568 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



shellfishing because of pollution. These are 

 described as follows: 



1. All of Bon Secour River lying upstream from 

 a line extending due north from the east bank at 

 the inlet to Oyster Bay from said Bon Secour River. 



2. Bayou Labatre and the coastline area im- 

 mediately adjacent to its mouth. 



3. Bayou Coden and the coastline area im- 

 mediately adjacent to its mouth. 



4. Areas affected by pollution from Mobile 

 River including Upper Mobile Bay near the 

 mouth of the river. Dog River, the shoreline in 

 the vicinity of Fairhope and Fish Rivers do not 

 involve shellfish producing areas because no 

 oyster reefs exist in the immediate vicinity. 



Protection of the water resources from the 

 damaging effects of pollution can be accom- 

 plished by providing sewage treatment facilities 

 for 3 municipalities serving approximately 100,000 

 persons. Information is not conclusive in regard 

 to the effects of industrial wastes on shellfish 

 production. 



PASCAGOULA RIVER AREA (11) 



The Pascagoula River Area covers the coastal 

 zone from Isle Aux Hcrbes in Alabama westward 

 to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Principal cities are 

 Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, Long 

 Beach, and Pass Cliristian. In addition to a 

 thriving winter tourist patronage along the coast, 

 economy of the area depends upon processing 

 natural resources. These include lumber, naval 

 stores, paper, and sea food. Recreational uses of 

 watercourses, such as fishing, hunting, and boating, 

 are of major importance. Coastal waters yield 

 fish, shrimp, crabs, and oysters. Biloxi is the 

 principal shrimp and oyster landing port of 

 Mississippi. 



A total sewered population of approximately 

 54,000 is distributed among seven municipalities 

 or institutions. Gulfport, which has a sewerage 

 system serving only a small part of the City, has 

 extended its sewers to include most of the town. 

 The City has acquired and is now using the exist- 

 ing facilities of Gulfport Field for the treatment of 

 sewage. Although most cities have sewage treat- 

 ment plants, sewage pollution is sufficiently serious 

 in some areas to prohibit commercial shellfishing. 

 Closed areas are described as follows: 



L The area included in Pascagoula River from 

 a point 1 mile above Pascagoula River toll bridge 



to a point 2 miles outward from the mouth of the 

 river and within the east and west boundaries of 

 the Pascagoula River channel. 



2. The Back Bay of Biloxi north and west of 

 Highway 90 bridge extending from Biloxi, 

 Mississippi, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 



3. That portion of Biloxi Bay included between 

 the U. S. Highway No. 90 bridge across Biloxi 

 Bay and a straight line across the Bay determined 

 at its northeast extremity by the water tower in 

 Ocean Springs and its southwest extremity by 

 Flashing Light No. 31 off the eastern tip of the 

 Biloxi Peninsula, which line shall then proceed in 

 a westerly direction to the northwestern end of 

 Deer Island, and including the area fronting the 

 city of Biloxi from the Biloxi USO Building to 

 the most easterly point of Biloxi Peninsula at the 

 \J. S. Coast Guard Base, and lying between the 

 main shore line and the line from Flashing Light 

 No. 31 to the northwestern end of Deer Island. 

 Also included is the area commonly referred to as 

 the "Ocean Spring Small Craft Harbor" from the 

 Biloxi Bay shoreline inward to the upper extremity 

 of this harbor. 



4. The area bounded on the north by that por- 

 tion of the Gulfport shore line of Mississippi Sound 

 between its intersection with the extension of 42d 

 Avenue South in Gulfport, and the east boundary 

 of the United States Veterans Hospital property; 

 on the west by a line running south 2 miles from 

 42d Avenue extended ; on the east by a line running 

 south two miles from the east boundary of the 

 LInited States Veterans Hospital property; and on 

 the south by a line running parallel to the shore- 

 line and 2 mi'es therefrom connecting with the 

 outer ends of the east and west boundary lines. 



Industrial wastes of various kinds are discharged 

 to the area's waters in sufficient quantities to cause 

 local problems. Bayou Bernard, which empties 

 into Back Bay near Biloxi, has had periodic killings 

 of fish from industrial waste pollution (Anonymous 

 1950).' A sports fishery has been damaged in 

 tributary waters adjacent to Back Bay at Gulf- 

 port. Bathing waters have been affected at Back 

 Bay and Biloxi Bay near Biloxi and at the beach 

 at Pascagoula. 



« From a sumnmry report on the Pascagoula River Basin prepared by 

 Mississippi State Board of Health. Unpublished. 



