11 



pass. ^Vhile these periods wlien the water was l)raeldsh were 

 of suffieieut frecpiency to maintain the life of the oysters on 

 the deepest beds in the lower part of the pass, they were not of 

 sufficient lenoth to establish the normal economy of the pass 

 and allow the iii-owth of an abundance of food organisms or to 

 provide the conditions necessary for the breeding of the oysters 

 and the growth of the young. 



CONDITIONS ON THE JETTIES. 



Dr. Glaser, in liis report on the conditions for oyster culture 

 in Calcasieu Pass, calls attention to the fact that fhe condition 

 of the oysters on the rocks forming the jetties at the month of 

 the pass is very different from that of the ones growing on the 

 reefs farther np the pass. The relatively greater number of the 

 jetty oysters that survived, as well as the superior condition of 

 the sul^dvors, although subjected to practically the same physical 

 conditions, shows the importance of determining, if possible, to 

 what particular factor or factors the difference is due. 



The factor that is of the most importance in determining 

 the condition and quality of these oysters is undoubtedly the 

 fact that tliey are attached to the stones of the jetties. On 

 these comparatively smooth surfaces there is room for each 

 oyster to grow to its normal shape, and, even if those of an- 

 other generation settle on the ones already present, there is not 

 the tendency to lateral crowding that there is among the oysters 

 on the natural reefs. The o.vsters on the rocks are attached by 

 the whole surface of one valve, and themselves form a compara- 

 tively flat surface parallel to that of the place of attach- 

 ]nent, Avhile those on the natural reefs are attached at one end 

 only, with the open end of the shells standing up nearly ver- 

 tical and crowding at the sides. The jetty oysters are in most 

 instances attached some distance above the bottom, so that they 

 are removed from any danger of becoming covered up by a de- 

 posit of sediment, and do not suffer the inconvenience of taking 

 in this sediment Avhen they are feeding. 



The amount of food available for each individual hei-e is 

 greater than on the reefs, for in tliis latter instance, whei-e the 



