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Book

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR
BUREAU OF FISHERIES

GEORGE M. BOWERS, Commissioner

CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE NATURAL
OYSTER BEDS AND BARREN BOTTOMS OF —
MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALABAMA — ~

By H. F. Moore
Assistant in Charge of Scientific Ingutry

Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 769

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1913

MAR 18 1913

CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE NATURAL OYSTER
BEDS AND BARREN BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI
SOUND, ALABAMA

By H. F. Moore
Assistant in Charge of Scientific Inquiry

Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 769

pie
wee
we

CONTENTS.

LCMURRO CHOCO AEs CS eRe hey se AN ewe nhs leases ae ee ea
Methods) ofthe sunneyea amr sete Rete y wee eee ee new le te
Description of the natural beds:

iKsimersaBanougleetca ss Wace Sees seen ke
TBSOUGN 7 “LYSIS Res ss ee esc erate ies ee at Se
Cedar Rott Weeks ean ait Gye oe ee eee se
Pass des Huitres>.2...2... Hal a SUA NE Me, SE 7
bass des) EluitresyMlatse see ieee eee el.
AD ntclay Gulliver see es evecare saree ea
Wiestisideroiutchmisland 2 ei a ee
BicwG Ullyawen eke Pn
RetersbillhyessGrulllliye sens le eet
(Gireayais) IPSS 5 2 lee Ses i Ne De cen
asspaUbxe PICTON See ana aie se eh
Ve ditisine Gaul ye ewes ewe a De bal AS eee
Blacks Murmpseye ee Se si a ee
West side of Little Dauphin Island....-......
Mirus Ue Gul lays cpsec ee e ea s wee e ee
Sali GVO legen yee ome nee Ponty eerie nea ead kana ainar
Daupiaimelislamd Bayi) laa alana eee
SprimkelayBayeqoy 6 cee ly a aes
‘Clo nllinveye Tee ayia Sees aN iI ea en RU ee
Ofishastybaseisionale yas see ei
iHalieMoonmbatchess 2. assis) Mee eee
HeronlBayrreastisidessen ta Shee lvoe e es
Heron Bay, west side.......-.--- DBAS Seated ate
iHleron Bays morthwestarms= 405 S258.
Middle Ground, Fowl River Bay.-...-.-..---
Grassyalslamd eee a ere tals ake Yee
GoosevbayOuleyer ses eee oe avec eee
Nouthweswot Van sionalesease2 2 eee e
Hastieide of Marsh dislamd so 5 sess a:
Portersville, State-planted bed... .......----
iPorterswille Baye orth end2: 94) 455 2222.
West side of Coffee Island... .-. CES aR EN ee

Mhe=bedsun SUMMARY ys. on See eee oa ele Tk
Barrens OLLOMS ees sere epee. cy Merron a Ma eS AY 2

Near Hali-MoontiPatchess22) sm 2a ee es

LEU RON ate] Be sien ae Beene ener yor yc ines

Portersville Bay (including Fowl River Bay).

Mississippi Sound, south of Portersville Bay ...........--..--.------.---

Wrest or Cottee Islamdana tn 2 ne ee ee
North end of Coffee Island.........-.-.--.--
GreATOVal IB ins Collie) eles eaeh inl arly) ay a eee aes
Soublyoia Gram dy Bay, eee aici aaa ey Gs See

4 CONTENTS.

General physical and biological conditions:
Mides:and currents. 32st ee as cis 2 Se ee eer ee ee ee
Salinity ‘ofithe-water 2.2, 325 Soe cae foe ee Oe ee ee
Oyster Tood Bi ee Lees = Be ee ee Scale ea en
Oyster enemies. <2--- 2: site eel tee ee ee
Pa WALI ets See he als welt US eee
Oystenculbure ss. anctcs eres Sere ee ee ee ee ee Die Sig a ney eee
Resumé» conelusions, and recommendations --— 5-252) - 25552 eee ee eee
DescriptionoLchart=\52%4. 50. 220 oes see eine oe ae eee

CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE NATURAL OYSTER BEDS AND
BARREN BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA,

By H. F. Moors,
Assistant in Charge of Scientific Inquiry.

INTRODUCTION.

At the request of the Alabama Oyster Commission, through its
president, Mr. John Craft, and on the representations of the several
Senators and Representatives in Congress from that State, the Bureau
in February, 1910, made a preliminary examination of the oyster-
producing regions of Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. It ap-
peared from this examination that the oyster interests were of suffi-
cient present and prospective importance to warrant a survey and
report on the productive and barren bottoms of Mississippi Sound.

The triangulation of the region was begun by the Coast and Geo-
detic Survey, under an arrangement for cooperation between the two
bureaus, durmg the summer of 1910, and was maintained so far in
advance of the requirements of the biological and hydrographic work
of the Bureau of Fisheries that the latter never suffered a moment’s
delay for lack of triangulation points.

Although the work performed by the Coast and Geodetic Survey
in connection with this investigation is of a character not requiring
treatment in the text of this report, the State authorities charged
with the administration of the oyster laws should appreciate it as
that part of the results which has the most endurimg value. The
accurately determined and substantially marked stations furnish to
the State an invaluable and permanent basis for the survey and
delimitation of leaseholds of barren bottom for purposes of oyster
culture, and if properly used will enable Alabama to avoid the em-
barrassment and litigation which elsewhere have been consequent on
faulty surveys and descriptions. No survey not properly based in
and referred to this triangulation should be countenanced in oyster
leases granted by the State.

The biological and hydrographic survey, which was conducted by
the Bureau of Fisheries, began about the middle of November, 1910,
when the steamer Fish Hawk arrived in Mobile Bay, and it was con-
cluded in May, 1911, part of the interim being employed in a similar
survey in Mississippi waters. The purpose of the survey was the

5

6 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

accurate determination of the location, extent, and condition of the
natural oyster beds and the examination of the barren bottoms in
relation to their adaptability to oyster culture.

No oyster survey of the region covered by this report had been
made previously, although the important beds adjacent to Grant’s
Pass had been the subject of reconnoissance in 1894.4

METHODS OF THE SURVEY.

The methods employed were those pursued in former surveys of
like character and are explained in detail in a description of the beds
of the James River, from which some of the following is repeated:

A ‘boat sheet”? was prepared, on which were accurately platted
the positions, as determined by triangulation, of lighthouses, build-
ings, tripods, etc., used as shore signals. These data were furnished
by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

The oyster beds were discovered by soundings with a lead line,
but principally by means of a length of chain dragged over the ee
tom at the end of a copper wire running from the sounding boat.
The wire was wound on a reel and its unwound length was adjusted
to the depth of water and the speed of the launch, so that the cham
was always on the bottom. Whenever the chain touched a shell or
an oyster the shock or vibration was transmitted up the wire to the
hand of a man whose sole duty it was to give heed to such signals
and report them to the recorder.

The launches from which the soundings were made were run th a
speed of between 3 and 4 miles per hour. At intervals of three
minutes—in some cases two minutes—the position of the boat was
determined by two simultaneous sextant observations of the angles
between a set of three signals, the middle one of which was common
to the two angles, the position being immediately platted on the
boat sheet. At regular intervals of 15 seconds, as measured by a
clock under the observation of the recorder, the leadsman made a
sounding and reported to the recorder the depth of water and the
character of the bottom, immediately after which the man at the wire
reported the character of the chain indications since the last sound-
ing—that is, whether they showed barren bottom or dense, scat-
tering, or very scattering growths of oysters.

With the boat running at 3 miles per hour the soundings were
between 80 and 90 feet apart, and, as the speed of the boat was
uniform, the location of each was determinable within a yard or two
by dividing the platted distance between the positions determined by
the sextant by the number of soundings. The chain, of course, gave |

« Report of a reconnoissance of the oyster beds of Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound, Ala., by Homer P.
Ritter, assistant, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Published in Bulletin United States Fish
Commission, vol. XV, 1895, p. 325-329, pl. 56-63.

~b Moore, H. F.: Condition and extent of the oyster beds of James River, Va. Bureau of Fisheries Doc-
ument No. 729.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. i

a continuous indication of the character of the bottom, but the record
was made at the regular 15-second intervals observed in sounding,

The chain, while indicating the absence or the relative abundance
of objects on the bottom, gives no information as to whether they
are shells or oysters, nor, if the latter, their size and condition. To
obtain these data it was necessary to supplement the observations
already described by others more definite in respect to the desired
particulars. Whenever, in the optwnion of the officer in charge of the
sounding boat, such information was required, a numbered buoy was
dropped, the time and number being entered in the sounding book.
Another launch, following the sounding boat, anchored alongside the
buoy, and a quantity of the oysters and shells were tonged up, sepa-
rated by sizes, and counted.

This boat at each station made a known number of ‘‘grabs”’ with
the oyster tongs, exercising care to clean the bottom of oysters as
thoroughly as possible at each grab. In a given depth of water and
using the same boat and tongs, an oysterman will cover practically the
same area of the bottom at each grab, but, other factors remaining the
‘same, the area of the grab will decrease with an increase in the depth.

Careful measurements were made and tabulated showing the area
per grab covered by the tonger employed on the work at each foot of
depth of water and for each pair of tongs and boat used. With these
data, and knowing the number of ‘‘grabs,” the number of oysters of
each size per square yard of bottom was readily obtainable by simple
calculation. The following example will illustrate the data obtained
and the form of the record:

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR,
BUREAU OF FISHERIES.

Field record of examinations of oyster beds.

General locality, Mississippi Sound, Ala.
Local name of oyster ground, Pass des Huitres.
Date, December 29, 1910. Time, 1.05 p. m.

Angle, C 193-C 194. Buoy No. 2.

Depth, 3 feet. Bottom, Hard.
Condition of water, Clear.

Density, 1.015. Temperature, 58° F.
Gurren tees 2s ano osceee Stage of tide, Flood.
Tongman, Bryant.

No. grabs made, 6. Tongs, 10 feet.

Total area covered, 2.4 sq. yds.
—lin., 6. lin-3in., 119.
3 in.—4in., 33. 4in., 0.
Quantity shells, 0.

Spat per square yard, 2.5.
Res per square yard, 45.4.

Counts per square yard, 13.7.

No. oysters tak en

8 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

This furnishes an exact statement of the condition of the bed at
the spot, which can be platted on the chart with error in position of
not more than a few yards. From the data obtained a close estimate
may be formed of the number of bushels of oysters and shells per
acre in the vicinity of the examination, and, by multiplying the
observations, for the bed as a whole. In the course of the survey
775 observations were made at various places, principally on the nat-
ural rocks, but some on the barren bottoms also.

In estimating the productiveness of the bottoms it appeared desir-
able to use the method employed in Delaware Bay ? rather than that
followed in the James River survey.

Where tongs are used exclusively a bed with a given quantity of
oysters lying in shoal water is more valuable commercially than one
with the same quantity of oysters in deep water, owing tothe fact
that the labor of the tonger is more efficient on the former. As has
been pointed out, the area covered by a ‘‘grab” decreases with the
depth, other factors being the same; and, moreover, the deeper the
water the greater is the labor involved in making the grab and the
smaller is the number of grabs which can be made im a given time.
Where, however, the depth is practically uniform and shoal, as in the
region treated in this report, it is unnecessarily refined and laborious
to make such allowance for depth, and it is nearly as accurate and
satisfactory to rate the bottoms in accordance with an arbitrary
standard.

The classification adopted in this report is as follows:

Depleted bottoms cts nen oan rey eee ees Less than 25 bushels per acre.
Wenyascatterineferowth: see ate a eee Between 25 and 75 bushels per acre.
Scatlerineyenowit le eee es ee eee Between 75 and 150 bushels per acre.
Denservorowitlie ss ales ee Nei epn eee Mra Over 150 bushels per acre.

In this classification no oysters less than 3 inches in length are
considered, as the rating is made solely in respect to what are assumed
to be marketable. It may therefore occur that bottom covered by
an enormous growth of small oysters may be regarded, both in the
text and on the chart, as depleted on account of the few large oysters
which it bears. A reference to the tables which accompany the
description of each bed will show cases of this kind. ‘Depleted
bottom” is in a measure an unfortunate term, as it implies that it
has retrograded in productiveness, whereas in reality in many cases
it may be barren bottom gradually changing to productive. The
term is employed to designate a definite present condition without
regard to the past, and is retained despite its false implication,
because no better has been suggested.

2 Condition and Extent of the Natural Oyster Beds of Delaware. By H. F. Moore, assistant, United
States Bureau of Fisheries. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 745, 1911.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 9

Under the biological and economic conditions obtaining in Missis-
sippi Sound in 1910-11, the bottom rated as bearing a scattering
growth, on which there are more than 75 bushels of marketable
oysters per acre, is regarded as the least productive bottom capable
of furnishing a eae’ to the tongers. Some of the very scattering
growth may be capable of supporting a fishery for market, but most
of it is not. On the other hand, some of the dense growth is of a
character to make it practically worthless for market purposes, and
while the oysters are abundant enough, the economic conditions are
not such as to warrant tonging.

The barren bottom, which constitutes by far the greater part of
the area covered by the survey, was examined principally with respect
to the character, stability, and fixity of its constituent materials.
This part of the investigation was more thorough and accurate than
jn any previously conducted, principally through the use of a mud-
sounding machine devised by the writer several years ago. In
previous surveys the character of the bottom has been determined
by the indications of the sounding lead and pole, which are largely
matters of opinion and will not correspond with any accuracy in the
hands of different persons. To overcome this difficulty the Bureau
now employs the instrument figured on next page. It consists of a
large annular bottom (P), from which rises a tripod (T, T) supporting
two castings (C and C). Passing freely through shaped orifices in
the castings is a steel rod (R) 464 inches long, provided with a rack
and a plunger head (H) 3 inches long and § inch in diameter. Linked
to the underside of the lower casting is a aha (X) connected to the
sliding weight (W), which, when at rest, engages with the rack in
such manner as to prevent the fall of the rod

To use the instrument, a pole of sufficient length is ee in the
eyes at the side of the anstitnge. The rod is raised as far as it will go
and is automatically locked in position by the rack and pawl. The
instrument is then lowered until it rests on the bottom and the rod is
released by pulling on a line attached to an eye at the upper end of
the weight. As the plunger always falls through the same distance,
it strikes the bottom with a uniform impact, and the depth of its
penetration is a comparative measure of the consistency of the
bottom.

In practice, the instrument is used from an anchored boat, and to
secure a representative reading from 6 to 10 tests are made close
together. Any markedly aberrant readings are eliminated, on the
assumption that the plunger has either come into contact with an
accidental obstruction, such as a shell, or has fallen into a crabhole
or other minor cavity. The average of the remaining depths of
penetration, read off in inches in a scale stamped on the rod, is

10

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

SECTION AA.

Mud sounding machine used to determine character of oyster bottom.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 1B

regarded as the index of the bottom consistency. The following
arbitrary scale is adopted in this report.

Fiards bottoms 254 se02 2... PEL RNa aee seen Penetration less than 4 inches.

SiDUEE A Ses SSIS es Sa oh een, Tie amd pene Ne Penetration between 4 and 8 inches.
SOIR ie See oy a a eee ee ees Penetration between 8 and 13 inches.
WoerrgsOltecm ase ca. se oo sek weet stars a ar Penetration between 13 and 18 inches.
(DOCK hed Aes PRR Mar EE REN AREY AS Pape eee ae ae Penetration over 18 inches.

On the accompanying chart the consistency of the bottom is indi-
cated by symbols which are more readily read than lettering—a
black circle indicating hard bottom; a black semicircle, stiff mud; a
black quadrant, soft mud; a circle containing two crossing diameters,
very soft mud; and a circle with one diameter, ooze. Bottom falling
within the first two classes, provided it be not shifting sand, is firm
enough for oyster planting; the harder the bottom the more thickly
the oysters may be planted without danger of becoming engulfed.
Soft bottom should be used with care, and toward its upper limits
may reduire preliminary hardening with sand or shells. Very soft
bottom and ooze should not be considered. The instrument described
has been given a thorough test and has shown itself to be satisfactory
for the purpose of oyster surveys. Its readings are reliable where
the consistency of the bottom is fairly uniform in the stratum pene-
trated, but there is likely to be an error of interpretation in the case
of a hard sand or shell bottom overlaid by several inches of soft mud.
Such cases are readily detectable, however, by probing with a pole,
as is always done where the instrument is used.

In the prosecution of the work previously described, 357.1 miles of
soundings were run and the chain was dragged over the bottom for
the same distance, 16,960 soundings were made, and 3,340 angles for
position of the boat were taken. Oysters were tonged, counted, and
measured, and other biological observations made at 464 stations,
and the consistency of the bottom was tested at 311 places exclusive
of those on the oyster beds, a total of 775 places at which the bottom
was examined. The survey covered a total area of 93,000 acres, of
which 4,000 acres were oyster beds in which the sounding lines were
closer together and the examinations made in more detail than on
the barren bottoms.

The account of the oyster beds which follows proceeds from a
detailed description of the several beds, with the data of all productive
observations, to a consideration of the region as a whole and the
requirements for its economic development.

12 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURAL BEDS.
KINGS BAYOU REEF.

The name Kings Bayou Reef was somewhat doubtfully applied
by the pilot to an oyster bed lying about 5 miles northeast of the end of
Cedar Point. It is about 14 miles long and 4 mile wide, its greater
dimension being east and west, beginning 1 mile offshore in about 3
feet of water. This is an old reef, and, like the others in this part of
Mobile Bay, it is built up in places several feet above the general
jevel of the bottom. At its outer or offshore end the water shoals
abruptly from 10 feet on the mud bottom to 64 feet on the reef.

The extent and character of the oyster growth on this bed are
shown in the following table:

'
OysteER GRowTH ON Kines Bayou REEF.

| | |
| | Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. | Area.

|
| Under 3 | Over 3 :
| GTO, || AOOHES. Seed. Market. | Total.

| Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
On Se tesco mer cane eel eo IE a aR IR 39 296 234 | 11,544 9, 126 20, 670

Menysscat tering: teen ae nee n sea Soares 40 205 91 8, 200 3, 640 11,840
Mepletediyy oes sre. eerste esate 2c Seem 3 108 6 324 18 342
NO all hs cerns toe eee oe A eee SOT ce fy Ape (eee ee ean 20,068 | 12,784 32, 852

The dense area is hook-shaped in outline and extends along the
entire northern and western edges of the reef, with a brief gap near
its middle, and it is probable that the reef consisted formerly of two
dense areas separated by soft mud. The oysters are mostly in
clusters of 8 or 9, often with very many small spat. The large oysters
are long, oval, and thin edged. Very little débris was taken in the
tongings.

The very scattering growths cover a compact area on the south side
of the bed and extending between the two limbs of the dense area.
On this part of the bed the depth varies from about 74 to 10 feet,
indicating that it is of more recent development than the denser parts.
There is yet no considerable accumulation of shells. While the
quantity of large oysters per acre is but about 40 per cent of the
number found on the area of dense growth, small oysters are nearly as
abundant, ranging in places between 91 and 496 bushels per acre.

The depleted area is a small patch separating the two areas of
dense growth above alluded to. While large oysters are scarce, there
is a considerable quantity of young growth.

The details of examination of Kings Bayou Reef follows.

OYSTER ROTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 13

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Kines Bayou REEF.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
| Depth | _ square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of :
No. animation Tote ‘ Character of growth.

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush. Bush.
1 | Nov. 21,1910 @) (0) }) IDSs oc oagcessende 6.5 35.5 11.0 294 176 470
Dil cach Gone: 9500) |Saeee CO sermaace ere 2.5 12.5 12.0 105 192 297
cleric CWsasenae 9.00 |....- OLRM SS ssa asce 4.5 17.5 6.0 154 96 250
Salasey dow eeees 10.00 |...-- GONG ae eae se 31.2 64. 2 43.2 672 691 1,363
4s eee dosaex) (008 |2eee Gorse sees 22.3 38.0 13.1 422 209 631
SR Seed one 6.50) |2-2- = CO) see aeies amen ae 9.5 24.5 18.0 238 288 526
63 | Nov. 22,1910 SG) esone CO ARN NR ee 10.0 11.1 9.0 148 144 292
64 |....- dose: 3.50 |----- Cobras Sa Nee 14.7 32.2 Or 328 146 474
65 |...-- Gone: 6.00 |....- GO cree eee 11.1 32.7 10.0 307 160 467
3 | Nov. 21,1910 | 10.00 Very scattering. ... 7.4 9.0 4.5 115 72 187
Giver Gon UolO JNecees dO S ss Gh 1 19.8 3.3 202 53 255
Oe ede GO shsses 8.00 |...-- GOS aaa 4.7 18.1 3.4 151 54 205
10) |Jseaue Ose ata: 6.50 |...-- Onsen nee es 21.1 49.8 18.0 496 288 784
10b looses doers. 2 6.00 |.-.-- Cho ekaeeusseaans 14.0 11.5 1.6 178 26 204
TN eee Gloeanees 6.00 |.---- GOs ke ee Bee. 6.7 6.3 3.5 91 56 147
ie} epee 0 (0) reece 7.00 | Depleted........-- 8.4 1.4 -0 69 0 69
Ceca COsccaass SG) Igaaoc One rea ERs 8.1 12.9 8 147 13 160

BUOY REEF.

This reef, as defined in the present report, consists of a number
of detached bodies of oysters varying from 1 to upward of 100 acres
each. The name is apparently somewhat indefinitely applied, but
is used here to designate the series of beds beginning with that lying
south of the wreck buoy off Cedar Point and stretching northward
for a distance of about 13 miles. This apparently includes all or part
of what Ritter describes as Birmingham Reef. The large area lying
south of the buoy is connected with Cedar Point Reef by an area of
very scattering growth which doubtless marks an original line of
separation between the two, over which oysters have been spread by
the operation of dredges. In general all of these beds have sharply
defined borders, rising abruptly a foot or two above the surrounding
muddy bottom. They are resorted to principally by dredgers to
whose use they are set apart by law. The oysters are in clusters.

The distribution of oysters according to density of growth is
shown in the following table:

OystER GROowTH ON Buoy REEF.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over o

TMeliscwa lninchacl Seed. Market. Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | bushels.

Dense. ...... Be SR GES O ie etna Nenu ee 202 209 324 42,218 65, 448 107, 666
Scatberine sen: eae ON eattacen Le a 78 34 165 108 5, 610 3, 672 9, 282
WWeryiSCatterin ge ayes ei Sa 19 76 62 1, 444 1,178 2,622
Depleted eee eR io sear ae Stee yen IRE Berend 12 29 4 348 48 396

TG telly se een se me nai Ga et DOTA ial nee 49,620 | 70,346 | 119, 966

14 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

The dense growth covers about 75 per cent of the total area, and
either constitutes the entirety of the several beds or forms a center
fringed by less dense areas, as shown in the chart.

The oysters are in clusters contaming a fair proportion of large
individuals. In the areas of dense growth, the market oysters exceed,
numerically and in volume, the young under 3 inches in length, but
on the less densely populated parts of the beds young oysters prepon-
derate over the old ones. The depth of water over the areas of dense
growth varies from 6 to 84 feet and on the adjacent less dense parts
of the beds it is usually a foot or two deeper.

A few drills were found here and some dead oysters, but in general
the beds seem to be in good condition and capable of producing a
good supply of oysters of indifferent quality. The market oysters
on this and Kings Bayou and Cedar Point Reefs ran about 300 to
the bushel, and it required over 700 of the small oysters under 3
inches in length to fill the same measure.

The following examinations were made:

Deraits or EXAMINATION OF Buoy REEF.

Oysters eouent per are ee quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ers per acre.
Angle Date of
Nowa examination: a oh : Character of growth. : A
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.) Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush. Bush.
_ 32 Ney. 21, 1910 are Dense AS See Ne We ane Bae Bi ae { pe
8S lScacd Masasocce OO) | Keer Oa Sepa miae I 5
815) es5od Gorse SE) Tooeae dos eae 215 19.0 in ¢/ 284 187 "471
Bi) ssood do..-- 8.00 }...-. Go: Se Dee 21.7 17.4 188 278 466
B10 Nlosood One E ie GY loecse GOzS Sa ee 5 37.8 19.2 345 307 652
eal beac oko See 1OSS0F Bese Cosy. Stes ere ile 7 31.0 22.8 299 365 664
AG ene do.. 10.00 |...-- Close eas Seed 2.8 27.8 15.0 214 240 454
ou pene do... IG, 00) asec don? 2.32 7.2 PAL 13.9 198 222 420
i losose do.. 10.00 |.---- GOs see ae Rs 25.0 19.4 27.3 311 437 748
if) looood donee aa SbOO)Noseas Gone ae ae 7.4 20.0 rhe) 192 216 - 408
98 | Nov. 22,1910 SG) |asose GO ek eae ese Cet 16.3 39.0 168 ~ 625 793
39 Ney. 21, 191 g WU Nogese oo Rn setae rae reas ae ao as nN
40) | paenis (A sseouas . 00 BSAC ares see Soe : A 5 5:
86 | Nov. 22,1910 QR OOK Ree GOBER aoe 8s. chee -0 15. 2 ea 6 ae 362 me
Sie eee do... SHOON eas GOD Seo. See Ne .8 13.5 6.1 0) 257 35
Buses GOs nee S00) lesoae do enone aay 8.3 24.3 20.4 228 327 555
27 | Nov. 21,1910 FoBO Ieosse LOM Ate BE IN 2.8 28.5 25.0 219 400 619
SOF ONERE done 8200) meee ORE 10.0 32.5 17.5 298 280 578
30) scsoa do. EEC) escen OEE Ansan 10.9 10.9 7.8 153 125 278
Bl ocoes dose {5 00) |isssos Glos eB Wea opaee 6.5 13.0 18.0 136 288 424
IM esac dos CoO) occas OKO ech ie ede Heil 14.5 13.7 109 219 328
Wess 50 do.. HOSCO Nesoce GOs22} Sage oe. 7.8 20. 4 11.1 197 178 375
Ate) lo asen do... CEN) Isooac GOPSEe Sere eee 8.2 19.6 8.2 195 131 326
G2m\escee dosseeeee 9300)|S2e55 Gowns ssee ree 12.0 22.5 13.0 242 208 450
o Nove 22, 1910 EE) esoce do ns ao ie re zee and a { ave iS
Hh tesea4 Oss aaes CE EW leasee ORS aeeaaeers 0.0 6 9.5 5
92) doves S00) iesace GOMRe Sen eee 18.3 16.1 34.8 241 556 797
Santeria do. C500) Vessse GO se ee ae .0 24.5 6.5 172 104 276
Od eso Choe aes 8 OE O0) aoose Oss ace 4.5 8.9 12.8 94 205 299
100) eos dose: 2) 50) leatioe GOv cease 1.0 3.2 17.9 29 286 315
LOU Beas Gozscees CHG) lesase Goel ess 10.0 17.7 30.4 194 487 681
OP ecase do.. 50) estas (6 (0) ee aS ee 14.7 18.4 he 232 243, 475
LNG | Pesce dOsss2cee OOM ens do ee ate cay 15.6 22.8 22.8 269 365 634
ns Nov: 21,1910 65507 25s" COLOR Se tee ac 15.0 61.0 27.0 533 re on
Ly eae ae OMeee ee G00) sae AOE PRS as 5.1 29.0 31.0 238
26ii| ae Ch) sssonee ORO ences Cosy ee ae 5.0 47.5 22.0 367 352 719
105 | Nov. 22, 1910 6250) Seeee loyee Ce ee soe 5.5 14.2 33.4 138 | 535 673
i * 9
emma! ere oes en eR) ne ar
23))| see Gores ese OLWU) Neoeee doze nace 4.0 8.0 12.5 84 200 284
ae Noy: 22, 1910 2008 Banos GOs 2 asec eee -0 9.6 32.6 67 baa Be
OSil Seee Oesacenes Seo eee GOee i ee 5.9 11.8 IDA 124 | 0;
20 | Nov. 21,1910 Si00)|-ae2 does eee 4 17.0 14.0 123 | 224 347
RSh setae oleae ne OX OOM eee Goneee sake eeee Usts) 30.5 34.0 266, 542 808

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 15

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Buoy REEF—Continued.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of : gh ag
No. eanietion® a ot ‘ Character of grow th. a
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.) Seed. | Market. | Total.
Bush. | Bush. | Bush.

16 | Nov. 21,1910 3.4 29.7 9.4 232 150 | 382
IW seaes dossesacee 2.5 9.0 9.9 81 158 | 239
66 | Nov. 22,1910 1.3 13.0 8.7 100 139 239
@ Secu Gore se a 4.4 21.8 27.4 183 438 621
47 | Nov. 21,1910 4.5 15.0 8.9 136 142 278
ASG Eeeec ClO sseodoae 5.0 14.0 5.0 133 80 213
fy eae GOssstecne 18.5 9.1 5.7 J58 91 249
49 }__... do... 2.8 6.1 5.0 62 80 142
SOME ase GlOeséceaas 14.8 33.0 weal 335 145 480
ail \eeeee Oko Sseeeaee 5.6 3.6 2.8 64 45 109
99 | Nov. 22,1910 8.9 10.0 6.3 132 101 233
OS ilisaeeia GOs eepeae 6.0 13.0 3.5 133 56 189
15 Oye 21,1910 -0 -0 4.0 0 64 64
IQ) seane @sa6eeace -0 2.5 2.0 17 32 49
78 | Nov. 22,1910 6.7 8.9 4.5 109 72 181
28 | Nov. 21,1910 -0 1.2 -0 8 0) 8
89 | Nov. 22,1910 -0 0 -0 0 0 0
59 Nov. 21,1910 f 0 0 a) 0 0 0
GOR seam Ossce5c00 3 6.0 -0 93 0 93
Oil essed Chase ae See 7.8 UaX gat 105 18 123
107 | Nov. 22, 1910 -0 -0 -0 0 0 0
44 | Noy. 21,1910 |’ -0 -0 off 0 11 11

CEDAR POINT REEF.

This is a long, narrow bed extending from the end of Cedar Point
for a distance of about 14 miles toward the wreck buoy. It is now
connected with the southernmost bed of Buoy Reef by a very scat-
tering growth lying on what was comparatively recently barren
bottom, the original zone of separation being indicated by a narrow
gully carrying 84 feet of water lying between depths of about 6 feet
on the adjacent parts of the two reefs. It is probable that this very
scattering growth is the artificial product of dredging operations.
The area, density of growth, and estimated content of small and
market oysters are shown in the following table:

OYSTER GROWTH ON CEDAR Point REEF.

| Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3 2 '
cava, |) alee Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

BIN CTASE Nah as Ase ae Stes See RES ae eine | 100 140 340 14, 000 34, 000 48, 000
Seattenimosgey less Sey a ls ae ae 21 121 130 2,541 | 2,730 5, 271
Werysscattenin ge ooo nae a ee Sains 24 36 4l 864 984 1, 848
Mepletedsg yy se seer essen ae tae Sayan eee 56 89 0 4, 984 | 0 4, 984
STNG tallest sk nae Seana 3) Nine a0 10) a eeaReeeicars| eN 22,389 | 37,714 60, 108

The reef consists of a narrow ridge of very dense growth extending
from the gully above mentioned, flanked by scattering and very
scattering growths along the southern edge of its offshore half and
on the northern edge of its inshore half by a fringe which gradually

65397 °—13——2

16 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

decreases shoreward from a scattermg growth to a depleted area
which extends to low-water mark. For the outermost mile of its
length the reef is hardly more than 200 yards in width and the dense
growth averages about 100 yards wide. Within a half mile of shore
the dense area expands and curves southward to connect with the
corresponding area of Pass des Huitres bed. The proportion of
market oysters to small ones is generally high throughout this dense
area and is relatively much lower on the less densely populated
bottoms.

As has been already stated, the scattering and very scattering
growths occur as fringes along the edges of the dense growth. The
depleted area expands on the shoreward part of the reef, extending
from the dense growth to the shore, as widely scattered clusters of
small oysters lying on the sand. These clusters lie in very shoal
water, and although the growth was not examined with care, it appa-
rently extends for some distance northward from the end of Cedar
Point.

The depth of water lying over Cedar Point Reef varies from 64
feet at its outer end to less than 2 feet at the inner edge of the area
of dense growth. The surrounding water is generally about 2 feet
deeper than over adjacent parts of the reef.

The following table shows in detail the results of the examinations
made on the bed:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF CEDAR Pornt REEF.

Oysters cauent per Estimated quantity oys-
| Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of Spee a ai
INGUneeemnanations ee Character of growth.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
| >

Feet. | Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
38 | Nov. 21,1910 OO) || IDS Sesccssocce 7.5 60. 0 44.5 473 706 1,179
Ale a aie CO -snoscsl) GOO |iscccs Oe ae nee 8.0 19. 4 19.4 192 310 502
Adal test Cssaseceel |) toODilsosos GOs seen 4.8 21.5 23.0 184 368 552
69 | Nov. 22, 1910 63000 a= <6 GOR pay yacrse 1.6 9.0 6.8 74 109 183
(UA Beeee Glkedesea||. GbWD! ecace (so RAR Recsceeeae 5.9 9.0 5% 104 155 259
GOD |is5cce CO sesseeseeahes 6.7 17.8 23.3 172 373 545
SOD oosee Owes =e eich 14.0 14.6 19.4 200 310 510
GOD soca GOs aasecseuaone 16.0 4.0 9.3 140 149 289
OO |oocce do.. 10.5 12.6 15.2 162 243 | 405
Chi) ocean Gone y.aeseet 6.0 | 7.3 18.0 93 288 381
S200) |Es2-- Choe seseneaaioe 4.0 27.3 24.6 219 394 613
Wo OD Ileonec Ow Sc teciscin 1.9 13.0 17.4 104 278 382

6.00 |.---- dose teeteeee 1.0 18.4 35.2 136 564 7
OL 2S bccco Gl anenomasocas 0 8.5 16.5 59 264 323
WWD Iocscc GOW Se cease ot 8.9 30.4 67 487 554
G00 lascae Oz saree Bacce .6 11.9 14.7 87 236 323
BED) Noses GO esac 2.41 17.6 44.8 140 717 857
OD |oces- CG Kapa si en Si | 0 20.6 5 332 337
Gn(0D) |eseas O's eS oes 0 | 7.1 11.4 50 182 232
fa00))|) Scattering s2ssnee a= 2.6 | 6.7 7.8 65 125 190
6300) 5-45. COs ake dese 1273 || 19.0 8.1 219 130 349
5}, 50 Weseee (0 (0 eemeeaod 3.2) | 7.9 8.4 78 134 212
‘ 9.00 | Very scattering -0 | -0 -0 0 0 0
82 | Nov. 22,1910 Sa0 | aeeee doze uiereeces 2.0 | 6.0 Dat 56 43 99
UDB ree CCE Spel lites Ol eae sO Ou Be sanwn ee ce 3.3 | 2.0 3.3 37 53 90
UP eee do.. OCD |osase CKO ee sey Hea 5.5 3.8 46 61 107
(P3 |Keoee do. GX008|Eeeee dot See He | 5.0 z.8 43 45 88
OSE |S do. 6350)|-Depleted-eeseee ee 12.2 | 8 A) 89 0 89

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. ITs

PASS DES HUITRES BED.

_ This isa bed of indetermimate boundaries, being continuous with
Cedar Point bed on the north and on the south with Pass des Huitres
Flats and the whole series of beds extending to Dauphin Island Bay
inside of Grants Pass and as far as Pass Drury in Mobile Bay. The
names applied by the oystermen to the beds in the vicinity of Grants
Pass designate general localities rather than defined beds, and for the
purposes of this report their boundaries have been arbitrarily selected
and are not definitely indicated on the chart. For this reason the
areas assigned to the several beds may differ somewhat from those
which would be regarded by others as proper, but as the excess or
deficiency of one bed is compensated for by decreasing or increasing
its neighbors, the total area of all of the beds, which is the important
fact, is not affected.. Pass des Huitres bed takes its name from a
channel having about 13 feet in its deepest part and shoaling to 4 feet,
or less at each end, which sweeps in a curve about 350 yards off the
end of Cedar Ios Its area and the conditions of its oyster growth
are shown in the following table:

OysteR GRowTH ON Pass pes Hurrres BED.

| Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area. | |
Under 3

Under 3 | Over 3 | Seed. | Market..| Total.
eres. Bushs Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
IDGINGE Sous SSSR ate eRe Ren N a 2 ener eee aaa ee 65 303 19,345 16,059 35, 404
Scatterin ges esmese ate eek te een epee EA 2 | a 92 6,390 2,760 9, 150
AOE Leelee Ae oe Saat a 2) nC ea Sh aces lgteernene ss 25, 735 18, 819 44,554
|

The dense growth les principally south and east of the channel,
though some of the bottom most prolific of market oysters Is m the
deepest water. Most of the marketable oysters are between 3 and 4
inches long, but in the deeper water the proportion of larger ones is
greater than elsewhere. There is a good ratio of single oysters and
small clusters on this bed and the shape is therefore better than on
the beds previously described. The quality at the time of exami-
nation was fair.

The scattering growth lies north of the channel on the edge of the
' barren bottom extending to Cedar Point. The oysters on this area
of hard sand and shell bottom are nearly all single or in small clusters.
There were, in December, 1910, practically no oysters over 4 inches
in length and a great abundance of individuals less than 3 inches
long.

18 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

The following table exhibits the data obtained from the examina-
tion made of this bed:

Deraits OF EXAMINATION OF Pass DES HuitRes BeEp.

| | Oysters meee per Estimated quantity oys-
: Depth square yard. ~ ters per acre.
ore eee aca of |Character of growth.
‘ Ta Sian || SW ULeL: |
3 | Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
| Feet. | Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
ZUGY | Des AL WOO) BGO) |} IDO. eno ak encase 1.8 31.8 6.4 235 104 339
446 |..... Ghoseses-|) EEN) | oos5- Clone i oan oaoeee 0 30.0 18.0 210 288 498
GLU Noises Gosee ho GOO |\eso=6 GOL Ae Res ees } 16.7 77.5 20.6 654 330 ee
A449 |_.... GOzeen eee 500 oasec OSes ees 0 71.3 23.2 499 372 87
496 | Jan. 1,1911 BOO \escac do.. 2.0 33.5 17/5 249 23 a
AQT |. -2 2: (0) 2200) be. . ClO: Saree oe 0 48.8 18.9 342 30 6
530 ee Soil |) ae) so 4. LOR ee 4.1 65.7 25.0 486 400 ase
Doles Mssoszcec| IBSC0less-4 GOwae sess a 4.5 30.9 21.8 248 350
448 | Dec. 29,1910 4.00 | Seattering.......--. 5.5 13.0 6.5 129 104 233
450 |..... do.--.---.) (00) Jessae GOs oe eee 2.5 Sieh 2 5.0 250 80 330
451 |..... COssceco5) 2500 lessee Closest Mee sit 3.5 40.1 7.5 305 120 425
632 | Jan. 5,191] HaQ0) \oecac GOn see Chee 22 4.8 19.2 4.0 168 64 232

PASS DES HUITRES FLATS.

This bed, contiguous with the preceding and the following, lies on
the shallow flats south of Pass des Huitres, where the depth at low
water ranges from 6 inches to 2 feet, excepting on the western side,
where a depth of 5 feet is found on the edge of the area of very scat-
tering growth.

The area, density of growth, and total content of oysters on the bed
as arbitrarily defined in this report are shown in the following table:

OysTER GROWTH ON Pass DES Hurrres Fuats.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. F “eh
Under 3 | Over3
SHOR GantleamORbS Seed. | Market. | Total.

| Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Denses 5 esas se eee) ee eee ees | 122 296 304 36, 112 37, 088 73, 200
SCattenin essere eee tense eam ijen Neier tee | 41 131 139 5,371 5, 699 11,070
IWeryzSCauteLinie wan epee nim em Wate een so | 39 26 46 1,014 1, 794 2, 808

To tes SAN ee aya eee A | 202 Je. io seereo 42,497 | 44,581 87, 078

The dense growth les in the part of the bed toward Mobile Bay,
where it commences as a sharply defined ridge rising abruptly from a
depth of about 3 feet over the mud to about 1 foot near the edge of the
oysters. The eastern part of the dense area is composed of a mass
of shells, but in the western part there are some sandy areas covering
a shelly substratum.

The scattering growth merges with the western edge of the dense
area where the water begins to deepen, and this in turn passes grad-
ually to an area of very scattering oysters lying on soft mud in which

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 19

are many buried shells. The majority of the oysters on this part of
the bed are large, over 4 inches in length, while elsewhere, particu-
larly on the dense growth, there are saampanneteele few seh oysters,
and most of the smaller ones, both market oysters and culls, are in
large closely compacted shneters.

The data gathered by the several examinations on this bed are as
follows:

DetTarts oF EXAMINATION OF Pass pES HurTrRes FuatTs.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of of {Character of
Sats Pe growth.
No. examination. satis -
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush Bush. Bush

442 | Dec. 29,1910 3.00 | Dense....-..-.---- 6.3 35.8 18.7 295 299 594
443 |...-- dow 3.00 |.--.-- GOs eee eee 2.5 45.4 13.7 346 219 565.
444 |___._. do 3400) |se55- GOB ee eee as 10.0 45. 4 17.1 388 274 662
AOD eaters COecoesoe HD essen GORA au as al 10.0 10.0 89 160 249
489 | Jan. 41,1911 1.80 |..-.-- dove e tees 3.5 55. 5 42.0 414 67 1, 086
490 |.---. dove eere 220 eee GOs Nee 8 .0 8.0 6.0 56 96 152
AOI aes do 250i eee Co Ree eee Tee) 34.2 23.2 290 372 662
492 |.-... do 1.40 |....- Os ee 3.6 30.5 11.4 239 182 421
AGS UR aaa = GOoMeee eae: MM Ie ces a GORE See aks 0 67.5 38.0 473 604 1,077
AGA eu do + 280052 2%: (OLD) anes Nene .0 29.0 11.5 203 183
AQ eee do 2.40 |...-- COPA Ste ae ater 5.0 61.7 17.8 467 284 751
488 |... - do.. .| 2.80 | Scattering.......-.- .6 18.1 8.7 131 139 270
453 | Dec. 29, 1911 6.00 | Very scattering... . 0) 3.6 2.9 26 46 72.

DUTCH GULLY.

Dutch Gully bed lies in and about an area of slightly deeper water
between Pass des Huitres Flats on the north and Big Gully and
Dutch Island beds on the south. The depth of the water ranges
-from about 6 inches to 3 or 4 feet, the latter depth lying on the area
of scattermg growth. Although this bed, like the others in the
vicinity, is without well defined boundaries, it is assumed in this
report to have approximately the following area, density of growth,
and oyster content:

OyYsTER GROWTH ON DutcH GULLY BED.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3
Ghee itches! Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

TVCTISe MMM IN aire mC ch Ie) SO 39 206 253| 8,034] 9,867| 17,902
RMI ae ca cae DN I 19 222 101| 4,218] 1919 6, 137
CVn ices Sy MULEN ape AT A Bel mena aa Wee i 12,252 | 11,786| 24,038

The dense growth, which lies principally in a depth of less than 24
feet, occupies the central part of the bed. The clusters generally
are small with a considerable proportion of single oysters. The

20 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

market oysters are of medium size, most of them being between 3 and
4 inches long with a few of greater length. The young growth is
prolific. The areas of scattering growth are two, lying respectively
to the east and west of the dense growth in slightly deeper water.
In these areas the oysters are generally in clusters, lying on a hard
bottom. The young growth is slightly more abundant than on the
denser portions of the bed.

The following table expresses the details of the several examinations
made on the bed:

DeraIts oF EXAMINATION OF DuTcH GULLY.

| Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

; Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Andie Date of Z of |Character of growth.
o. | examination. | oto, ;

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. : Bush. | Bush. | Bush.

475 | Dec. 31,1910 Ia} |) IDGMSS 5 ee Sscss5c5- 2.3 31.3 15.3 235 245 480
416 |-- = - doOns2eee= IZ Jessss CW, scasccgcsbus 1.3 23.3 16.8 172 269 441
ATT |....- (Choe aoe Bo'3 Noa COS amen as Same 8 22.2 15.4 211 246 457
ASO; See GOs 45585 4.3 | Scattering......-.-- 2.3 33.1 8.5 248 136 384
BSTC Maree Ose eee UW |eoséc CO Sea RRA Anema 9.6 18.3 4.2 196 67 263

WEST SIDE OF DUTCH ISLAND.

Dutch Island is a small shell bank called Gull Island on the Coast
Survey charts. The oyster bed designated by the name used above
extends from the western edge of the island to barren bottom, between
Dutch Guily and Peter Billy’s Gully.

The following table exhibits in summary the data relating to this
bed:

OysTER GROWTH ON West Sipe or Dutcu ISLAND.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over 3

Saaice. || des. Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Penge: ele ele UMA EN tate amyl oes 42 322 279| 13,524 | 11,718 25, 242
Scattering $): Ce noe oes oN he ll 298 99 6, 258 2,079 8,337
Depleted. Ses ia ee ea ea 24 165 13 3, 960 312 4,272

Totals Jc ces 75 ead laa oh Remini: 10 Inet eee clon Gia oe 23,742 | 14,109 37, 851

Close to Dutch Island there is an area of hard shelly bottom with
a growth of densely clustered irregular-shaped small oysters, prac-
tically devoid of market stock. Over most of this area the water is
very shallow, reaching a maximum of 2 feet. To the westward of
this is an area of dense growth, most of which lies in water from 2 to
4 feet deep, with a maximum of about 5 feet at its western edge. On
this part of the bed there are few oysters over 4 inches long, most of

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 21

the so-called market stock being between 3 and 4 inches in length
and growing in heavy clusters. The scattering growth lies in a zone
between the dense growth and the soft muddy bottom of Mississippi
Sound in an average depth of water of about 5 feet. Practically
none of the oysters of marketable size are over 4 inches long. On
both this area and on the bottom covered with dense growth young
oysters are abundant, varying from 180 to 546 bushels per acre, with
an average density of over 300 bushels per acre.

The following data state the results of the examinations made on

this bed:

Detaits oF EXAMINATION OF DutTcH ISLAND.

| Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle | Date of by ee
isis, | oxnmntaitem. Oe Character of growth.

; Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
436 | Dec. 29,1910 Av 50 ne Denseenseeaes eee 4.4 53.8 17.4 408 228 636
CBW lecood CU eeseneas 4.00 |...-. COW EHS ASeEeaas = 68) 25.5 12.5 182 200 382
438 |....- C)saededs S500) jboase Gone esoae ces 5.6 72.5 29.4 546 470 1,016
473 | Dec. 31,1910 007 |22ee= CO A 3.6 28.4 16.9 224 270 494
474 |..... Gh) Jo gnane S500 |easec GOmeeR RS. oo cse 2.5 33.4 14.2 252 227 479
433 | Dec. 29,1910 5500)) scattering) 5-2--2- | 6.2 44.5 5.6 355 88 | 443
EB) lessee COseccees HOO) esos (0 Kayes ees Sem rae | 9.4 25.0 6.8 241 109 350
472 | Dec. 31,1910 SsOOnleDepletedees sere.) 4.2 19.4 .§ 165 13 178

|
BIG GULLY.

This bed, which it is understood is also known as Grants Pass
Gully, lies between the dolphin, or cluster of piles marking the eastern
entrance to Grants Pass, and Dutch and Grant Islands. The depth
of water varies from 9 or 10 feet close to the dolphin to less than 1
foot near the island.

The area of density of growth and total content of small and
marketable oysters are shown in the following table:

OysTER GROWTH ON Bic GULLY Bep.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3 | ee ;
see raed lonoas Seed. | aioe Totab.

|

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

HD CTA SCR AEP ele Wate gete) CBO a sey he 44 284 310] 12,496] 13,640 26, 136
Seat tenin a semen Saute ie alah ian 10 277 80 2,770 800 3,570
Depleted eM nem AD ie ene il 0 0 0 0 0

Ppa aes) ae Pe aa a Pt een | G5 | ea ae ee eee tere 15,266 | 14,440] 29,706

In the deeper water close to the dolphin and for a distance of 200
or 300 yards west and northwest in the area indicated as ‘‘depleted”’
on the chart, there are practically no oysters, either large or small,
the bottom being composed in large part of soft mud with buried

22 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

shells. The area of scattering growth lies south and west of this
in a depth of water between 1 and 5 feet. Although this part of the
bed bears but about one-fourth as many market oysters per acre
as are found on the dense area, there are practically as many small
ones. The bottom bearing the dense growth of market oysters
lies between that just described and Dutch and Grant Islands, its
- western limit being defined by the very shallow water extending from
Dutch toward Grant Pass. The depth of the water ranges from
about 1 to 5 feet and the market oysters vary in quantity from 160
to upward of 600 bushels per acre. The densest growth occurs
north of Grant Island, and on the steps lying between that poimt and
Gull Island there is a large proportion of single oysters, a considerable
number of them being large.

The foregoing description is based in part on the data shown in the
following table:

Derarts or EXAMINATION OF Bia GULLY (GRANTS Pass GULLY).

ig | Oysters caueni per Estimated quantity oys-
| Depth square yard. ters per acre,
Angle Date of | an
No. | examination. | \ ator. Character of growth: 7
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.) Seed. | Market. | Tetal.
| | Leet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
478 | Dec. 31,1910 | 5.0 30.0 19.4 214 311 525
480 |..... Oa | 5.0 27.4 10.0 213 160 373
482 | seeus doneeer er 2.0 50.0 38.0 357 604 961
484 |..... donee ses | 1.6 46.0 10.4 351 166 | 517
483 |..... doe: otal? | 38.4 5.0 277 80 357
B79; ee domes: ae fsb .0 0 0 0
)

PETER BILLYS GULLY.

This lies opposite Big Gully and on the west side of the shallow
water lying south of Dutch Island. It includes the oysters lying
between the bed on the west side of Dutch Island and Grants Pass
bed and is continuous with both. Its area, character of oyster
growth, and contents are shown in the following table:

OysteR GRowTH IN Perer Bittys GULLY.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area. |
Under 3) Over 3

aanes, | aaalras Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Dense. .-...- wecweatodaores boss soeesseeasacess | 39 324 | 245 12, 636 9,555 22,191
Mery, Scattenin eens is eee Ge eee as 14 | 40 38 560 532 | 1,092
‘Depleted ames ao cee = we eRe ce ie eae cee 28 | 0 6 0 168 168

To tallies Sensis es aes Sa iteretoe eee, SIN sey aen Rarer lieiticce occ 13, 196 10,255 | ~ 23,451

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 23

The eastern part of this bed is a small area of very scattering
growth lying north of a long shell bank west of Grants Island. It lies
in the very shoal water which stretches north to Gull Island, on a
deposit of an inch or two of soft mud on a substratum of hard sand
and shells. The oysters are small and poor. West of this lies the
dense growth covering an area of about 39 acres in a depth of water
varying from 1 to 5 feet. This bottom consists of densely com-
pacted sand and shells, with oysters of the raccoon type in clusters.
On the western border of this growth there is a depleted area on which
there are few oysters of any size. The bottom changes gradually
from hard sand and shell close to the dense area to soft mud with
buried shells on the western border of the bed.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF PETER BILLyS GULLY.

Oysters caught per | Estimated quantity oys-
Depth | square yard. ters per acre.

oo Date of Character of growth.|

examination.

water.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | otal.

Feet. Bush. | Bush. Bush.
428 | Dec. 29,1910 5.00 | Dense........ Rene 5.6 38.7 15.6 310 250 560
431 | anaes Goss. 25-5 4.50 |_...- COeaeneosbasr= 4.4 76.1 15.5 564 248 812
432 |....- dosss =." AXOOM Se Gon eee ere oe 4.0 58. 0 26. 5 434 424 858
468 | Dec. 31,1910 3.00 |..--- GOs Faas eae 1.2 30. 4 11.2 221 179 400
470 |....- dose se: OO) esses GOW as SSG -0 21.9 9.7 153 155 308
ATE lis dows ose: 3100) ees GOs eee UREN US 7 35.8 13.3 263 213 476
469 |....- donee zee: 1.50 | Very scattering. -.. -0 5.7 2.4 40 38 78
430 | Dec. 29,1910 5.50 | Depleted.......... -0 0 ad 0 11 tl
434 |... CG Kayes GOO E| Saerns COR nee .0 -0 -0 0 0 0

GRANTS PASS.

Grants Pass is a dredged channel cut through the oyster beds
which extend as a practically unbroken reef from Cedar Point to
Little Dauphin Island and separate Mobile Bay from Mississippi
Sound. The channel itself carries a minimum depth of about 11
feet, but at the Mobile Bay end the water shoals to about 84 feet,
and opposite the western or Mississippi Sound end to about 64 feet
at low water. There is a row of 7 dolphins or clusters of piles for
25 to 60 yards north of the thread of the channel. The oyster bed
designated by the name of this pass is here arbitrarily assumed to lie
not only in the deep water of the channel, but to extend as a strip
about 200 to 250 yards wide on each side of the row of piles above
described, with the exception of the cluster at the Mobile Bay end,
which is assumed to lie in Big Gully bed. This bed was extensively
worked by tongers during the period of the survey and with Pass
aux Herons, which adjoins it to the south, produced the bulk of the
oysters taken by tonging in the winter of 1910-11.

The extent and productiveness of this bed are shown on the table
following.

24 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

OysteR GROWTH IN GRANTS Pass.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. A —— SS
Under 3 | Over 3

caging. || fae: Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

WD ONSCE 2 aN eR ee omen Senne ao 64 275 359 17,600 22,976 40,576
Scatterinee awa eas 2 AU SSeS eee eee 21 159 112 3,339 2,352 5, 691
Depletedsseseseee ese see ye See Seep he a nee 42 70 22 2,940 924 3, 864

ANON Gees Os One ann omA mena ems ocia DOT il oo. 2s ayaa lepers stares 23,879 26, 252 50,131

About one-half of the area included within this bed is covered by
a dense growth of market oysters, the eastern half being especially
productive. The oysters are larger than most of those produced in
this region and of better shape. There are many in the channel,
especially south and east of Grants Island, but on account of the
deep water, which reaches a maximum of 19 feet, and the strong
currents the work is arduous at most times, and most of the tonging
is done in depths of from 3 to 5 or 6 feet on the south side of the
eastern half of the channel. No boats were observed at work on
the north side of the row of dolphins.

The scattering growth on this bed lies in two patches—one of about
13 acres surrounding Grants Island and the other of about half the
size between the easternmost two channel marks and continuous with
the similar growth on Big Gully bed. The oysters in the latter area are
somewhat larger and better than those surrounding Grants Island.
The depleted bottom lies at the western end of the bed, between the
dense growth and the barren bottom. Both the young and the mar-
ket oysters here he in patches of varying productiveness.

The following table shows the character of this bed at the several
places at which detailed examinations were made:

Deraits or EXAMINATION OF GRANTS Pass.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity of
wa Depth square yard. oysters per acre.
Station Date of : 2
iSO: aeuavaa ONO. oe Character of growth ;
ra Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. . Bush. Bush. | Bush.

180 | Nov. 24,1910 (a00n Dense aeese se sanee 6.7 31.1 25. 6 265 410 675
299 | Dec. 8,1910 ACS On\eeeee Clo eae snes soe 14.5 14.5 17.0 203 72 475
425 | Dec. 29,1910 &00 |eecoe doa ssi ees 7.5 23.8 17.5 219 280 499
426. |... -- Goss AS50u\eeeee GORE Sere Ee 10.6 31.8 20. 6 297 330 627
ADT Sse CL Os fee sos ZOO oassc GO ski aaae ee 0 46.5 16.5 326 264 590
525) | Janko LOUle Ss mie OO Me sae Coss wie cst 10.8 30. 0 23.3 281 373 | 654
520 eee COLE yaaa 16500) |} s5e3 CG Kae et et 5.0 25. 0 45. 0 210 720 | 930
PS Woe so. GO ae eae IE) | 5856 Olt wee See acoe 10.0 51.0 20. 0 427 320 | 747
20h eens Os seaeRe IO), || eee COs: oe eee 2.5 32.5 16. 6 245 265 | 510
178 | Nov. 24,1910 6.25 | Scattering. ........ ta}, 92 13.2 Wall 129 123 | 252
NY) |oeooe CORA tere Ob G0) | Sos oa CG NO Yeen es ass W761 5.5 Toi 158 114 | 272
481 | Dec. 31,1910 PE) || ceecs COE AE siey cme 17. 4 21.2 5.5 271 88 | 359
527, | Jan. S191 |} 1Si00N Re = (0 (ee ee hy 5.4 5.9 Tend 79 123 202
300 | Dec. 8,1910 4.50] Depleted.-.......-- 13.3 6.1 .0 136 07 136
0 ecese donieeees 810) | osase ose ene a! 0 0 ile} 0 21 21
422 | Dec. 29,1910 50) goose GOS see nee 3:3 0 0 23 0 23
AS eeeee CMnasosoc 5 0) |. soo Coster tea seiee 2.0 3.3 5.3 37 85 | 122
424) 10. dow ee 34 (00) losscc dotesite: 17.5 4.2 .4 152 6 | 158

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. nS

PASS AUX HERONS.

This bed is continuous with the preceding and the following, without
any definite demarcation of its boundaries. It surrounds a hole or
blind pass from which it takes its name, in which there is a maximum
depth of water of about 18 feet. The depth rapidly decreases, the
water becoming quite shoal on each side and at the western end,
although a draft of 5 or 6 feet can be carried on to the eastern end at
low water. :

This is in every respect the most important and prolific of the beds
examined, and with the exception of Sand Reef, which has little or no
present economic importance, it is, as arbitrarily defined here, the
largest.

The following table summarizes the data relating to its extent,
character of oyster growth, and content of oysters:

OysTER GROWTH IN Pass aux HERONS.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area. | | |
| Under 3} Over3 |

| inches. inches. |

Seed. | Market. | Total.

Acres. | eciea | Bushels. “shel Bushels. | Bushels.
233 | 520 |

IDSs ae Seatac Heo Re Ay ee StU aee ay SUED 211 | | 163 | 109,720 158, 883

SCALCOLIN Sass yan ener: hander elm Oe ee in 14 | 32 “94 | ” 448 1,316 1,764

WO SOMAISHINGS <0 oes ol eg ssueee ese ddobobous | 43 | 78 53 3,354 | 2,279 5, 633

Mepletedis s/s ee 3 SaaS aaa ira) | 24 | 15 | 4) 360 | 96 456
PRO Lal eters seetens sn ee genase 292

eeremenee ecee oe | 53,325 | 113,411 | 166,736

A dense growth having an average content of 520 bushels of market
oysters per acre covers nearly 75 per cent of the entire area assumed
for this bed, and in one place there are 1,170 bushels of market
oysters and 1,494 bushels of all sizes per acre. The densest part of
the bed lies between the deep water of the pass and Grants Pass,
principally south and southeast of Grants Island. There is also a
very dense area in a peninsula-like projection into Mobile Bay, about
east of Grants Island and surrounded on the northeast and west by
soft mud. During the winter of 1910-11 there were many tongers
operating on these areas of very dense growth, and the best oysters
produced in large quantities came from them. A larger proportion
of oysters over 4 inches long was found here than at any other place
examined in this vicinity. The areas of scattering growth occur in
small patches of 9 and 4 acres, respectively, at the eastern or western
limits of the bed. In the larger area the oysters are similar to those on
the dense growth, with a considerable proportion of large ones of fair
shape and quality.

There are three areas of very scattering growth, one at the eastern
edge of the peninsula above referred to, another along the western

26

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

edge of the dense area and the third separated from the preceding
by a narrow belt of depleted bottom and continuous with the scat-
tering growth at the western limit of the bed, the two constituting
practically a small detached bed.

Deraits oF EXAMINATION OF Pass AUX HERONS.

Oysters caught per | Estimated quantity oys-

square yard.

Angle Date of pee : ;

itt, | Gomera |Character of growth.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.
165 | Nov. 23,1910 Denise mae eeraaieak 0.0 1.0 6.0
d 4.4 7.0 20.0:
11.1 10.0 20.7
8.9 20.3 32.2
8.1 22.5 30.0
ted, 38.3 46.7
ong 33.2 36. 4
14.0 22.9 10.5
41.8 61.3 15.3
11.8 24.1 39.6
4.2 32.3 38. 4
16.6 21, 7 28.3
11.9 40.0 52.3
Bit 26.3 36.3
11.9 34.4 73.3
Tile al 41.8 38.6
15.2 36.2 19.0
3.9 49.5 58.9
8.0 50.8 | 56.7
2.9 28.6 38.8
nt 23.1 60. 0
6.2 20.3 25.9
2.8 34.8 23.8
8.9 18.1 58.9
2.4 39.5 36.7
.0 18.8 20.8
3.0 18.2 38.5
1.5 18.5 50.8
1.9 19.4 1B} &5
otf 26.9 31.7
1.4 44.2 14.3
20 42.5 64.6
Sif 27.5 40.0
5.9 31.1 37.8
8.3 28.8 54.6
0 6.7 4.2
ot 12.5 20.5
5.C 18.0 21.0
a1) 24.5 36.5
7.1 17.5 12.9
6.4 15.1 28. 4
21.7 56. 2 29.6
520 | Jan. 2,1911 | 18.00 |.---.. COS eee Saaaes 0 14.7 PPX 7
522) | Jan.= 5 191d) | 18500) 2-2-2 CC Ko ee Reape 9.2 16.6 3.0
524 |...-. COs sogassa|| 1700 esac OU eee 5.8 41.6 34.0
173 | Nov. 23,1910 | 10.00 }.-.--- dolaso ee 4.5 15.6 331167)
Ae ee COseesccel 10,00 Jessen Cor uestes .0 B83 12.2
NA) eso Ge eeoss Scattering........- ie 0.6 4.5
WAV eae Case seus) CoW0 Isoode Oza See eee .0 1.5 3.0
191 | Nov. 24,1910} 9.50 }--..- ores eae: 2a 3.1 8.9
310 | Dec. 8,1910 pitt) lsauos (Clos Se RGH eae BAe ae 8.5 wil
192 | Nov. 24,1910 .50 | Very scattering... . 1.6 -0 2.4
304 | Dec. 8, 1910 3) |bosae GO ie meee 6.5 4.0 6.5
306 |..... CO ar ooallme Me: laeeoe GOs a See eee 2.0 155} 2.5
AO NosecsCOsedaccall Sy&O lbgose GO ese as ils 5 3.0 2.5
308 |...-. COsaanoaq rene! |E Sear Gos ssa os 10.9 6.4 2.7
QB} looses Clee agai musiee (0) | eames GOs meeissemeruee 26.4 10.0 3.6
PRO) | IDXeeS | UNO) PA oe ee GORE yas SI 4.7 -0 3.2
302 | Dec. 8, 1910 Deplevedsaaeaaasee 2.2 -0 -0
COR looser Cl oastcas (0) eee ones oo aan ORE 2.0 2.5 1.0
Ol Seen GO seal ANQOR ae Gowea ieee -0 -0 0
S12 ee Coe oecesh eon) (genes Cope ee aa: 4.5 1.8 a0
Bi Pe eacc (5 CO ee Sean ibs ee tec (0) feel (CO Sa oem ne al) 0 -0
GHG) Nao gee ClO) cle wea OTe Ge COE oe Ee Vad 0 0 -0

a Exposed reef; living oysters large and small.

ters per acre.

Seed. | Market. | Total.
Bush Bush. Bush.

7 96 103
80 320 400
148 333 481
203 516 719
214 480 694
319 746 1 065
269 583 852
258 168 426
722 245 967
251 634 885
256 615 871
268 453 721
364 837 1, 201
199 580 779
324 1,170 1,494
370 618 988
360 304 664
374 942 1,316
412 908 | 1,320
220 620 840
167 960 L127
186 414 600
263 381 644
189 -954 1,143
294 588 882
132 333 465
148 616 764
140 812 952
149 216 365
193 506 699
320 229 549
315 1,030 1,345
197 640 837
259 604 863
260 874 1, 134
47 67 114
92 328 420
161 336 497
175 584 759
172 206 378
151 454 605
545 473 1,018
103 363 466
180 48 228
332 544 876
141 500 641
23 195 218
16 72 88
10 48 58
36 142 178
64 114 178
11 38 49
70 104 174
25 40 65
32 40 72
121 43 164
255 58 313
33 51 84
15 0 15
32 16 48
0 0 0
44 8 52
0 6 0

0 0 0

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. Dail

REDFISH GULLY.

Redfish gully is a strip of slightly deeper water lying between the
shoals south of Pass aux Herons and the bar, bare at extreme low
tide in winter, extending for about 800 yards northwest from the tip of
Little Dauphin Island. The shallowest part of this gully has a depth of
about 3 feet at low water, the average is about 6 inches deeper and near
the western end is a hole in which there isamaximum of 7 feet or more.
‘The oyster bed designated by this name lies in and about the gully.

The following table shows the extent, character of oyster growth,
and estimated content of this bed:

OystER GROWTH IN RepFisH GULLY.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.
Character of oyster growth. | Area. aa 6 |
i Jnder 3 ver 3 . |
A | Gavan. || SaOnee. Seed Market. | Total.
| Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
TOYS spe aR eye eee UM es oO | 209 231 313 | 48,279 | 65,417 | 113, 696
SCALTERIM Bete teyey meme nel reteset ec anes | 11 26 80 286 880 | 1, 166
Total Sk Mos eee p Naes Nick Oeste Wei oooh eeu ar eae nae 48, 565 207 114, 862

Practically allof this bed consists of dense growth, there being but one
patch of about 11 acres of scattering oysters near the northeast edge,
_ where there is a considerable proportion of large oysters of good shape.

On the dense growth market oysters are least abundant in and
about the deeper water in the southwestern part of the bed. The
proportion of oysters over 4 inches in length is greatest in the eastern
part of the bed, adjoining Mobile Bay, and it was there that most of
the boats were observed working on the bed, although there were
three or four schooners operating in the deep hole.

Derarts oF EXAMINATION OF REDFISH GULLY.

Oysters caught per

Depth square yard.
Date of ‘
Cees f |Character of growth.
examination. | _.° OS
water
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.
|
[eae vi
Feet.
Nov. 23, 1910 (A000) || RDenSessee esses. 583 20.0 30.7
d SOO Fee GOR aegis 13.8 31.4 38.1
45500222 Oe aiken een 8.1 10.7 27.0
6.00 |... -- GOs ene 12.8 26.6 24.4
6.00 |... -- go eatin Nee paapate s 11.1 18.3 18%33
8.00 |...-- (Oe Seaens Seen (eo) 7.3 14.7
TOON ace Oey Hee ee yee 13.3 14.5 10.7
SHAON A aes GOs sos seeise .0 21.0 21.9
S90 Eee CLO s a 11.5 11.5 11.0
00 | 4.0 19.5 10.5
K 4.4 30.0 20. 0
is 2.2 28.8 10.0
Dec. 9, 1910 : 5.8 42.0 23.6
eee Gy soba 1 GAD eas CWssesaseascasall | eke} 26.2 26.9
Pe 3 (ORES GEIE QHOOT ay Ose ec Paes: 13.1 51.3 28.8
Bess dora. PEO oo ss-0Wscesocasasecs 9.6 22.9 5.4
Brie donee QUOOH| teen Onaers ee orci 2.1 41.7 26.3
Nov. ee 1910 8. 00 | Seattering........- 2.0 5.3 3.3
pee aGoueee4 GEC ON Gee A Ws pate saese ores .0 .0 6.7

| Estimated quantity oys-

}

ters per acre.

Seed. | Market. | Total.
Bush. Bush. Bush.

177 492 669
317 610 | 927
132 432 | 564
276 391 667
206 213 419
102 235 337
195 171 366
147 350 497
161 176 337
165 168 333
241 320 561
217 160 377
335 378 713
270 430 700
451 461 912
228 864 1,092
307 470 777
51 53 104

0 107 107

28 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

BLACK LUMPS.

This bed lies west of Redfish Gully and south of the western part
of Pass aux Herons and is continuous with both. The name as used
by the oystermen appears to be of very indefinite application and is
probably more restricted than as employed in this report. Some of
the oysters in the part immediately adjoinmg Pass aux Herons are
excellent, but in most places they are inferior. Drills were found in
abundance at places on this bed and a great many small spat had
been killed by them.

The area, conditions of oyster growth, and total contents of seed
and marketable oysters are shown in the following table:

OysteR GrowTH on Buack Lumps.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

| Under 3 | Over3 | Seed. | Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Seat benim go ey Gans. epee Mee Fate dine sa catia ate 13 140 139 1,820 1, 807 3, 627
Meryisca tterin gia cee: <2 Ree eee eae 49 136 49 6, 664 2,401 9, 065
Depleted =e Setea a eae nar elena 77 14 3 1,078 231 1,309

Motale swat ses eGs Boe eras ae 1B) eoShasdodd| eaesabeoac 9, 562 4, 439 14, 001

The scattering growth occurs as a small area adjoming the south-
west corner of Redfish Gully bed, and south of it is a small patch of
very scattering growth. A larger area of the latter is found at the
northeast corner of the bed, in the angle between Pass aux Herons
and Redfish Gully beds. The depleted bottom, which comprises
the major part of the bed, lies in the western and southern part.

The detailed data of the examination are as follows:

Depraits oF EXAMINATION OF Biack Lumps.

| Oysters eauent per Estimated quantity of
Depth square yard. oysters per acre.
Angle Date of es %
Na, | Gxammaerfion, 3 ety Character of growth.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet Bush Bush. | Bush
325 | Dee. 8, 1910 4.40 | Scattering. ....._.. 4.4 15.6 8.7 140 139 279
886 | Dec. 16, 1910 3.40 } Very scattering... 352 i 1.8 61 29 90
334 | Dec. 9, 1910 BOON oescc Clo) Soe ceeeone 27.5 24.0 8.0 351 128 479
SE loaoec do : BHO" oeace Clos aeatoo SEE 8.2 1.8 1.8 70 29 99
383) |losaae COs sence P94) |\oone Oe eS nese 20.0 13.6 1.9 235 30 265
519 | Jan. 2,1911 125003 pee GO Sse 1.4 7.2 2.8 60 45 105
521 | Jan. 5,1911 14.00 |-.--- (GKGye 2 eal wee Nel 1.5 4.2 2.1 40 34 74
317 | Dec. 8&, 1910 4.90) Depleted... .-_ 222. - 2.5 0 .0 18 0 18
BIB locos dont) 3 DON e LOE te ea -0 0) -0 0 0 0
BI) |ocece dowes.c¢ BHU) || Aobe Ones Sahu! .0 0 .0 0 0 0
320) | pene do.. a5 (00) || eeee OSE eae pera Toll -0 1.3 50 21 71
335 | Dec. 9, 1910 . LOM eye tein Gores are ail .0 0 5 0 5
3308 |Eeeee On ds teccel| ab Chl) | aeeoe dove ee So gR rs -0 .0 0 0 0 0
316 | Dec. 8, 1910 22 80R Eee OR aes 3.3 2.1 -0 38 0 38
239 | Dec. 7, 1910 4. SOB. 255 Clon Sse aanab aoe -0 -0 0 0 0 0

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 29

WEST SIDE OF LITTLE DAUPHIN ISLAND.

This is an economically unimportant bed lying between the Turtle
‘Hole, Mussel Gully, and Redfish Gully. <A large part of it lies on
bottom which is exposed during low winter tides. The extent and
density of oyster growth are as follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON West Sipe oF Littte Daupnin ISLAND.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

| Under 3 | Over3 : | eee
| aE, aaehoa! Seed. eee Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. Bish

WMeryaSCaubenin Saree serens ae nen seree eee 9 58 35 522 315 837
IDG OCC ose o ee. seek ak de seaeegeareacoscsnees 156 9 4 1, 404 624 2, 028
FT {a leap ON: wis ind Bice phe TCS ee | Seas tae 1, 926 939 2, 865

There is an insignificant patch of very scattering growth adjoining
a small slrell island northeast of Turtle Hole, and the rest of the bed
is depleted. The proportion of dead oysters is very large in all parts
of the bed, and drills, which appear to be the principal cause of the
mortality, are abundant. The following examinations were made:

DeTAiIts oF EXAMINATION OF WEST SIDE oF LitrLe DaAaupHIN ISLAND.

Oysters cought per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ters per acre.
eee cS of |Character of growth.

TRUDE. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. | Bush. Bush.
392 | Dec. 16,1910 1.00 | Very scattering.... 0.8 7.5 2.2 58 35 93
326 | Dec. 8, 1910 SaSOF PD epletedmeeseeaene a) -0 a0) 0 0 0
BVA \leoone COs -scecs 9230) \aeeee GOs Hoe es Secd 4.1 -0 ou 29 11 40
BY3) Ieeoak doses eee 25600 eases GOSS a Nese 3.7 .0 -0 26 0 26
B20) (eence CMscoasece|] SIO osece GOs eRe seine -0 .0 -0 0 0 0
SRO) |lescoe COsccscayel|') 4EAD bakes Goss ee -0 -0 20) 0 0 0
385 | Dec. 16, 1910 S240) leone GOsee aasase se -0 -0 0 0 0 0
Biel \lgeeac COscoosoce| P80 4lesede OOpeseameceatee 0 0 -0 0 0 0
Sit3) lisooce do... 2520 eee One sate nee 5B ah 183 7 21 28
S89) eae dOsesseeee 1520) |e coee COs eater ae -0 pil as 15 5 20

|

MUSSEL GULLY.

Mussel Gully lies northwest of Little Dauphin Island, running north-
east from Turtle Hole and ending blindly in a sand flat. The beds
which bear its name, as considered in this report, lie between the
gully and the island. They are of no importance and are badly
infested with drills.

The following tables furnish all necessary information:

OysTtER GROWTH IN MUSSEL GULLY.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over 3 E
ages. || hivdaes, Seed. Tee Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Menyascatterine #2202 sent ies Soe eke ae 11 123 27 1, 353 297 1, 650
IDOL as ceed assets wen aan ea 32 51 0 1, 632 0 1, 632

DO tare eects eee ese oee eae siete ZB} | Kasabodcaslbaeceacsos 2, 985 297 3, 282

30

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

DetTarts oF EXAMINATION OF MusSEL GULLY.

| Oysters cause per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of Py
eae nie F of Character of growth <
No. examination. water

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Freeé. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
393 |- Dec. 16,1910 1.00 | Very scattering. -.. 6.1 11.4 1.7 123 27 150
BY) loseec Oona bemee 1.00 | Depleted.....-...- 0) 7.3 .0 51 0 51

SAND REEF.

This bed lies in Mobile Bay, stretching from Redfish Gully to Pass
Drury for a distance of about 24 miles along the outside of Little
Dauphin Island. It has an average width of about one-third mile
from above low-water mark to a depth of about 10 feet. It is the
largest bed falling within the limits of this report, but at the time
of examination it was of comparatively little economic value, and at
no time were boats observed at work on it. Its extent, the distri-
bution of oyster growth, and content of oysters are shown in the
following table:

OYSTER GROWTH ON SAND REEF.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.
Character of oyster growth. Area. a es 3 |
nder ver 4

Facancen | STS. Seed. Market. | Total.
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
1 DS) ost epee Ca Alene We ahs MEI Es oes Btn 220 10 318 23, 760 69, 960 , 120
Seat tering ys er ces Pea oe aes eee fh 185 61 98 11, 285 18, 130 29,415
WGI SCRA BINA a Sagoo see sosoasessdeseques 21 38 40 798 840 1,638
Deple tease sy oes ae aes te eee eer 229 7 4 1, 603 916 2,519
AOA Shanes es sae RL ae ates a atst | RUN SB AR ck ces 37,446 | 89,846 | 127,292

The dense growth covers a nearly continuous strip running the
entire length of the bed. The oysters occur in rather large clusters
and are of medium size, with comparatively few over 4 inches long,
and inferior in shape and quality. The scattermg growth lies prin-
cipally inshore of the upper or northeast half of the dense area, extend-
ing well up to or above low-water mark. The oysters lie in clusters
and are apparently tossed about by the waves and often more or less
submerged in the sand. The very scattering growth fringes the off-
shore edge of the upper third of the dense area. The depleted bottom,
which is the most extensive of the four classes of oyster growth repre-
sented, lies mainly in a large body in the half of the bed close to the
mouth of the bay. The oysters on this bed probably rarely, if ever,
become fit for market, and are of value as seed only, and even for
such purposes they should be used with caution, owing to the danger
of transplanting the drills which abound.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 31

The following examinations were made:

Derars or EXAMINATION OF SAND REEF.

Oysters caught per, | Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of
Gi exATRinAtion® 2 hs s Character of growth.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
127 | Nov. 23,1910 4.00 | Dense..........-..- 5.9 3.3 11.1 64 178 242
128 |..... OK eee 450 eae LOR eye ee .0 3.7 17.8 21 285 306
1310 ees Goes. 50D loose Osis See 2.4 8.1 12.4 74 198 272
IBPF |e coad Goseiye.: 5.00 |----. GO Meee eee 3.8 5.7 14.3 66 229 295
BR Jlacdod Gos eees. 4.50 |...-. GOeee eee ee: 2.2 5.5 13.3 54 213 267
86s lesan COs 5adoas 4.50 |...-. Gos Leas -0 12.6 11.9 88 190 278
136 |..-.-.. doseaekse 4.00 |----. GOB eas ce ee 11.1 8.9 30.0 140 480 620
IBV (beoed doseaseen 4.00 |----. Gossseasse ee: 1.5 5.2 25.2 47 404 451
139. (. 24... doseeue 5:00) (Eee 42 Goce eo es 8.6 21.0 33.8 207 540 747
142 |..-.-.. de Beoeioee U0) Weasee GOe gaa 4.3 11.4 24.3 110 389 499
143 |.....do...-..-. Hui Wodeud COLO ee eH ees aie 2.8 5.0 14.4 55 230 285
196 | Nov. 24, 1910 BOOM soe e4 Choe eneeeocabese 4.5 8.4 10.0 90 160 250
TY See ea Koy ee ee B00 bocce Oe ey: 1.6 4.2 14.9 41 238 279
198 “do Bet Se 2:90)|.. <2 Coser anne (2) 13.6 16. 2 (2) 259 eres
20 eee Ose = see 4.25 |_..-. DOs Sees Soe 16.0 8.1 13.3 169 213 382
148 | Nov. 28, 1910 4 00 }.-.-. GO eee 2.6 9.6 13.7 85 219 304
149 |.....do....... RO Gocso Cowen eee le «9 19.5 25.8 192 413 605
15OE Se 2¥ ag ea S! 7.00 |----. Coste sae 10.0 14.7 25.3 173 405 578
GPA aes Goma: 7.00 |..--. CO aaa as see 2.0 16.7 36.0 131 576 707
1538 (Eo ee ae vee 5.00 |-.-.. GO eee SU a 8.6 18.1 29.5 187 472 659
T54) oo. Ons e528 5.00 |-.--. LO ee nui a 4.3 27.2 33.4 220 535 755
194 | Nov. 4, 1910 UW) |loncge GOs eee 4.8 9.6 10.7 101 171 272
OS | eee doe 3.40 |..... (CORB e ee eee eee 1.3 7.1 10.3 59 165 224
PAW) |lbadac dowssheee 4.00 |..... (Co eae 1.5 9.2 10.4 75 167 242
209 |...-. dozeeeeee 4.00 |..... Gover sse ess 1.1 19.7 38. 2 146 614 760
195 |..... dosee oe 3.00 | Scatterimg.....-..- 3.5 4.2 6.8 54 109 163
140 | Nov. iy 1910 4.50 |..... Oy eeuoneneaees 15.6 5.6 8.9 148 142 290
aA So kOe ees. 2 8 00 |...-.. dors 225382 ilar) 23.9 5.0 179 80 259
.6 1.3 1.3 13 21 34
-0 4.2 6.1 29 98 127
3.2 9.0 7.1 92 114 206
0 .3 6.8 2 109 lil
-0 2.5 9.0 17 144 161
.0 2.6 4.2 18 67 85
-6 1.1 1.7 12 27 39
.0 1.3 -0 72 0 72
: -0 .0 4.4 0 72 72
204 | Nov. 24,1910 Be) ogee GOs Set 3.2 6.5 3.9 68 62 130
115 | Nov. 23,1910 6.00 | Depleted........-. -0 -0 -0 0 0 8
LGR ees doses 6-00 |...-. QO esp eecee sds -0 20 -0 0 0 0
Il? esaos doe tee 9.00 |..... GO Bee ey -0 -0 -0 0 0 0
1} | eeoee dosaseeen 8.00 |...-. kos Sees saree | 1.3 .0 .0 9 0 9
TH) eee ad does ees: 6.00 |...-. Oes meey 1.3 -0 .0 9 0 9
1940) |icabed doej. eae. 5450) [eae COs ae eee a 0 0 .0 0 0 0
UH ocgae doses SeOONEeeee Oe ee -0 -0 0 0 0 0
197) \epbee do...... 6.00 |...-. CORE eel earaas .0 -0 x) 0 0 0
IVE) eeges Che bGcidee S25) See does ee ee 5 1.0 5 10 8 18
124 }..... doeeeae 9:50.]..... Goze eee ae 28 -0 .0 .0 0 0 0
125). 25 dose eee. 5743) Gunes Oey ae ie 5 -0 -0 3 0 3
126 |..-.. donee eet 4.50 |....- GO saaseeian eee a4 4 atl 6 11 17
TPH) aoe Goseeeece 5.00 |..--. COR ee -0 -0 2.4 0 38 38
IBM) | Sogee dor aeee: 6.00 |..--. QO ere eee -0 -0 0 0 0 0
134 |..... doeaene 5.50 |... 22 LO ena ciete ea 0 .0 -0 0 0 0
HS Su eee doweeee: 6.50 |..... OOes fee 0 US ¢/ .0 12 0 12
TES Gawe dows shee Un eaaed dots ret 6 .0 -0 4 0 4
PAG hee do T00) a aece ChspececcsEaad 2.0 3.3 -0 37 0 3?
203 | Nov. 24,1910 2250) |ee cee Goes sab 3.2 3.2 1.0 45 16 61

DAUPHIN ISLAND BAY.

Practically the entire bottom of this bay is sparsely covered with
oyster growth, but in only a few patches in the southeastern half is
the growth sufficiently productive to warrant tonging.

The area and character of oyster growth and the estimated con-
tent of oysters in the bay are shown in the table following.

65397 °—13——3

32 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

OystER GROwTH IN DAvupHIN ISLAND Bay.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3
Sadie, |) iacinae. Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Scattering eee eee soweede eons eae 52 49 104 2, 548 5, 408 7,956
Very: scattennges ae eres aon case eee ee siete 154 25 45 3, 850 6, 980 10, 780
Depleted eee eee Noe ek oleae 550 48 3 26, 400 1, 650 28, 050

Noy eH es ns ath scree aes tese eyes 756) es asese cece eemen ance 32, 798 13, 988 46, 786

There are three areas of what this report designates as scattering
oysters, one of about 6 acres close to the Dauphin Island shore, and
two larger ones near Little Dauphin Island. It is stated that oysters
are planted or bedded in the bay, and it is possible that some of the
bottom included in the foregoing is not wholly natural bed.

Included between these three patches is a considerable area of
very scattering growth. The depleted bottom lies around the shores
south and west of the preceding and in the entire northwestern part
of the bay where there are practically no market oysters and but a
limited quantity of small ones.

The oysters in practically all parts of the bay were poor in shape
and quality. Some drills were found and many dead small oysters.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Dauruin IsLAND Bay.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of
5 are of |Character of growth.
No: | examination. wattent

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

2 0.0 3.6 7.7 25 148
: 0 3.0 8.6 21 138 159
} .0 3.0 6.3 21 101 122
’ .0 12.2 6.1 85 98 183
6 4.6 2.3 8 A8i|\- Seemteiare 48
: 1.2 11.5 5.8 89 93 182
: 1.5 6.5 10.8 56 173 229
b -6 5.6 2.5 44 40 84
b -0 2.8 1.9 20 30 50
7 -0 1.5 3.0 il 48 59
: 0 -6 3.1 4 50 54
i -0 0) 2.9 0 46 46
‘ 3.0 5.2 2.6 57 42 99
. -0 4.2 2.8 29 45 74
: -0 1.8 4.5 13 72 85
; 8 3.8 4.3 32 69 101
b -0 3.2 1.9 22 30 52
: 1.9 4.2 2.3 43 37 80
: -0 6.5 1.0 46 16 62
5 -0 2.8 1.1 20 18 38
é -0 .0 -0 0 0 0
; 0) 355 8 25 13 38
5 E33 6.1 4 94 6 100
: .0 .0 -0 0 0 0
: 8 1.9 “4 19 6 25
PME leeeice dovsteeect BACON Soe OKA NeyMete M he 10.7 12.0 1.0 160 16 176
Pas) De ebe Queene 4300| 222. GO Rees Sane 5.8 3.5 1,2 65 19 84
344 | Dec. 15,1910 Cl) eBay dosescassae .0 .0 -0 0 0 0
345 |.---- dowtsgoaes ZO} eee Ope R SaR aan oe 3.1 24.4 -0 193 0 193
346 |...-- Gon eene. 74.340) | Aone Go susawe eal 3.9 1.0 -0 34 0 34
347 |..--. doa a0) ee ee GOe eNews ae 1.9 1.0 .0 20 0 20
348) | sane Goren 00,1) 28 does eee sen 2.5 4.7 .0 51 0 51
349 |... dower nus SON |\eeeee GOsse tasaseecee -0 4.2 -0 29 0 29
SOON |eaeee do.. PAC) Nelson Goss aeri 1.0 1.3 .0 16 0 16

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 38

DETAILs oF EXAMINATION OF DAUPHIN ISLAND Bay—Continued.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth : square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of
Paar of ~-|Character of growth.
No. | examination. aire. |l:

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
351 | Dec. 15,1910 3.30 | Depleted .........-.

2.0 10.8 0.5 90 8 98

BP) |isGaedithessensal sO he soe COodseccaabdcos 1.4 16.9 -0 128 0 128
BDO! eases Olea es pene Oli sees COs codsosonoece 4.5 5.8 -3 72 5 77
354 }.-.-- Cee sodahs UaWd) eaec dope senate 1.9 7.2 -3 64 5 69
SOD) | ees Onna econ 1.40 |.-.-- does saee sists 1.8 5.5 3 51 5 56
356 |...-- (6 LoS Re 4.00 |.-..-- CLO ee reratevate 4.0 2.5 -0 46 0 46
Sold | sees Oneer ne 4.00 |..-.-- CO sp eebnabodeo | 75 8.5 -0 70 0 70
358 |.---- doses. 5.00 |..--- om seraeetinaen -0 -0 -0 0 0 0
359) |- =. --d0_..--- 2. ASS OM |senets Glade eackeasane 5.0 3.9 -6 62 10 72
360 |.--.. Oss ee 4.80 |--.-- GOe ee aS Sa 7.5 3.8 -0 79 0 79
0 -0 -3 -0 2 0 2

-0 36 -0 25 0 25

-6 8.3 -0 62 0 62

-0 3.0 -0 21 0 21

1.4 2.3 -0 27 0 27

-0 1.5 -0 11 0 i

-0 -0 -0 0 0 0

6.2 11.2 -0 122 0 122

7.5 5.0 -0 87 0 87

0 0 -0 i) 0 0

-0 4.0 0 28 0 28

-0 2.3 -0 16 0 16

4.0 -0 -0 28- 0 28

2.0 od 0 19 0 19

6.0 6.0 -0 84 0 84

8.2 of) -5 64 8 72

Uo 1.3 -0 59 0 59

-0 .0 -0 0 0 0

SPRINKELS BAY.

There are practically no market oysters in this bay, but small ones
in clusters are scattered over the bottom. There were many dead
oysters at the time of examination. The following tables exhibit all
that it is necessary to say concerning this region:

OysTER GROWTH IN SPRINKELS Bay.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over3

fravelnas, |) paved Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
133 60 1

Meploted se’! esau Nea SNe BUILT Ne 7,980 133 8, 113

DetaILs OF EXAMINATION OF SPRINKELS Bay.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of
At re of |Character of growth.
No. | examination. raator

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush Bush.
366 | Dec. 15,1910 1.10 | Depleted 0.0 17.0 0.3 119 5 124
374 |.---- doses SO esos doses: 2.9 4.2 -0 50 0 50
396 | Dec. 16, 1910 ISOM issese Gone 683 13.6 3 97 5 102
397 |..--- dose haem SaOOHEeeee Cone sya eee 3 .0 0 9 0 9
398 |.---- do pkse2s LE OOn Eee Gone eee 0) 3.9 0 27 0 27
399 |.--.- dosteven: POO Weooos Goan aeaes 1.6 13.6 0 106 0 106
400 |.---- Gos eaee Us Ne ssos Capes aesesisees .0 .0 0 0 0 0
401 |.---. Gos nne BuO) esses C0 Uo Ramey tere 4.5 5.4 0 69 0 69

34 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

COLLIER BAY.

The oysters here, which are practically ail small, are scattered in
clusters along most of the shore of the bay. The bottom is mainly
soft mud, with considerable grass in places. The percentage of dead
spat and small oysters is large. The following tables give the data
obtained in this bay:

OystER GROWTH IN COLLIER Bay.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster.growth. Area.

Under 3| Over3
Hanes, || HAIRS, Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Wepletedeaeer eee eee eecea rae eee 1 13 57 2 741 26 767

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF COLLIER Bay.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Date of of |Character of
ED 9) growth.
No. | examination. | Voter

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

ee |

Feet. Bush. | Bush. Bush
407 | Dec. 16,1910 1 00 | Depleted. . 0.0 5.3 0.3 On 42
408 |...-2 G0 Bods 56:5 8500) 228 do 0 8 0 6 0 6
409 |..... dosetaeee 20 a eee do 0 18.3 0 128 0 128

OFF EAST BASE SIGNAL.

This is a very small patch on a point west of Collier Bay, which
among considerable débris contains a few scattering clusters of four
or five small sharp-edged oysters each.

OysteR GrowtTH orr East BASE SIGNAL.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over3

Gaines. || aa@nas. Seed. Market. | Total.

SMepleted.cice saermeeseeee sesame taco enemas

DeTaIts oF EXAMINATION OF PoINT oFF Hast BAsE SIGNAL.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
ase oe paleo én a Character of growth.
- - | water.

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
405..--.. Dec. 16,1910 1.00 | Depteted.......... 0.8 0.0 } 6 0 6
06 Aas donee: 1500 hoses doze ay .0 -0 .0 0 0 0

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 3d

HALF-MOON PATCHES.

This name, which is not used by the oystermen, serves to desig-
nate a number of small areas of oyster growth lying west of the lower
end of Cedar Point. Most of these patches are not more than an
acre or two in extent and bear scattermg growth or are depleted.
They generally lie on a soft muddy bottom, but there is a hard reef
on which the water shoals to a minimum of 14 feet about 500 or 600
yards west of the extreme end of Cedar Point.

The following tabies exhibit the area and condition of these patches.

OYSTER GROWTH ON HALF-Moon PartcHeEs.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area. : aa

Under 3} Over3
inches.. | inches. Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
ED OTISe ee eit! 27 cee 2 8 154 16 308 324.

Very scattering 8 13 55 104 440 544
MB) eMlete dene s eo 065 ee aes Sua 4 60 0 240 0 240
Mo tallesvs +=. c See Pe ere eerie DA ee ay yete ail iataleceintale eee 360 748 1, 108.

Detaits oF EXAMINATION OF Hatr-Moon PatcHEs.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.

ee enDaioon * of) | Character olicrowtht|—— > ancsae EE nal nl

| | Water. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
263 | Dec. 7,1910 AS00}| “Wenselsn ss asn co caiaselScecee ae|eciateces|taesace 8 154 162
466 | Dec. 29,1910 6.00 | Very scattering. --.- 0.0 4,3 4.3 31 69 100:
AGS) | ene dossse 6.00 |...-- GON ones eee -0 -0 2.9 0 46 46.
464 |...-. domes: 5.00 |...-- Coe eae aes sees .0 1.2 3.1 8 50 58
462 |.---- do.....--| 4.50 | Depleted........-.- -0 Lz 0 12 0 12
460 |-.-.-- Core: 4.00 |-..-. G Yop sea ibe oe 3.5 14.5 .0 126 0 126,
459 UdO)syseaai- ShEW) |oscee Corea s ss. eee 1.8 4.1 .0 Al 0 Al

HERON BAY, EAST SIDE.

On the east side of Heron Bay there is an area of oyster growth
stretching along shore for nearly a mile south of the forks of the bay.
It consists principally of depleted bottom in which there are shells.
more or less buried in the mud, with an occasional cluster of oysters.
The area and character of the growth on the several parts of this bed
are as follows:

OysteR GRowTH IN Heron Bay, East Sipe.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.
Character of oyster growth. Area. aoa ae
nder 3 ver

savanec, || Fardneet Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
101 190

TOYS, O Bema eet ste e te a 34 3, 434 6, 460 9, 894
Beatterin eee aia aa nee eae eT 11 13 96 143 1, 056 1, 199:
Venysscatterin gee el ee eens: 5 110 72 550 360 910
Depleted ee NTA BUN haa Ls) 52 0 0 0 0 0

36 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

There is an area of dense growth at the northern end of the bed,
apparently extending on to the planted bottom inside of the northeast
arm of the bay. These oysters are in small clusters and are of good
size and fair shape and quality. There is another dense patch near
the southern end of the bed, where the oysters are smaller and
inferior.

The scattering growth lies in a narrow strip along the western edge
of the southern half of the bed. The bottom consists in large part of
firm mud and shells lying in a substratum of soft mud. The very
scattering growth lies in a small patch near the southern inshore
part of the bed and the depleted area stretches nearly the entire length
of the bed and for a considerable distance comprises its entire width.
The following examinations were made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF HERON Bay, East Sipe.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
Dept Square yard. ters per acre.

h
Buel Date of of |Character of growth.
o- ater.

examination.

1
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.; Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
507 | Jan. 1,1911 3.0 | Dense 2.1 16.3 14.2 129 227 56
508 |----- Oweieiesien 4.9 |.-... do 0 11.2 10.0 78 160 238
516 |...-- doyeeceee 4.0|....- do 0 13.5 11.5 95 184 279
418 | Dec. 21,1910 4.0 | Scattering. .- 5 -0 5.0 4 80 84
515 | Jan. 1,1911 4.3 |....- do 0 3.0 7.0 21 112 133
417 | Dec. 21,1910 3.6 | Very scattering. -.. 0 15.8 4.5 110 72 182
416 |...-.. dove as: 3.6 | Depleted.......--- 0 .0 .0 0 0

HERON BAY, WEST SIDE.

The oyster growth on the western, or, more accurately, on the north-
western, side of Heron Bay stretches along shore for a distance of
upward of one-half mile from the mouth of northwest arm.

The following table exhibits the area, density of oyster growth, and
estimated total content of oysters:

OystER GRowTH IN HERON Bay, WEsT SIDE.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
i Under 3 | Over 3

aaanes, || acess Seed. Market. Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
31 54 245

A D Ys ast eps Sea Nueces LS 1,674 7,595 9, 269
Depleted meee ts: anise eh oat Baar 21 4 10 84 210 294
Totally oasis ee ey ch M he a aes EVAR AR Ree (eee ges og 1,758 7, 805 9, 563

The area of dense growth lies at the northeast end of the bed on a
very hard sand and shell bottom, gradually becoming softer toward
the depleted bottom. The oysters are elongated, sharp edged, and in
rather heavy clusters, bearing a few mussels.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 37

The depleted bottom consists partly of soft mud, partly sand, and
in places 3 inches of the former overlying a substratum of the latter.
The following examinations were made on this bed.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF HERON Bay, WEST SIDE.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
ee pgp ate Of of |Character of growth.
‘ * | water.

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
504] Jan. 1,1911 302),| Dense so ease ease 0.0 6.2 15.0 44 240 284
509 |...-- Os5565He say) [serstcts Oe ese ore -0 15.9 20.9 lil 334 445
510 |-..-- oe eiee Sealy | eee dol se Eanes -0 8 10.0 6 160 166
514 |-...- donee 4. Depleted.......--- -0 6 -6 4 10 14

Lying in the middle of Heron Bay is a long, narrow bed of planted
oysters, continuous at its northern end with what appears to be a
natural scattering growth. It is probable that this whole area is on

an old bed.
HERON BAY, NORTHWEST ARM.

It was understood that the northeastern arm of Heron Bay is com-
prised within the limits of private ownership, is used for purposes of
oyster culture, and contains no public beds. For that reason it was
not examined. Northwest Arm is public bottom, but contains very
few oysters of value. The following table shows the area, density of
oyster growth, and total contents:

OysTER GRrowTH IN HERON Bay, Nortuwest Arm.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over 3

Haale, | HIRES Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
16 40 119 640 5

SCatlerine else AN ALU Ce a ey lee , 904 i
De IS Eee os lee Re RO GL UPL 42 10 17 420 714 1, 134
Mataly eens hue oka Blade sey Fe ect 1,060| 2,618 3, 678

The area of scattermg growth lies as a strip along shore at the
eastern side of the mouth of the arm. The market oysters on this
area are rather large and some of them of good shape and quality.
The depleted bottom stretches from shore to shore in the upper part
and continues as a strip along the western shore in the lower half of
the arm. The oysters, of which a fair proportion are of good size,
le in clusters on a bottom of soft or very soft mud in which there are
many buried shells. The indications are that this body of water
would produce good oysters if a firm surface could be provided by the
use of sand and shells.

88 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

_ The following observations were made:

DetTarts or EXAMINATION OF NortHwEST ARM, Heron Bay.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Angle Dateof .
ata lWeearinehions a i if Character of growth.
: Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
502 | Jan. 1,1911 1.8 | Scattering......... 0.0 10.0 7.8 70 125 195
505, |----- dows ACh ee done eee scree -0 1.5 7.0 10 112 122
498 |...-- do 1.9 | Depleted.........- 0 9 .0 6 0 6
499 |__... do ie Gye lesan do.. 0 1.2 1.5 8 24 32
501 do IBS ||\Escad dow... Mies 0 2:3 1.6 16 26 42

MIDDLE GROUND, FOWL RIVER BAY.

This consists of a small reef,of dense growth, with an area of very
scattered oysters extending from it toward the head of the bay.
The area shown in the following table includes in addition that por-
tion of what appears to be a private bed more than 600 yards from
the shore.

The area, density of oyster growth, and estimated contents are
shown in the following tables:

OysTER GROWTH IN MippLE GrounpD, Fowt River Bay.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3 5
Hage. || anaes, Seed. Market. Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

ORIG. Bs Seite ING SS EE hades oe 12 93 204 116 2,448 2, 564
Very scattenin gece ie Sn ee yee wean 40 107 58 4, 280 2,320 -6, 600
Mo tales snes ne BEES er epee erates Ea} [el ae ee Pe mace Be 4,396 4, 768 9, 164

Detaits or EXAMINATION OF MippDLE GrounD, Fown River Bay.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ters per acre.

Angle Date of Character of growth.

No. | examination.

water.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. | Bush. Bush.
637 | Jan. 11,1911 ASOD ense {hee hep eee 0.0 9.5 14.5 66.5 232.0 298.5
640 |..--- dos ae3hi| seer Cosa Fes eee .0 17.0 11.0] 119.0 176.0 295.0
638 |.---- do 3.5 | Very scattering. -.. -0 19.0 2.7] 133.0 43.2 176.2
639 |..--. do ASOWeece {okay aA See. Me by 10.0 4.5 80.5 72.0 152.5

GRASSY ISLAND.

This is a small patch running from the north side of Grassy Island
to a depth of about 1 foot. It is apparently an old bar, but is at
present of very little value, as is shown in the following table:

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 39°

OysTER GROWTH ON GRaAssy ISLAND.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters...

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3
Aagnes, || AaaneS. Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
FS LO LOC aA pees ss Re a RO 4 10 13 40 52 93

DerTAIts oF EXAMINATION OF GRASSY ISLAND.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
pee oe aon of |Character of growth.
2 * | water.

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

. | Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
683 | Jan. 13,1911] 0.8| Depleted.......... Di bet) 08 |e Obs 12.8] 22.6

GOOSE BAYOU.

This bed, consisting of a small area of dense growth, almost sur-
rounded by very scattering oysters, is apparently included within a
private claim, although there is no doubt that it is an old natural
bed. There is a considerable proportion of large oysters of good
shape. The area, character of oyster growth, and estimated content
of the bed are as follows:

OyYsTER GROWTH IN GOOSE Bayou.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Under 3 | Over3
Haan. || Sane Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

ID ONISONE HAA eee eae ee eee ee nets 5 76 286 380 1,430 1,810
Weryiscattering. sa cmen pias oo ede cease eu. 7 406 51 2, 842 357 3, 199
BROGAL Gye Ss eee oS. 5 AE ay Se 1 ee ae ae coal ee eee es 3, 222 1, 787 5, 009

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF GOOSE Bayou.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ters per acre.
Character/of; orosyyztls| accel een Oaee ei ieenle

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Angle Date of

No. | examination. wna.

Bush. Bush. | Bush.

669 | Jan. 12,1911 155) Dense. se lin 050) 1089) | ede aie 76-3 286.4 | 362.7
671 |i 24 doseenn 1.2| Very scattering....| 2.2 7.6 2.8| 68.6 44.8| 113.4
672) [L132 dona ee eee doe ee ean .0 1.8 3.6| 12.6 57.6 70.2

4.0 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

SOUTHWEST OF VAN SIGNAL.

This is a small patch of dense growth about 300 yards from shore.
The oysters have a good shape, most of them are single, and at the
time of examination were fat. Drills or borers were noted on the
bed. The following tables show the results of the examination:

@
OysteER GRowtTH SOUTHWEST OF VAN SIGNAL.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under3 | Over3

Snares, || dace, Seed. Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
BB ey 1h, = Da gE LA le TP elspa Arc ee a SA ed 1 70 560 70 560 630

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION SOUTHWEST OF VAN SIGNAL.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Depth square yard. ters per acre.
=e pate On of |Character of growth.

water. |
Spat. | Culls. j|Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
664 | Jan. 12,1911 So0|PDenseeseeeee eee 3.3 6.7 35.0 70 560 630

EAST SIDE OF MARSH ISLAND.

About 300 yards from the island is a small patch of depleted bot-
tom. Its condition is shown in the following tables:

OYSTER GROWTH ON EAST SIDE OF Marsu ISLAND.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over3
inches. | inches.

meres Bushes. Buckels: Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
5

Mepleteds. cy: avo. Ae eee a et ee Cs is 104 12 116
Detarts oF EXAMINATION oF East Stipe or Marsu IsLanp.
{
Oysters cought per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth Square yard. ters per acre.
ES bal Bevel. o Character of growth.
‘ * | water.

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.{ Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush, Bush.
661 } Jan. 11,1911 2.4 | Depleted.......... 0.0 7.4 0.4 51.8 6.4 58.2

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 4l

PORTERSVILLE BAY, STATE-PLANTED BED.

This bed is said to have been planted in June, 1910, and it was
examined by the survey party on January 11, 1911. The bottom
was of a consistency rated in this report from stiff to soft. The
oysters were found to be growing in dense clusters and were fit for
steaming only. They were evidently planted too thickly and irreg-
ularly to secure the best results, and apparently the clusters were not
broken up. If they had been separated so as to give the individual
oysters room for growth, they would have produced much better
and more valuable stock. It is said that the seed oysters, when
planted, were about 14 inches long. When examined six months
later, 40 per cent were between 1 and 3 inches long, 40 per cent
between 3 and 4 inches, and 20 per cent over 4 inches.

The experiment indicates that if oysters be planted in this region
in accordance with the best practice the results should be excellent.

The following tables exhibit the general condition of this bed:

OysTER GROWTH IN PoRTERSVILLE Bay (State-PLanteD BeEp).

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.

Over 3
inches. | Seed. | Market. | Total.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
TOYS OTST fa INU INSU NN aC ee 8 250 472 2, 000 3,776 5,776

DetaILts OF EXAMINATION OF PoRTERSVILLE Bay, STaTE-PLANTED BED.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
Depth square yard. ters per acre.

puele Date of Character of growth.

No. | examination.

water.
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
625 | Jan. 11,1911 Aah eDCNSC nee eee 1.0 45.5 25.0 | 315.5 400. 0 715.5
626 |...-.. Gos was An Op ts Once arene LES 25.0 34.0 185.5 544.0 729.5

PORTERSVILLE BAY, NORTH END.

This is a small bed of very scattering growth, about 700 yards
from the north shore of the bay. It is probable that there may be
other insignificant patches in the vicinity. The character of the
bed is sufficiently indicated by the following tables:

OysTER GROWTH IN PoRTERSVILLE Bay, NortH END.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated content of oysters.

Character of oyster growth. Area.
Under 3 | Over3

aniGhotallternichiees Seed. Market. | Total.

: Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Very scattering sia5 5 tinea Pe Oi ares eis 2 122 57 244 114 358

42 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

Detams oF EXAMINATION OF PORTERSVILLE Bay, Nortu END.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
square yard. ters per acre.

Depth
Angle Date of of |Character of growth.|_.

No. | examination. Rater a aa a a
Spat. | Culls. |Counts.} Seed. | Market. | Total.

eet. Bush Bush. | Bus
592 | Jan. 10,1911 6.0 | Very scattering. .-. 2.8 7.0 2.8 8 44.8 113.4
Soest doves! oe: G4OM ee UGOrn ete ee eee a 7 19.3 4.3 175.0 68.8 243.8

WEST SIDE OF COFFEE ISLAND.

Along a considerable part of the southern half.of the west shore of
Coffee Island is a fringe of depleted bottom. It is stated that this
was at one time moderately productive, but there is but an occasional
scattered cluster of oysters to be found at present, and their dis-
tribution was so irregular that it was not possible to arrive at an
estimate of their quantity. This narrow fringe of bottom is useful for
planting but valueless for oyster producing in its natural state.

THE BEDS IN SUMMARY.

Within the limits of this survey the natural beds are confined
to two general regions— (a) Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound adjacent
to their junction and (6) in Portersville Bay and vicmity. It is
stated that formerly there were oysters in Grand Bay, where none or:
practically none exist at present, and recently a bed was reported
in the open sound, somewhere south of Grand Bay near the State
line. If the latter exist, it can not be of much importance, as a
search as careful as the circumstances seemed to warrant failed to
reveal it. There are a few scattered clusters of oysters close to shore
on the west side of Coffee Island, but they are not worthy of consider-
ation as natural growth.

The contiguous parts of Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound contain
by far the most extensive and productive oyster beds in the State.
As is shown on the chart, there extends from Buoy Reef to Pass
Drury a practically continuous area of dense and scattermg growth
flanked, especially toward the sound, by very scattermg oysters
and depleted bottom. These beds, includmg Kings Bayou Reef
and Heron Bay, cover a total area of 3,900 acres, of which 1,451
acres bear dense, 501 acres scattering, and 436 acres very scattering
growth, while 1,512 acres are classed as depleted.

The depth of water over these beds is slight and, excepting the
passes and gullies, remarkably uniform, ranging generally between
1 and 4 feet. On Buoy and Kings Bayou Reefs the depth is a few
feet greater, as is shown on the chart.

The remaiming beds, which are confined to Portersville Bay and
vicinity, contain but about 108 acres, part of which appears to lie

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 43

within private claims. In addition to this there are what appear to
have been natural beds, lymg in less than 2 feet of water, between
Cat Island, Murder Point, and the mouth of Goose Bayou, most of
which are now planted or claimed as planted.

The entire area of 4,008 acres of natural beds surveyed embraces
37 per cent of dense growth, 13 per cent of scattering, 12 per cent
of very scattering, and 38 per cent of depleted bottom. This dis-
tribution is summarized in the following table:

SuMMARIZED STATEMENT OF AREAS OF MARKET OystERS ON Pusuic BEDs.

Character of oyster growth.
Name of bed. : » Total.
catter- | Very scat- De-
Dense ing. tering. pleted.
Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres

iKeingsBayouvkvech. <2 5: 4 eee peepee aeeeeeeeee neces 0H eee ese er 40 3 82
BUOY PREC Tee se oo RR re eee ena 202 34 19 12 267
@edarniPomtpRee i. fe SRS av eR ee SU aoe rad aye bay 100 21 24 56 201
EASSIGESPENUILTOS! = <5 os ee ee RHE Ry Beie es 53 SON ee Fura sable te da 83
essidesveaitres Hla tse eee ame eee ee eee en 122 41 10) 3] Hae ee A 202
Ditch eGuallive: 2.2 Apes sear sei ye ee rete See 39 1h Seer are ear ee 58
TDi] AV RSE ao Pe a hh a es i ee eae 42 Pit Sema aD 24 87
1 BATTECH OUD hb ae ee eh tO alas eee 44 10) apeeagese 11 65
eter billys) Gully eee er eee ee sasee oe oem elias SoH Ss ceseeeas 14 28 81
Goran tS! aSs ae ae ee ae AE ae een une Bh 64 aN eee 42 127
ASSIA Lexa FCTONS ee eee eye ea ane eer Cee ener 211 14 43 24 292
IEVEGLAIS lay Goullivys Se ee ae CN Res Rie gee ay 209 1 ee nae nsec Rac reaHe ss 220
Blacks wmMi ps = sae ee sae sae sec eeincecacie eee sae lea lee tee ce 13 49 77 139
Wiest Sideuat tle nD aap lures leary Glee es | aoe eee mere 9 156 165
MID ISS © Gur iy eS Se NU RE Te EC MOONS ENG ESO Sl raf |e ANA a ara il 32 43
SAN GU COL es seas ae ae Nan MUN Mas ee Le IT a 8 220 185 21 229 655
LDeaiayayouray NIG) ennVols oP ek ees ta etl are ones hw uate etal ese mn a A §2 154 550 756
(Sy ormbalh(e) ey Be yin ay ee eae RAS elo tes ae ie get Simian os Wel ome Moyen bata seee tec Vas Se 133 133
GOUITO TEES Bynes ae Sa Ae Bet A RR ANN IN SNA ca ARC RI AN UP 13 13
ESAS ERTS ASO aye ete eraser ee Mae Len AAN LRG A Dae Ae UU eh Ur IP ok ae ee Nee 3 3
[pfalm moons atchies meena uu un ni gis MiNi oii Glia: Dri ae ee ssc ae 8 4 14
Heron Bay, east Sie ee os CAN ant a 7 Be Kec 34 11 5 52 102
IEIETONUB BypaWweSUSIGGN sey peace eee eee. 31 Pain Near eo 21 54
Northwest arm Heron Bay...............-..--.-.-- Sel mae Eevee NGS |S eet et 42 58
Mid dlepGroun diesen oat ee nee acecaseueees TID}S PARE ase CA) | [Peres eee es 52
GEASS pS] earn Ce ee rr aera Sy ape y rene Sys oY Ceya yay sl es Seren srete ote llesdenicie ee ater ets one reas : 4 4
(GOOSCIB ay, OU ee aro oe ae ee eae eae ee Oe EAE as eee eg Uiterom eels rice 12
SouthwestiVvianstenal 227 52 ee eee ese aes TU Nicer ese a eee eee P 1
HastiomMarshulslan due careers te See ain yes wh Na ames alia Sie ea a 2 2
Planted oysters, Portersville Bay...................- {OW | dope 2 ial LSU SUL ETE Ta S fem VNR 8
INorth\endvRonrtersvill es aycrec rene ere soe eee eels eee 28 Ae eee 2
Wiestiside!Cofieeulslam diya Sirsa yas eee ees MVR RR Ie Ca os IMI ek ila ibe, eg aie 27 27
Mio tellb- #53 Shien ANA Ts Aine eee Cn i ch 1,477 501 485 1,545 | 4,008

It should be understood that the foregoing classification in respect
to relative density of oyster growth is based solely on the quantity
of oysters 3 inches or more in length, irrespective of the quantity of
small oysters present. The classification furthermore represents
the condition at the time of examination and the several classes may,
and undoubtedly will, undergo redistribution from time to time.
The areas of dense growth may become less productive from over-
fishing or other causes, while a heavy set of spat may bring the
lower classes into increased productivity and raise them a step
higher in the scale. In some cases the number of young oysters
on the beds at the time of examination was sufficient to produce
this effect in the following year. On the whole, however, the general
conditions shown in this report, barring accidents, should be main-

44 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

tained for a period of years.. The estimated total content of oysters
on the several parts of the different beds is shown in the following
table:

' SumMARIZED CoNTENT OF MARKET OystERS ON Pusuiic BeEps.

Character of oyster growth.

Name of bed. na ew : a Total.
catter- |Very scat- e-
Dense. ing. tering. | pleted.

Bushes: Bushels. | Bushels. Bus Bushels.
8

Kings 'BayoulReeiin seco ease eee eee 951260) eterna 3,640 12,784
BUOY ARGOr yee sul soa can DeLee aa Seay Ace Bae 65, 448 70, 346-
CedariPoint Reet es ne oes epee aie elspa : 37,714
IRassides wAiitiressee ee CoG a Te ea eh ae 18,819

Passides Hiuitres Mlatss22 225. seen eee e ee eee cerns 44,581
MD abe as Gp yaa SN ST A aA Ai 11, 786
BE HC) oe SY EE 06 (a et le 14, 109
BigiGullyeeeeeeeeee 14,440
Peter Billys Gully . Be 10, 255
Grants Pass..... 26, 252:
Pass aux Herons. 113,411
Redfish Gully... 66,297
Black Lumps... 4,439:
West side Little Dauphin Isl 3 - 939:
IA BD RSEST =) kr hs ae i i eS a ye eu a | SRA | Me a 297
SandsReefe ses ae 2 Soe Ae aes Uy Ra Cee aaa ee pe 89,846.
Dauphin island Bayer iss seas eee ce seine Pelencmemccr 13,988
Sprinkels Bayes Goes ee ey Re a ee Ue ra ae mien pettice sele hae 60
COLO) BITS op] Eh ss ay MT A A ara SS ea a a ee ae eA ee aaae 26-
OEY ppl BY 1 ey A rere MSR Uae eee A ener nen Ge Lye De | (ND aS ee eee eG 0
(Hali-moon hatches ee ae eto eta 748
Heron Bay eastside) S44. 20 oe ne ase eed 0 7,876
Heron) Baysiwestiside 232222 c oc cee cece eeeeeee 8,089
Northwest arm Heron Bay........-..------..--.-----|---- Beeede 2,618
Macc es Grou Ges NS iN EA a Neate 4,768
GTASS Ve ES] pra yey lee LEG NN Se HOLLY oS gE A a Ke | RO 52
Goose Bayou aes occ ese tacos noe teelereis yaie ee 1,787
Southwestivantsionalmscj see. s essen pasa nee an enae 560:
BastiofiMarsmis ler des serie rs oS eA LIS SE ae UL an a (CE Sie : 12
Planted oysters, Portersville Bay................---- STAG iil prta ee alae ene erecta | eects 3,776.
North end Portersville Bay...............---.-------|..--------|---------- LAS OR ee 114
NUS BEITG Ley Clove Xeys hu et Ey co BSI eet Ot eee a oaG) Beasieasaclesecsendss aae4concsuc 0 0

KUBY 9 La ee ct Age RS Ape Ac a LA EE 497,151 52,796 24,781 6,061 580, 789

Of the total it is estimated that the beds lying in the contiguous
parts of Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound bear over 98 per cent, or
569,720 bushels, of which 488,937 bushels occur as dense growth, 52,796
bushels as scattering, 21,990 bushels as very scattering, and but 5,997
bushels on the so-called depleted bottom. It will be seen from this
that the depleted bottom and even the areas of very scattering
growth bore a wholly insignificant crop of oysters at the time of
examination. The present negligible character of these two classes,
and especially the lowest, regarded as naturally productive beds, is
still more plainly seen by a comparison of their content per acre with
that of the areas of dense and scattering growth.

Considering as a whole all of the beds examined in the State, aggre-
gating 4,008 acres, the areas classed as dense bore an average of 336
bushels of oysters of market size per acre, the scattering 105 bushels,
very scattering 51 bushels, and the depleted but 4 bushels. It should
be stated that for the more prolific growths the averages probably
understate the truth, while for the very scattering and depleted
growths they are approximately accurate. On very rank growth the

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 45

tongs will not always take up all oysters within their grasp, and as
the foregoing estimates are based primarily on the area of bottom
covered by a ‘‘grab”’ and the number of oysters taken therein, the
actual density of growth is somewhat greater than shown. Where
the oysters do not lie so thickly this is not true.

On some of the beds, notably Buoy Reef, Grants Pass, Pass aux
Herons, and Redfish Gully, oystering had been carried on for a
month or two prior to the examination, and the survey therefore
disclosed fewer oysters than had been on the beds at the beginning
of the season. Moreover, the bushel as measured by the survey
party contains probably at least 30 per cent more oysters than the
ordinary market bushel, as to secure uniformity in the case of the
former the oysters are culled and the clusters broken to singles and
doubles and carefully packed in the measure.

Of less immediate importance, but greater potential significance
than the marketable oysters, are the young ones. Upon them depends
the future of the fishery. A bed with a large number of healthy
young, not unduly subject to accident, is an asset of more value than
a bed of old oysters whose future is imperiled by a deficiency of spat.
That in this respect the principal beds covered by the survey are in
good condition is shown by the following table:

SUMMARIZED CONTENT OF YOUNG OySsTERS ON Pustic BEDs.

Character of oyster growth.

Name of bed. Total.
Scatter- | _V¢TY
Dense. A scatter- |Depleted.
An ing.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.| Bushels. | Bushels.

Kein gsiBayOusReeieen emcee steric maces meewlac anes Ub 54d Ree beers 8, 200 324 20, 068
Bayou Reef.........- 49, 620
Cedar Point Reef... 22, 389
Pass des Huitres.-....-.- 25, 735
Pass des Huitres Flats. 42, 497
Dutch Gully........-. 9 otk 12, 252
Dutch Island... -.. as be 23, 742
Big Gully. .....- 0 15, 266
Peter Billys Gully 13, 196
GTAaNtSPR ASS a4 PU aN AN ee NM RU UAE Up : 23, 879
IP ASST AUER ET CTONS os eee VSN NAME CPR a) Ee Ghee 53, 325
VEC HSH Gulls eee eee eee eer ee 48, 565
123) VA BW oi ofS Ns a a eS age eS LS EN i a ee 9, 562
West Side Little Dauphin Island y 1, 926
MiiSSe] KGa lyse eae ete pare Ren or ta ela ree ete nena rey Ree en POSTE GA 0a 2,985
Sam diRiee tae eee ai ee la AAA EOE en a es SA ee I 23, 760 11, 285 798 1, 603 37, 446
Dauphinylsland'B ayecccsc soos eeeses ee ee cei 2,548 3, 850 26, 400 32, 798
DDEINKE] SHB Bye eet aN Ia he ete LUA Pale wet tie ai Coruna eu AL ea ia SI 7, 980 7, 980
(COV DEYS Sy ERE i a ae a an Are Se ead cr ehh At SALA age Heo dee gn Ie PON 741 741
ESSE COS SCS GSE CGS EO BEAM CBE CE COU CBE SUCRE erry lenient Neyes| Kean iepeene weed TA os edt 9 9
IElali-MoonvPatches ees eee Ne eeeeietee ere Gi, Ne 104 240 360
Heron Bay, east side. ...-.......--.----2-- ee eee eee 3, 434 143 550 0 4,127
FeronBaya West Sides. soos oe adeno sc seeeeccclisccccecine 1,674 TTS eee eee 84 1,876
Northwest Arm, Heron Bay.......-.....------------|---------- G40) cages ee 420 1,060
Mid dIeGroun de eee ee ee aecee TL GR eae CEO EARS 4,396
GT ASS HES] aT ee ERO TU ely Ll eg UR ts CET ea A ALE eeT PS ne HG SRN 40 40
GOOSeRE By. OU eee ee KRUG SAME Uae ae Sea tO) ese hae DESAD | Eaiee ciate ans 3, 222
Southwest Vani signa eee eee lace COVER GAO GE Eb a BBSReEe oes SSoenOes EE 70
HastofeMarshyislandse seme wee coceecececnic cee eee TO a ee ea eee 104
Planted oysters, Portersville Bay.........-.--------- 2 OOO revere eres | aie shee nes eer 2, 000
INorthyend aR onterswvall eye aiyere eee eee all ee oes le eta conan QA eee ses 244
IWESTISIGENCofleeislam deen eae ALN A UD AVL mend Reb 8 I Uo eM | cee ape nanu 0 0

AIO TE L ASeRE es ye Lia lS AA OE Ut ee ue oe 316,505 | 53,785 | 36,643 | 54,547| 461, 480

A6 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

It will be observed by comparing this table with that showing the
content of market oysters that certain beds, such as Kings Bayou,
Pass des Huitres, Dutch Island, etc., bear a quantity of small oysters
in excess of those of marketable size. On other beds, particularly
those like Bayou Reef, Pass aux Herons, etc., which have been most
worked, the contrary is the case, the small being quantitatively less
than the large. The reasons for this difference, particularly striking in
view of the loss of large oysters which Bayou Reef, Pass aux Herons, and
similar beds sustain through the fishery, may differ with the beds con-
cerned. Itis probable that Kings Bayou Reef, from its location, feels
the effects of freshets, and many of the oysters are killed before they
reach alarge size, leaving a preponderanceof young. Onotherbedsthe
‘oysters are so densely crowded as to leave but little room for growth, or
they may be disadvantageously situated with respect to the food supply,
and the small oysters are stunted specimens rather than young. This
fact is of some importance when the oysters are used as seed, for stunted
oysters generally grow less rapidly than normal young when trans-
planted to places where the growing conditions are more favorable.
In considering the adequacy of the small oysters to maintain the
future supply of marketable oysters, the measured quantity is mis-
leading, owing to the difference in bulk of individuals at different
ages. The significant real condition is the numerical relationship
which is shown in the following table:

NuMBER or Oysters UNDER 3 INcHES Lone ror Eacu ONE Over THAT LENGTH
ON THE SEVERAL BEps.

Character of oyster growth.
Name of bed.

. Very
Dense, | Scatter- | scatter- | Depleted.
| ig. ing. ~

ings Ba yOurheenee wea eames aici laletaretrnmel ga aieeiseible sicidele Sees pte) \scionosa-ias 5.17 38. 50
HEAD ON gl = Seas a Ra ya eae gS gt ar aE 1. 47 3. 49 2.82} Nosmall.
CeodariPoimtiReets soe seek apse ee osc bincic sinais oicianeceintee -94 2. 12 2.06 No large.
ASS CES HERIITTES eae ce as ntncoe gceiane b= Soseiciekinwinceoos sec nee 2.99 5. 2

ass) des tEtuitres/Mlatsicsemas ccs sees avcinaa cone = bec enece mee 2

SOUL CHNG: UW Uiypeene ree ee ec eta eyee eee AE mr ero LS naar eet 4

Dutchvisland) Wwestisidesses seen ee we tee cae eee eee 6

BISA ULE nana ae ae creo cictsite meminarele Ue clowmeree imciae ns wicle acess 7

Peter Billys sGullyn ss see Ss. Se ne cacieiceise ee se nieee
GrantsiPASSssss eee eee
Pass aux Herons. de
IRE ChshiG UllivA eee
Blacks amps. sp esse sree
West Side Little Dauphin Island
Mussel Gully
Sand Reef
Dauphin gSlan a Bary ye wae ie DE IVS a AE aE Ae Rel Go| ee at ae ela
Sprinkels Bay
Collier Bay
EELS GUESS sews sc sche ee ene ee ce Ee ear Oe ree | Ee ee
PI alisMoonebatches se. gay Sree Sep bee TVA ay Oe ie ace A aa

LETOU Bay ne@astiside ne hime YL ease: NNN na Sere ee ee

TOT ONUB AvP West SIG epee. meee area Le OG ee a en ee
Northwest Arm, Heron Bay
Middle Ground
Grass yas) an Ge mee os isk laces oie feteebe OB oy tea Er ee ee eee
GLOOSeeB Aly OUR eam cca em ee ee SE ee TS a Re eee
SOLEGIUW CS GAVEL TIES 1112) | aera) eos napa ene

East of Marsh Island
Planted oysters, Portersville Bay.
North end, Portersville Bay..............-
‘West side, Coffee Island

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. MANE

It will be seen from this table that there is a considerable numerical

preponderance of small over large oysters practically everywhere,
excepting on the dense parts of Buoy, Grants Pass, Pass aux Herons,
and Redfish Gully beds, which at present sustain the principal fishery
in the region. On all of these the proportion of small to large oysters
is less than 2 to 1, and on Pass aux Herons bed they are in approxi-
mately equal alban!

In a region of rapid growth, such as that under consideration, it
may be assumed that most, if not all, of the oysters under 3 inches
long in January will measure more than that length in the following
winter. Leaving out of consideration the question of mortality, the
death rate among the oysters during the year in which they were
progressing from the small to the market size, a bed on which during
the winter there is one oyster under 3 inches for every one over that
length should be in no immediate danger of depletion, provided the
culling laws be observed. As a matter of fact, however, some of these
oysters will die during the year and the rate of death will depend on
the local conditions and the degree to which the beds are exposed to
enemies and physical perils. There was disclosed during the survey
no evidence of serious mortality from oyster enemies or other cause
on the beds in the vicinity of Grants Pass, and it may be with safety
assumed that young oysters of the sizes found in January will not
suffer a greater average mortality than about 30 to 40 per cent within
the year, unless subjected to freshets or other accidents. This
estimate would fix the minimum requirement of young oysters to
maintain the present productiveness of the beds at 14 for each market
oyster present, or more accurately, for each one removed from the
beds by death or by the fishery.

As all of the market oysters can not be taken, it is apparent that
none of the beds, with the possible exception of Pass aux Herons,
are in derananrgne danger of depletion. The author does not think
that even the excepted bed is threatened by the present extent of
the fishery.

In the year ended June 30, 1911, the tongers took from the public
beds of Mobile County about 180,000 market bushels, mostly from
Grants Pass, Pass aux Herons, and Redfish Gully. This, it will be
observed, is considerably less than the estimated content of these
beds in January, when a considerable quantity of their product
already had been removed. ‘These beds at that time contained about
200,000 bushels of oysters over 3 inches long, or about 265,000
bushels as they are measured for the market.

Practically the only parts of the beds which can be fished with
_ profit at the present time are those which are classed as dense and

65397°—13——4

48 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

scattering, aggregating 1,978 acres, with a total estimated marketable
content of about 550,000 bushels of oysters. It is believed that these
beds would safely sustain, with a proper observance of the culling
laws, an annual yield double the present product of dredges and tongs
combined, about 275,000 bushels. Many of the beds would be bene-
fited by a reasonable fishery which would remove part of the oysters
now going to waste, and allow room for the remainder to grow and
improve. In many places a considerable proportion of the small
oysters could be removed to advantage, and there would result a
double benefit if they were used as seed on some of the barren bottom
now going to waste.
BARREN BOTTOMS.

The area of barren bottoms—that is, those which are not naturally
productive of oysters even in small quantities—vastly exceeds that
of the natural beds, including in the latter those so-called depleted
areas which bear practically nothing. These bottoms are barren
mainly because of one character in which they differ from the pro-
ductive areas, namely, that they are devoid of shells or other objects
lying on the surface. They consist of sand or mud of varying degrees
of stability and consistency. Oysters, immediately after they
develop from the egg, for a brief period swim or float freely in the
water, settling to a fixed condition only after they reach a stage of
considerable development.®

It is not necessary to give more detail to this subject other than
to say that at the time at which they are undergoing fixation the
oysters are very minute, and a slight film of mud or slime is sufficient
to stifle them. During the spawning season these little organisms
are present in the water in untold myriads and are precipitated to the
bottom in a continuous gentle drizzle of tiny specks. If they fall on
an oyster bed they find firm supports on the shells and oysters,
attach themselves and grow, but if they fall on the mud or bare sand
they die.

The natural beds have been slowly developed on bottom similar
to that which surrounds them solely because through some agency
there originally lodged on the mud or sand some hard objects to
which the young oysters could safely cling. Oysters developing
there, and their shells scattered about by the waves, furnished addi-
tional places for fixation of new generations of young, with the result
that the original growth extended in area and its base became a
compact mass of shells and fragments, beneath which can still be
found by excavation or probing the original bottom differing in no
essential particular from the adjacent barren areas. ah

a For a more extended account, see ‘‘ Oysters and Methods of Oyster Culture,” by H. F. Moore, Bureau
of Fisheries, Document 349, which may be obtained by application to the Bureau of Fisheries, Washing-
ton, D.C.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. ° 49

All that is required by the barren bottom in order that it may
become productive is that its surface should be supplied with hard
objects or cultch, either through natural agencies or by the hand of
man. The capacity of the bottom to sustain material deposited on
it and to maintain it in proper condition to serve as cultch depends
largely on its stability and consistency. Moving sands gradually
cover objects deposited on their surface and soft mud permits them
to sink. It is therefore of prime importance for the oyster culturist
to have information concerning the character of the bottom and it
was one of the purposes of the survey to supply it.

The methods and the instrument employed have been described in
the introductory part of this report and the results attained are
shown. graphically on the chart. No data concerning the bottom are
supplied for that part of Mobile Bay covered by the survey, for the
reason that the salinity of the water in that region is subject to such
violent reduction by freshets as to interfere with successful oyster
culture. The chart does not show all of the places at which the bot-
tom was tested, enough stations only bemg shown to indicate the
characteristics. It will be observed that the bottom in most of the
deeper part of the sound is composed of either very soft mud or ooze
and is entirely unsuitable for oyster planting. Furthermore, the
hard bottom occurring close to the islands which form the south shore
is composed principally of sand, which shifts during storms. There is
a strip along the boundary between the mud and sand where the two
materials are blended in such proportions as to give a fair degree of
stability, but the zone is narrow, and in general it may be stated
that to plant either in the very soft bottom of the deeper water or the
sand of most of the south shore, excepting its extreme eastern end, is
to invite disaster.

With these two general regions eliminated there remains practically
the north shore alone, of which the areas of bottom sufficiently firm
to support oysters and shells are discussed in the following pages.
The total area of the tracts containing bottoms suitable for oyster
culture in that part of Mississippi Sound within the State is 24,420
acres. It must be understood, however, that within the regions
hereafter described there are usually areas of unsuitable bottom irreg-
ularly distributed.

NEAR HALF-MOON PATCHES.

This area les west of the Pass des Huitres beds and south of Half-
Moon Patches, covering an area of approximately 400 acres. The
bottom consists principally of hard mud in its eastern half, gradually
becoming softer toward the west. In places a soft surface 6 to 8
inches deep is underlaid by hard or stiff mud and there are occasional
small patches of scattered shells either at the surface or buried.
Toward the northern part of the area there are a few clustered oysters.

50 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

HERON BAY.

Between the two natural beds lying on the opposite sides of this
bay is an area of about 70 acres of muddy bottom ranging from
moderately stiff to soft, a considerable part of which could be used
for oyster culture. In places the mud holds buried shells.

PORTERSVILLE BAY (INCLUDING FOWL RIVER BAY).

In general, the whole of this bay, with the exception of its north-
west quarter, has a bottom sufficiently firm for oyster planting, and
even in the excepted area there is good bottom close to the shores.
In Fowl River Bay the mud ranges from moderately soft to stiff, but
in the southern half of Portersville Bay proper the bottom consists of
hard and stiff mud and small patches of sand. In many places the
bottom is stratified, a very compact layer underlying from 4 to 8 or
10 inches of less hard material. Between Cat Island and Murder
Point there are considerable quantities of oysters, indicated on the
chart as private beds. It is estimated that about 5,250 acres of good
planting bottom lie within the limits of Portersville and Fowl River
Bays, including that held under riparian rights.

SOUTH OF PORTERSVILLE BAY.

From Marsh and Cat Islands a sand spit extends southward for a
distance of about 3 miles. In the shoaler part of this toward the
islands the bottom is shifting, but about a mile off shore in a depth
of from 5 to 9 feet of water there is sufficient mud blended with the
sand to give it stability. This area, lying just north of the middle
of the sound opposite Marsh Island, covers approximately 1,700

acres.
WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF COFFEE ISLAND.

In this region there is a triangular area with Coffee Island as its
base and its apex about 14 miles to the westward, in which a con-
siderable part of the bottom les west and southwest of the southern
part of the island, where it is composed of mud or a mixture of mud
and sand close to shore, while within the limits of riparian control the
bottom is generally hard or stiff. The total area included within
his triangle is about 2,900 acres.

NORTH END OF COFFEE ISLAND.

This is a nearly semicircular area lying between the mainland and
a line running from near the hotel on the north shore of Portersville
Bay to a point about 1 mile west of the north end of Coffee Island,
and thence to the mouth of Bayou la Battre. In a channel encircling
the northern end of the island the bottom is soft, but in most other
places it is fairly firm or, near the shores, hard. Most of the good

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 51

bottom is within the rights of riparian owners. _The total area is
about 1,110 acres. |

There is some good bottom near the shore in Ile aux Dames Bay,
but the middle of the bay is soft.

GRAND BAY.

Practically all of Grand Bay, with the exception of a semicircular
area near its mouth, has a bard or moderately hard bottom, which
could be utilized with safety for purposes of oyster culture. Near
thc mouth there is some very soft bottom and the sand bars between
which the deep channel passes are composed of unstable material
shifting under the influence of the waves. The area of good bottom
in the bay is about 5,000 acres.

SOUTH OF GRAND BAY.

Within the boundary formed by a line beginning about one-half
mile off Point aux Pins and running south for about 5 miles, thence
westerly toward Grand signal, to the State line, thence northward
to within about one-half mile of Dunn signal, thence parallel with
the shore of Grand Batture for about 24 miles, and thence to the
point of beginning is an area of bottom ranging in general consistence
from hard to soft. A considerable part of this is, in its natural state,
sufficiently firm to support oysters and shells, and much of the re-
mainder could be rendered suitable at comparatively small expense.
This is the largest continuous area of like nature within the limits of
the survey, containing 8,000 acres. In places it appears to offer
supreme advantages for the growth of market oysters from seed,
as it will probably be found that the drill will kill off any undesir-
able set of spat without attacking the seed.

GENERAL PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
TIDES AND CURRENTS. ;

Staff tide gauges were established at Grants Pass and at the can-
nery wharf at Coden. The former was maintained from November
18, 1910, to January 19, 1911, and the latter from January 6 to Jan-
uary 29, 1911. ‘The former was referred to the bench mark estab-
lished on Grants Island by the United States Engineer’s Office,
which is described as follows:

The bench mark is the top of a 2-inch pipe which was driven in the ground, a fence
placed around it and filled with concrete to within one-half inch of the top of the pipe.
The letters U.S.B.M. were written in the concrete before it set. The bench mark is
at the northwest side of and near the keeper’s house on Grants Island. It has an
elevation of 2.654 feet above mean low tide in Mobile Bay as determined by this.
office. (J.M. Pratt, Assistant Engineer, United States Engineer’s Office, Mobile, Ala.,
Dec. 10, 1910.)

52 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

The top of the bench mark accorded with reading 3.65 on the
scale of the staff gauge.

The tides in this region, as in general on the Gulf coast, are small,
averaging from 1 to 14 feet in height, but reaching 24 feet under cer-
tain conditions of wind, etc.

No special observations were made of the velocity of the currents,
but in general they are sufficient for the transport of food and water
to the oysters in all places covered by the survey.

SALINITY OF THE WATER. ‘

As is well known, the quantity of salt in the water is an important
factor in determining the growth and character of oysters. Neither
fresh water nor that of full oceanic saltness is suitable for the oyster
itself, and, moreover, the degree of saltness often determines the pres-
ence, absence, or relative abundance of such oyster enemies as the
drill or borer. During the survey upward of 300 specific-gravity
observations were made to determine the condition of the water in
respect to its content of salt. Three tests were made daily on the
Fish Hawk, and in addition observations were taken on the oyster
beds and in their immediate vicinity. The following table is a sum-
mary of all of the ship’s observations, supplemented by some of those
taken on and near the important natural beds:

Speciric GRAVITY OF WATER AT VARIOUS PLACES AND DATES.

Average | Average | Maximum | Minimum
Locality. Date. temper- specific specific specific
ature. gravity. gravity. gravity.

Mobile Bay: 1910. ei
NeanBuoyer Celia sss eeeeee ee nee eee Nov. 17-24.... 60 1. 0166 1. 0206 Sa O122
2 miles east of Grants Pass..........- Nov. 29-Dec.1.- 56 1. 0206 1. 0215 1.0201
San GR eciiwe alae ewe Sie eee Ny INOW 2Bocsoene 57 1.0178 1. 0191 1. 0165
Oyster beds, near Grants Pass......-..-- Nov. 24....-.- 63 1 0193i)|5.2 eee eee eee
Dec. 7-9..---..- 48 1. 0186 1. 0210 1. 0156
Dec. 29-Jan. 5 50 1.0150 1. 0200 1.0114
Mississippi Sound, 1 to 2 miles off Mid | Dec. 5-7....... 51 1. 02385 1. 0247 1. 0223
Signal.
Dec. 12-16. ...- 54 1. 0209 1. 0235 1.0173
Dec. 20-22. ...- 51 1. 0213 1. 0220 1. 0206
Dec. 29-Jan. 2 57 1. 0191 1. 0219 1. 0187
Mar. 20-24. .... 66 1.0198 1. 0216 1.0160
1911.
Portersville Bay../.....------- RAI lt Jan. 10-11. .... 54 1. 0137 1. 0167 1. 0108
1910.
Mississippi Sound, one-half mile west of | Dec.9-11...... 54 1. 0228 1. 0240 1. 0223
Coffee Island.
Dec. 17-20. ..-. 55 1. 0219 1. 0236 1.0211
Dec. 22-24. . 50 1. 0205 1. 0210 1. 0196
Dec. 27-28... .- 56 1. 0205 1. 0213 1. 0203
1911
Jan. 3-9.....-. 49 1. 0207 1. 0227 1. 0180
Jan. 10-16..... 59 1. 0180 1.0214 1.0150
Mar. 14-19. ___. 64 1. 0205 1. 0222 1. 0174
Mar. 25-27... -.- 63 1. 0198 1. 0216 1. 0160
Mar. 29-Apr. 1 65 1. 0197 1. 0206 1. 0188
Apr. 6-9....... 74 1.0170 1. 0203 1. 0148
Mississippi Bay, 24 miles south of Grand | Jan. 17-20..-.. 61 1.0178 1. 0194 1. 0154
Bay.
Jan. 24-28. .... 62 1. 0175 1. 0206 1.0141

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 53

it will be observed that the readings in Mississippi Sound, includ-
ing those on the beds near Grants Pass, cover the period from Novem-
ber 24, 1910, to April 9, 1911, with an intermission from January 17
to March 13. During this period the average specific gravity varied _
with time and place between 1.0150 and 1.0235 as compared with
fresh water as 1.0000 and full ocean water between about 1.0250 and
1.0260. The lowest specific gravity observed during this period was -
1.0114 near Pass des Huitres on January 25 and the highest was
1.0247 off Mid Signal early in December.

The maximum specific gravities are probably as high as usually
occur in this region, but in times of freshet in neighboring streams
the water undoubtedly becomes much fresher than was observed dur-
ing the survey. In February and March, 1894, when the previous
reconnoissance was made, the water at the bottom of the east end of
Grants Pass was 1.0028, at the north end of Portersville Bay 1.0036,
about 1 mile southeast of Point aux Herbs 1.0063, and in the mouth
of Heron Bay 1.0000 or absolutely fresh, in all cases being much lower
in salinity than at the corresponding season of 1911.

These low salinities are all of them below that which is desirable
for the production of the best oysters, and the lowest, if it long pre-
vailed, would prove fatal. It is apparent, however, that these con-
ditions are but occasional and that normally they do little or no harm.
It is probable even that they are beneficial in periodically reducing
the saltness of the water below that which can be tolerated by the
drill or borer and by that means keeping that destructive enemy from
becoming so numerous as to menace the beds.

OYSTER FOOD.

In reports on previous surveys a feature usually has been made of
the subject of the quantity of oyster food carried by the waters.
These discussions have been confined practically to diatoms, minute
microscopic plants, which authors generally have been prone to regard
as supplying practically all of the oyster’s nutriment. Volumetric
studies of the microorganism content of the water begun in connec-
tion with the survey of Matagorda Bay @ in 1905 revealed a quantity
so small as to excite the author’s suspicion that the living matter was
of less relative importance than had been generally supposed.

It appeared possible, however, that the quantity of water filtered
by the oyster might be greater than generally supposed and digestion
more rapid, and that despite appearances the small quantity of micro-
scopic living organisms in the water and present in the stomach at
any one time might be sufficient to furnish material for the growth and
general physiological activities of a sluggish animal like the oyster.

a Survey of Oyster Bottoms in Matagorda Bay, Tex. By H.F. Moore. Bureau of Fisheries Docu-
ment No. 610.

54 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

To test the matter, apparatus and methods % were devised for the
volumetric determination of the organisms actualiy eaten during
comparable periods of time. The result of this work, which has been
carried on at intervals for several years by the author and Mr. T. E. B.
Pope, has shown that while the quantity of water filtered is great,
averaging, roughly, about 30 quarts daily for oysters 44 inches long,
the volume of the living food is insufficient to account for the actual
growth of the oyster, making no allowance for the requirements of
the other vital activities. It appears that finely divided organic
débris or detritus, which constitutes the major part of the materia!
ingested, plays a more important réle in the oyster diet than has been
conceded, a view which recently has been advanced by Petersen and
Jensen.”

In view of these facts and probabilities, and the present impossi-
bility of establishing a standard for the expression of the quantity of
food available, the data respecting the food content of the water col-
lected during this survey will not be stated here. A special paper on
the entire subject of the food and feeding of oysters will be issued
on the completion of the studies.

It may be stated from observation of the oysters and on general
grounds that the food supply in Mississippi Sound and minor con-
tiguous waters is ample.

OYSTER ENEMIES.

The survey, since it was carried on during the colder season of the
year, was not favorably timed for the study of the enemies of the
oyster in this region. The only ones observed were a few drills and
mussels, but the drumfish also is known to occur.

Drill, borer, snail, whelk, conch, ete. (Purpura hexmostoma).—A eom-
paratively small number of the animals variously known by these sev-
eral names was found on the natural oyster beds, particularly those in
the vicinity of Little Dauphin Island from Pass aux Herons south-
ward. This is the region nearer the mouth of Mobile Bay, and there-
fore the more accessible to the influx of salt water from the open Gulf.

On some of these beds the drills were found at their work of destruc-
tion but in other places their presence at times was to be inferred only
by the mortality, especially among the spat and young oysters, which
are more susceptible than adult oysters to their attacks.

It can not be stated that these enemies were particularly destruc-
tive at the time of the survey, but it is reported that many oysters
have been destroyed by them at intervals in the past, and, as might be
International Fishery Congress, Washington, 1908.) Bulletin Bureau of Fisheries, vol. xxvm, 1908,
p. 1295-1308.

b Valuation of the Sea. I.—Animal life of the sea bottom, its food and quantity. By C. G. Joh.
Petersen and P. Boysen Jensen. Report of the Danish Biological Station, xx. Copenhagen, 1911.

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 55

expected, their inroads appear to have been coincident with periods
of prevalence of highly salt water on the beds.

The drill or whelk lays its eggs in red or purple leathery capsules
about one-half inch long and attached in clusters to shells, snags, and
other firm bodies in the water. The young become destructive to the
minute spat immediately on emerging from the egg cases, they grow
rapidly, and progress in destructiveness as they increase in size. They
destroy the oysters by drilling a small round hole through the shell,
using for the purpose a flexible rasp-like organ lying at the end of a
protrusible proboscis. After the shell is perforated the proboscis is
thrust into the shell and the contents eaten, other drills sometimes
partaking of the feast by entering the gaping shell of the dead or
dying oyster. .Most of the oysters destroyed are under 2 inches long.

Mussels —The common black sea mussel is a passive enemy of
oysters through its tendency to attach to them and under favorable
conditions to grow so rapidly and im such numbers as to cover them
completely and stifle them. Also, as its food is the same as that of
the oyster, its abundance reduces the supply and in that way deprives
the oyster of the nutriment required to make it fat and marketable.
Even when neither of these effects are important, mussels injure the
fishery, owing to the tenacity with which they are anchored to the
oyster, this increasing the labor of culling and making the oyster so
unsightly from the adhering fibers of the byssus as to considerably
reduce its market value if sold as shell stock. The conditions which
make for the abundance of the mussel are not thoroughly understood,
but on the Gulf coast it appears to be controlled largely by the relative.
freshness of the water, the mussels generally flourishing where the
salinity is low for prolonged periods. Comparatively few were found
in the region surveyed and it is probable that they never or rarely
become troublesome on account of the high salinity frequently
occurring.

Drumfish (Pogonas cromis).—This, the ‘‘black drum,” was not
observed during the survey, but it is a destructive enemy of the
oyster in other parts of the Gulf coast and is reported to destroy oys-
ters on the beds of Alabama. It is migatory, making sudden forays
and leaving, with destruction in its wake, often before its presence
has been noticed. It destroys the oysters by crushing them between
the stout grinding teeth or bones with which its mouth is furnished,
and it is peculiarly destructive to the better grade of planted beds,
on which the oysters have been culled and separated to permit them
to grow and improve in shape and quality. It is especially likely to
attack the culled oysters within a few weeks of the time when they’
are planted, but they are not immune at any time. In Louisiana the
drumfish is so destructive in places that the oystermen find it neces-.
sary to exclude them by surrounding their bedding grounds with wire
fences.

56 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

Oysters in the natural beds, especially when they are much clus-
tered and of the sharp-edged raccoon type, are rarely injured seri-
ously, as the sharp edges of the shells, presented in all directions,
lacerate the lips and mouths of the fish and deter them from extensive
destruction. Occasionally the small oysters culled off by the oyster-
men are damaged.

The drumfish occurs in waters of all degrees of salinity, from fresh
or practically fresh to full oceanic density.

SPAWNING.

The survey was conducted at the season when the reproductive
functions of oysters are in abeyance, and thercfore no definite state-
ment of the spawning season in Alabama can be made. Various
investigations carried on by the Bureau at the western end of
Mississippi Sound, where the general conditions affecting spawning
are essentially the same as at the eastern end, make it possible to
indicate with some precision the period during which the spawn is
likely to be emitted.

It is probable that the eggs may ripen even in the winter, during
sustained warm periods, but it is doubtful if in these cases, even
though the eggs be fertilized, development ever proceeds far enough
to secure a set of spat. The normal spawning probably occurs from
April to October, as it does in similar waters in Louisiana, and clean
shells or other cultch planted during those months should receive a
good set of spat. The young oysters are free-swimming organisms
during a short period of their early life, and as thoy arc produced in
untold myriads on the crowded natural beds and carried considerable
distances by the currents, the watcr over a large part of the sound
must be teeming with the fry during the favorable part of the year.
Most of these embryo oysters perish through falling on unsuitable
bottom at the beginning of the shell formation, when they are still
barely visible to the unaided eye and may be stifled by an exceedingly
thin deposit of mud or slime. Those fortunate enough to alight on
shells or other oysters, and similar firm supports, survive in large
numbers, as is witnessed by the crowded condition of the beds, but
over the vastly greater proportion of the bottom there is nothing to
afford a haven. The only fundamental difference between an oyster
bed and the surrounding barren bottom is that the former presents
places for the attachment of the spat and the latter does not.

Many free-swimming oyster fry die as the result of sudden drops in
the temperature, though this is not common on the Gulf coast; and
many are killed by heavy rainfalls. The latter also tend to retard or
suspend spawning through lowering the salinity of the water, and it
frequently happens that heavy: freshets defer spawning until summer.
As freshets usually leave the shells and other cultch in excellent con-

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 57

dition so far as cleanliness is concerned, probably through the destruc-
tion of slime-producing organisms, it frequently happens that a late
spawning season produces an enormous set.

OYSTER CULTURE.

In the United States oyster culture is carried on by two methods,
the planting of seed or young oysters and the deposit of shells and
similar materials on the bottom for the purpose of securing the fixa-
tion of spat. The first of these is that which is generally, if not exclu-
sively, employed in Mobile County, Ala., and it is probable that in
the immediate future it will continue to be the dominant practice in
that region. |

The large number of small oysters in certain of the natural beds,
as described in the foregoing pages, renders it advisable that some
of them be removed to permit the proper growth and fattening of the
remainder. These superfluous young can be utilized to best advan-
tage if planted on suitable barren or depleted bottom. For ordinary
cannery purposes mercly the roughest culling of this seed is required,
but if it be desired to produce oysters for consumption on the shell or
for shipping raw shucked, the large clusters should be broken up.
By this means only can they be grown to goodly shape, for it crowded
they must accommodate themselves to the space available and will
develop into irregular and inferior stock. It is usually not necessary
to break the clusters into single oysters, and it is often inadvisable to
do so, especially in localities in which the drumfish is likely to occur
in numbers. As has already been explained this fish is particularly
destructive to culled oysters. The method of planting shells, etc.,
to promote the attachment of young oysters is highly productive in
many localities on the coast of the United States, and in the case of a
large development of the oyster industry in Alabama is that in which
chief reliance must be placed. The system first described saves
oysters which have already set and gives them an opportunity to
survive and improve, but shell or cultch planting increases the set by
preventing the loss of the fry falling on muddy and other unsuitable
bottoms.

It is not necessary to give here an account of the methods of oyster
culture, as the subject is discussed in a special pamphlet * which may
be obtained, on request, of the Bureau of Fisheries.

Within the limits of the survey oyster culture is at present carried
on principally along the north shore of Mississippi Sound, although it
is understood that there are a few small planted beds in Dauphin
Island Bay and vicinity. The north shore beds are located in Heron,
Portersville, Fowl River, and Isle aux Dames Bays. No oysters

aQOysters and methods of oyster culture. By H. F. Moore. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 349.
Extract from Manual of Fish Culture, p. 263-340, p!. I-xvul, 1900.

58 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

from Heron Bay were examined, but some of excellent quality were
seen in the last three localities mentioned. The State bed in Porters-
ville Bay was planted too dense and the quality of its product was
correspondingly inferior.

The private beds at the time of the survey were apparently all or
practically all held under rights attaching to the ownership of the
adjacent shores, this until recently being the only manner in which
oyster culture could be legally conducted.

It is now possible, however, to procure from the State the lease of
barren bottoms beyond riparian control, and this should result in a.
material increase in the extent of oyster planting and in the pros-
perity and development of the entire oyster industry of the State.

As is shown in the chart and explained in the section relating to
barren bottoms, there are considerable areas of suitable bottom
remote from the shores, and in some cases lying well out in the
sound in a depth of water permitting the use of methods warranting
operations on a large scale. The possible drawback to some of these
offshore locations is the occasional high salinity of the water, which
may permit the drill to flourish at times and prove destructive, but
on the other hand it might operate to prevent an undue develop-
ment of young oysters on seed too large for the drill to injure. On
the other hand, they are less subject than the inshore waters to dam-
age by freshets. For operations on a smaller scale, in which ease of
guarding against theft and facility in tonging are considerations, the
shallower waters off Portersville and Grand Bay offer advantages.

RESUME, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

The following epitomizes the facts developed by the survey, the
deductions made therefrom, and recommendations based on them
and a consideration of the general conditions obtaining in Mobile
County:

1. The survey embraced Mississippi Sound in Alabama and the
adjacent part of Mobile Bay, including both the natural oyster beds
and the barren bottoms. i

2. It was found that the natural oyster beds within this region
embraced 4,008 acres, nearly all being near the junction of Mobile
Bay and Mississippi Sound. Of this area practically one-half bore
oysters in sufficient quantity to warrant tonging and, to a less extent,
dredging. On the remainder the oysters are too scattered to be com-
mercially available; but between 500 and 1,000 acres are likely to
become productive eventually should there be several years of heavy
strike. Probably 1,000 acres are not likely to become productive
under natural conditions for many years.

3. It is conservatively estimated that in January, 1911, these beds
contained approximately 600,000 bushels of oysters over 3 inches long

OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 59

and about 460,000 bushels of smaller ones. As the oysters are meas-
ured in the fishery, these estimates would be increased to about
800,000 and 600,000 bushels, respectively. As an active fishery had
been conducted for some time prior to January, the content of the
beds at the beginning of the season was considerably greater.

4, Although the quantity of small oysters on these beds is less than
of oysters of marketable size, they are numerically in excess. On the
areas indicated as bearing a dense growth there are two small oys-
ters and on the scattering growth four small oysters to each one
over 3 inches long. As an average of one year would be sufficient to
promote most of the young to the marketable class, it is apparent
‘that in the absence of disaster due to freshets or oyster enemies it
would be safe to take from these beds at least about 600,000 bushels,
‘as measured by oystermen, without fear of depletion. This is over
twice the quantity taken in Mobile County during 1911. Some of the
‘beds do not at present produce oysters of good quality; but these
would doubtless improve under a judicious removal of part of their
contents either for canning or, preferably, for transplanting either on
depleted natural beds or on private grounds.

5. While the increased take from the natural beds indicated in the

preceding paragraph as safely allowable would permit a valuable
expansion in the oyster industry of the State, it without doubt will
not suffice for the supply of the ultimate demand, and eventually it
will be necessary to greatly increase the area of the oyster-producing
bottom. The demand will have two sources—the canneries and the
shell-stock and raw-shucking trade. While the former can be sat-
isfied by the class of oyster produced by the natural reefs, the latter
to a large extent demands a better grade. The demand, therefore,
will be for not only an increase in quantity, but an improvement in
quality.
_ 6. The conditions stated at the close of the preceding paragraph
can not be fully satisfied excepting by a resort to oyster culture
under private ownership, with its consequent demand of personal
interest and attention. Until recently the laws of Alabama have
restricted the rights to engage in oyster culture to riparian owners
and their lessees, but the present law permits the lease of any barren
bottoms belonging to the State. According to the survey, these are
in Mississippi Sound and its contiguous bodies within the limits of
Alabama, approximately 25,000 acres of barren bottom suitable for
oyster planting or which can be made suitable at small expense.
Part of this is in open waters with considerable depth and part in
sheltered shallow places, thus affording advantages for operation on
both large and small scales.

7. In common with other places on the Gulf coast, these waters
offer to the oyster planter a field less exposed to the storms and

60 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA.

rigors of winter and therefore less subject to interruption than in the
North, but on the other hand with a shorter season owing to the late
fall and early spring. They have the further advantage that a yearly
set of spat is assured and the growth much more rapid than in other
waters. The enemies to contend with are no worse than in many
places in the North, but in the inshore waters there is possibly more
frequent damage from freshets.

8. The sparse population on the shores near the oyster bottoms
renders the oysters little subject to injurious pollution from draimage
and sewage discharges. This consideration is an important asset at
a time when the spread of infection through oysters is a matter of
such widespread public concern, and for business reasons, if for no
others, the cleanliness of the beds and the treatment of the oysters
should be jealously safeguarded. For this reason the process of
floating, freshening, or “fattening” the oysters should be rigorously
supervised and absolutely prohibited if streams or other waters
receiving a sewage discharge or similar contamination are utilized for
the purpose. Not only the State oyster commission and boards of
health but the oystermen themselves should see that nothing is done
to jeopardize public health. Aside from the moral aspect of the
matter the future of the oyster industry depends largely on a main-
tenance of the reputation of its product for cleanlmess and whole-
someness.

9. One of the most valuable and certainly the most enduringly
valuable results of the survey is the establishment of permanently
marked and accurately determined triangulation poimts by the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, supplemented by a few
established by the Bureau of Fisheries. In all future surveys of
leased bottoms, these should be utilized and the corners of the-lease-
holds determined by reference to them. A strict and consistent
comphance with this recommendation will prevent disputes and
litigation should oyster planting become as important as it has in
other places and it will insure accuracy in the surveys, guaranteeing
an honest return to the State from the rental of its barren bottoms.

U.S. B. F.—Doc. 769. Z PLATE |.

OYSTER CLUSTER FROM GRANTS PASS.

U. S. B. F.—Doc. 769. PLATE II.

SINGLE OYSTER FROM GRANTS PASS.

U. S. B. F.—Doc. 769. f PLATE III.

SINGLE OYSTERS FROM PASS AUX HERONS

PLATE IV.

Doc. 769,

Wo So 13s [Fis

PLANTED BED IN PORTERSVILLE BAY.

OYSTER CLUSTER FROM STATE

U. S. B. F.—Doc. 769. ~ PLATE V.

SINGLE OYSTER FROM PRIVATE-PLANTED BED IN PORTERSVILLE BAY.

DESCRIPTION OF CHART.

The chart shows the character and location of the natural oyster beds and the barren
bottom. The oyster bedsare included within solid orange linesand the density of the
growth of oysters over 3 inches long is indicated by the relative intensity of the shading.
In this classification the small oysters are disregarded and it therefore may happen
that a dense growth of oysters under 3 inches in length may occur in an area shown as
scattering.

Barren bottom is unshaded, but its character as to consistency is indicated by
circular symbols. Hard bottom is shown by solid black circles, ooze by circles with a
horizontal diameter, and intermediate consistencies by intermediate symbols. The
more open the circle, the softer is the bottom which it represents. Not all stations at
which the bottom was tested are shown, the purpose being to indicate the general

- character and the transitions from one to the other.

Depths are expressed in feet and refer to mean low water.

The triangulation stations of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, which
were determined with great accuracy and are permanently marked with concrete
monuments, are shown by triangles with an included circle.

The subsidiary triangulation stations of the Bureau of Fisheries, less accurately
determined and marked by concrete monuments with an iron pipe in the center, are
shown by means of circles. The names of the stations are those used by the hydro-
graphic party and are usually abbreviations of the full same used by the Coast and

Geodetic Survey.
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