21 



tlif linrUiTS of this area, as well as the fact that it is su- pt by 

 cun-cnts coming directly across these reefs, would iiisun- a set 

 of spat on shells exposed liere. 



On the east side of the pass olT Marsh Ishiiid tlu n- is a 

 lariif tract of bottom whei'c the conditions arc iiiiich th.' .sa!:if 

 as over tlu' ai'ca just nu'ul ioucd. Tliis tr;ict t'.\1<ii<ls i'roni tlu' 

 reef al the entrance to tlic pass to the wesicin boi-der of the 

 <>'rea1 mass of i-eefs off .Mai'sh Island. 'I'lie boltom is uniformly 

 fii-m for a distance of two miles from the shore. Heyimd this 

 l)oint there is fi-om live to lifteeii inches of soft mud on top of 

 the lirm clay sul)stratum. 'flie salinity of the wjitei- and the 

 amount of food contained in it over the whole of this area is 

 favoivible for the g-rowth of oysters, and wheiivei- any hard 

 body is found on this bottom it has oysters growini: en it. 



Between the reefs fartho- to the west there are areas of 

 soft bottom, which could, by some heardening atit-nt. be broughr 

 to ;i state whei-e they would afford sui)poi-t for ai-titicial l)eds. 

 The bi()lo<iical conditions on these areas are the same as thoso 

 finnid on the natural reefs nearby, so that if the bottom were 

 made lirm euouuli to give suppoi't to oysters, we have every 

 , reas(»u to expect good results from any jilant that might 'm' 

 made here. 



Foi- a distance of from five to eight miles outside of Mai-sli 

 Island, or one to foui- miles beyond the ])resent reefs, there is 

 a vast ti-act covei'cd by not more than twelve feet of water, 

 wliich, by artificial hardening of the bottom, would become avail- 

 able for oyster culture if the growth of the industry ci-eates a 

 demand for more jdanting ground than is found near shore. 



DRSTRrcnvK Agkntp. 



The enemies to the attack of which the oysters <if this region 

 are subjected are extremely few. No star fisli are fouiul : conks 

 and drills, although present in small nimilx'rs, do no api)re- 

 ciable damage. 



The drum fish, which does so inncli damage to biihled stix-k 

 in some ])ai'ts of the State, is comparatively hai-mless iiere, al- 

 though one or two instances where bedded oysters have bei^n 

 destroyed l)y some enemv, probablv the drum. ai'(^ reported. 



A boi-iiu:- sjion-i-e. probably Cliouv' sulphuiva. is found quite 



