134 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 

 i).-DES(RIPTIO> OF A FISH-TRAP AND OYITEB BASIN. 



By J. W. de POINCY. 



[From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



On my Arnenencourt place, where I live, I have a small land-locked 

 baj of several acres' area, that I have utilized nicely as a fish-trap aud 



oyster park, merely, however, for my own use. The fence X X X is 

 only useful in keeping the fish out of the deeper parts, Y Y, of the 

 bay, aud informing a passage-way to the gates O OO, that, being shut 

 or lowered at high tide, keep the fish that have entered the pen or trap 

 M M M from returning or escaping ; and as the interior of the trap is bare 

 at low water, the fish caught are left high and dry. This arrangement 

 furnishes me, at little expense and trouble, all the fish food wanted. 

 Mullets, pompanos, red bass, snappers, young drum, sheepshead, and 

 crevall^s are the chief kinds caught. As the bottom of this bay is very 

 muddy and soft, something for the oyster spat to grow on is imperatively 

 necessary, and for this purpose I have put down many pegs or small 

 poles, and also scattered about thousands of oyster shells. I think that 

 the floating spat will cling to and grow upon these objects, and so pro- 

 duce fine oysters. The sheltered location, protected besides by the fence 

 XXX, should prove an admirable situation to carry on the business. 

 I have only lately begun this oyster farming, and am not yet able to 

 give any definite information concerning the success of my plan. 

 Manatee, Fla., October 8, 1884. 



