49 



all parts of the marsh are accessible by way of the many bayoirs 

 that come into it from the sound. 



The oysters living along the banks of the inlets near high 

 water mark could be greatly improved by breaking up the clus- 

 ters and giving each one an opportunity to grow to its normal 

 shape; however, as the oysters in these places are always of 

 poorer quality than those in the pools, it would seem advisabb 

 to transfer them to the pools where the physical and biological 

 conditions are more favorable for their development. 



While no very extensive oyster industry could be built up 

 at this point because of the limited area, even under the present 

 conditions the natural oysters could be worked with profit, while 

 if cultural methods were used, the output would reach a size 

 l!iat would assure profitable employment for a number of men. 

 The quality of the oysters during the marketing season is ex- 

 ceptionally fine, and I am told that they become fat early in 

 the season, so that the best prices would be obtained for the 

 product of the beds. 



Although the islands are twenty-five miles from the main- 

 land, the distance from a market or shipping point is no greater 

 than that traveled by many of the oystermen working on the 

 inshore beds in order to market their catch, and the absence of 

 any canals or narrow streams makes the time consumed in a 

 trip less than it is in many instances where the distance is nearly 

 the same. 



Gulf Biologic Station Laboratory, 

 Cameron, La., 



April 14, 1906. 



