purpose, exist in the lower part of Vermilion
Bay and in the neighboring gulf. Practically unlimited amounts
of small oysters suitable for use as seed, exist on the shallow
reefs in the pass and gulf. These oysters wdien separated and
deposited on good bottoms will iiicrease rapidly in si/e and show
mai-ked improvement in shajx' and condition. The practice of
exposing shell to serve as rduleh on which the spat mav settle
is to be reconuuended as a method of planting rather than tht>
method of beddine- soed ovsters. By the use of the latter method
there is no dmin on tlx- natural reefs, already in many cases
sadly denleted: but. on the other hand, the actual number of
oysters in existeneo in the reo-ion is increased bv saving' the spat,
many of which would otlu-rwise perish for want of a nlaee of
attachment. Tn cases where adult oysters have been placed on
a bed of shells to furnish spat, it has been foiuid that at tin-

24

Olid of two ov three years it was impossible to tell the parent
oysters from the younger ones, so rapid had been the growth of
the latter.

Records of the known rate of growth of oysters in other
l)arts of Louisiana, where conditions are no more favorable than
these investigations have shown them to be in the waters of
Vermilion Bay and the gulf, would show that in two years from
the time of the settling of the spat, oysters of remarkable size
would have grown on the beds. An artificial bed made by plant-
ing shells, would, if worked in a reasonable manner, be self-per-
petuating and yield a steady supply of good oysters year after
year.

The use of small shells, such as the clam shells found so
abundantly at many points along the coast, will lessen the labor
of caring for a plant. F>wer spat will settle ou the small shells
and the damage by crowding will be correspondingly lessened.
Bottom in the upper part of Vermilion Bay or its tribu-
taries might be used for fattening grounds, to bed for a short
time oysters grown in the more salt waters of the gulf. The
salinity of the water in these sheltered places is iii winter con-
siderably lower than that of the gulf water, so that oysters put
down in these places would show a marked increase in the
amount of "meats" taken from a given number of oysters.
These locations just mentioned, where there is especial danger
from spring freshets, could be utilized as bedding grounds from
the time one period of freshet had passed until the approach of
the following spring. Oysters of good size put down on these
grounds in the early fall would be in excellent condition, and
• would probably shoA\' a marked increase in size before the last
of the oyster season. ,

The recovery of the planted areas M'here the oysters were
killed by fresh water during the past spring would be brought
about more quickly and surely by depositing on them some fully
grown oysters to furnish spat at the coming breeding season.
Moreover, the oysters that have grown on any bed from the
time of their attachment are more hardy than those that have
undergone the shock of handling and being exposed to a new
set of physical, and to some extent, new biological conditions.

In the short pei-iod of time covered bv this studv it was im-

25

'Jbrfiry
Oilman Drew.

possible to form auy accurate estimate of the lat.- nf growth of
oysters iu this locality; but the meu enga«,'ed in the iudustiy
give three years as their estimate of the tiiii.- rcijuired for
oysters to reach a good marketable size.

Aeeording to the best information obtainable tlie breeding
season begins in April, and from the writer's P^'i'^''''y|/t>b^erj^a-^
lions, iiiuiiy of the oysters were forming -nee uPiiti ly /slate as /
Oetober 18. The unfavorable conditions of the past spring and
the early sunnner, when the water was too fresh for spawning
to take place, may aeeount in part for the altiMi(l;inee of s|)at
found later in the season.

It is the intention to make, at a later date, .some experi-
mental plants in this region to demonstrate the utility as plant-
ing grouiuls of the areas reeonuiiended for tluit [.urpose in this
report.

Camero.v. La.. January 22, 1906.

APPENDIX

The figures given in tb.' following la])les nrc the averages
of all determinations made at eaeh station during llic [x'riod of
the investigations. The niunber of diatoms given in tlic last
two eohnnns are the nund)('rs found in the stomach of one oyster
.and in one litre of water taken one ±V)ot from the bottom.

FOOD AND SALINITY RECORD.

Eeef in Vermhjon Bav.

Date of Salinity of Condition of Xundx'r of Diatoms of

Kxamination. Water. Oysters. Oysters. Water.

October. 1905 1.010 Poor 18,79(i 14.872

.Xovember. 1905. . . l.Oll;^ Fair 13,334 1S.99S

Deeember. 1905. .. 1.0128 Fair 15.334 l«(i5(;

]{f:EF ON East Side (jf Southwest Pass.*

October. 1905 1.011 Poor 11.2(i(i 19.998

Xov.Miiber. 1905. . . 1.0123 Poor 12,3;»7 15.5S!)

I)erem!>er. 1!)05. .. 1.0135 Poor 11,998 14.872

I\KKF ON West Sii>E of Entrance to P.\ss.

October. 1905 1.011 I\),)i- 14.892 l(i.l84

Xovember, 19()5. . . 1.012 Poor 17.259 18, 720

Devetiib,-!-. 1905. . . 1,0132 Fair 15,124 20,428

' LrPTEE Hn.Ls Reef (in Gulf West of Pass.) i

Ociol,.M-. 1905. ... 1.0132 Good 16.44() 18.870

Xovember, 1905. . 1.0140 Good 18.66ti 15,728

December, 1905. . 1.0154 Very Good 17.792 20,220

First Reef off ]\rARSii Iseand to East of Pass.

October, 1905. ... 1.0122 Good 16.6(ifi 19.243

Xoveiiil)er, 1905. . 1.0137 Good 19.492 17,fi64

D-cniber. 1905.. 1.0143 Good 18,286 20,244

"•The o.vsters from this reef were covered with n dense -i-owth of livrlroids
was mentioned in the body of the re-ioit.

27

HkKI- NkaK .M.UTIl OF .MmINI. liAVOl-.

l);it<' of Salinity oT Coiidil icii of .\iiiiil)i'i- of Diat s ..f

Kxaiuiiiatioii. \V;ilcr. Oysters. Oyst.-rs. Wati-i-.

I)cc('iiil)ci'. IIH).').. 1.01.') Vci-y-'Faf IT.KiT TJ/J.")--'

lii-.TWKEX I'ass ANi> LiTi'i.i: 11 ILLS lii.KK (ISarrcii Area.)

Oct. »])ei', 1905 l.Ol:^;^ <in..(l lT.}>s:i ls.:U7

N.>v('in])er. i;»05. . 1.0187 (icxl l)),4(i7 20.(iS4

DcrcnilH'l-, I!)!).").. l.Ol.") (ini.d l!).SL>(i 17.!)S2

1>.\KKKX AhK.\ OFP W'STKKX Em> (iK .M.\K'SII lsi..\Xl).

<)ct()!)(M-, 190,') 1.011 (lo.ul 17.ii4(i i'0.220

November, 190.1. . 1.0l:^(i Cecil lil.L'sT 17.9!IS

Dceeiiiber, 190.').. l.()l.')-2 Coixl l(i.44(i Ki.-lSii

I>ai{iu;n' Akka I.owkk Paht of Vfrmimox P>av.

Dctohei-, 1905 l.Oll Fail- 14.179 1().:^7:}

November, 1905. . 1.0115 Fair 15.114 18.9!)S

December. 1905.. 1.018. (lood lS.2(i7 17.7(i8

BaKKKX AkKA ri'l'KK l*Ain- OF 1)AV.

Oetober. 1905 1.004 None Present 16,884

Novembei-. 1905.. 1.0078 (Jood 10.408 18.2!)(;

Deeember. 1905.. 1.011 (iuod 15.27:i 17.747

FXI'LANATIO.X OF ("ILVin'.

Tile accompanying- eliarl slinws tlie location of tlir oyster
reefs and planted areas, tlie depth of water and cliaractei- a[' Uw
bottom ill difl'ereiit parts of the lei-ritoi-y siudied. The location
and extent of any particular reef is shown only approximately.
as no means of making- an accnrate survey was available, llow-
^-ver, the actual amount of bottom covered by oysters will be
found to be veiy nearly that shown on chaii. No attempt has
1m (Ml made to distinj^uisli between dens(>. medium or scattered
^n-owths, except in tlie upi)er part of Vermilion Bay and in
AVeeks Bay, Avhei-e the scattered clusters are represented by a
uniform red stipi)lini^'.

p

L Note.

" Oyster beds are shoiyn In red th
I The sail nit/ of water inred f>f

yehcit/ of current ip/ red figures ai'Oi^e an arrotv ^=>7J-m,/es
^cunc^m^S are <fhen infeet In i'JacM ^/fi^res . a.
The roUonlrta s/m^o/s denote character of ihe iyottom :-
m--niud ■ sft^soft , hrcf--/7ari^-