18 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



These beds have been very productive, but all agree that the demand 

 made upon them has been too great and that it is now much more diffi- 

 cult to obtain a boat load than formerly. Attempts have been made at 

 transplanting by Mr. William H. Anderson, of Cedar Keys, and the 

 results were very satisfactory until stealing the oysters from his bar 

 became too frequent. The laws of the State do not afford adequate 

 protection to those who strive to increase the natural output of the 

 beds, and all who have experimented in that line have become discour- 

 aged and given up the matter. The recent severe freezes and the great 

 storm of September, 1896, also did much toward destroying the oyster 

 beds of this region. 



There are a few small beds in what is known as Spring Creek Bay, 

 near Shell Point, in Wakulla County, but they have not as yet been much 

 worked. Small beds near Carrabelle are fished to some extent. 



Perhaps the most important, as well as the most extensive, oyster- 

 grounds on the Florida coast are those in Apalachicola Pay and vicinity. 

 These grounds have recently been carefully surveyed by the U. S. Fish 

 Commission steamer Fish HawTc, and are the subject of a special report.* 

 The most important beds are said to be on Sneeds, Peters, Bulkhead, 

 Fast Hole, Porter, North Lump, Greenpoint, and Lilly bars. 



The general opinion among those consulted is that the supply of 

 oysters in this region is steadily decreasing, yet there are those who 

 deny that any considerable decrease has occurred. The causes of the 

 decrease are several, among which may be mentioned freezes, severe 

 storms, and the method of fishing. Many of the oyster beds are said 

 to be out of water at extreme low tide, and a severe freeze occurring at 

 that time kills the oysters. Recent storms swept many oysters off the 

 beds on to mud bottom, where they smothered. 



It was found that most of the dealers, as well as the oystermen, are 

 in favor of the State leasing the beds to those who desire them. By 

 this means they believe that the yield can be greatly increased. 



Valuable oyster- grounds exist along the coast west of Apalachicola, 

 the most extensive being in St. Andrews, Escambia, East, and Perdido 

 bays. Considerable quantities of oysters are taken in St. Andrews 

 Bay, but owing to their very thin shells they can not be shipped to 

 distant points, and most of them are consequently used locally or at 

 Pensacola. No particular change in the condition of these beds has 

 occurred. The important oyster-grounds in the vicinity of Pensacola 

 have suffered greatly from natural causes. The principal beds were 

 almost wholly destroyed in July, 181)0, by a storm which swept some 

 of the reefs clean and flooded others with mud; an accompanying 

 freshet did further damage to the surviving oysters. The demand in 

 this section is in excess of the natural supply, and the planting of 

 oysters has been carried on, although to only a limited extent. This 

 business would doubtless develop much more rapidly i f th e planters 



1 ,Yi>ort of a survey of the oyster regions of St. Vincent Sound, Apalachicola Bay, 

 and St. George Sound, Florida: By Lieut. Franklin Swift, U. S. N. (Report United 

 States Fish Commission, 1896.) 



