26 



it not wholly, at least to a great extent, and, where the physical 

 and biological conditions are favorable, better success may be 

 expected from an experimental plant. That the conditions for 

 the growth of oysters, except for the fatal mud deposit, are 

 favorable in the waters of the gulf near Calcasieu Pass w^as 

 clearly shown during the seasons of 1904 and 1905. In May, 

 1904, the buoys marking the entrance to the pass were changed, 

 clean and newly painted ones being substituted for those that 

 had been in place for a year. In a storm some time during the 

 winter of 1904-05, the outer buoy one and one-half miles from 

 the jetties dragged its anchor and drifted about two miles to 

 the westward and in-shore from its former position. When 

 this buoy w-as examined one day near the middle of June, it 

 was found to be covered with an abundant growth of oysters. 

 The length in inches of ten of these was as follows: 3.25, 3.50, 

 2.75, 2.50. 3.00, 3:00, 3.25, 2.50, 3.75, 3.25. The average length 

 \s 3.075 inches. These oysters were of very good shape and 

 in excellent condition at the time when they were found. Their 

 c(-ndition remained very good while the oysters on the reefs 

 in the pass were very poor or had succumbed to the effects of 

 the prolonged action of fresh water and sediment. The con- 

 tinued condition of these oysters when those in the pass had 

 perished, as well as their rapid growth, gives an assurance that 

 as soon as some method of overcoming the destructive effects 

 of the mud deposit is found, or when beds are established be- 

 yond the limits of damage from this source, a profitable industry 

 may be established in the open waters of the gulf at this point. 

 Continued experiments with the aim of discovering some method 

 of avoiding the above mentioned menace to the plants, are in 

 progress at the station ; but it is as yet too early to hazard any 

 opinion as to their probable results. 



FOOD CONDITIONS IN CALCASIEU PASS AND THE 



GULF. 



The food conditions in the pass as shown by the number 

 of diatoms in the water, and also by the number in the stom- 

 achs of oysters from the different reefs, were very unstable 



