SUGGESTIONS FOR FDTDR2 WORK 



The dramatic floods in Mississippi Sound in 1945 and the less 

 obvious but equally disastrous floodings of the past four years 

 focus attention on the seasonal threat which excess fresh water 

 imposes on the oyster industry. 



Precise data on the harmful effects of fresh water on oysters 

 at different times in the year are entirely lacking. We do not know if 

 the freshness of the water is the single destructive agent or whether 

 it affects oysters only indirectly. Possibly, fresh water causes 

 starvation indirectly by killing the oysters' food supply. Its effect 

 may be a mechanical one in swelling the tissues which in turn prevents 

 water containing food from circulating in the oyster. It has been 

 found in the past that the sudden intrusion of large amounts of fresh 

 water for a short period of time has been very beneficial to the oyster 

 reefs. However, we do not know how much water and under what conditions 

 of time and temperature is of value. These and many related problems 

 must be studied before we can provide detailed advice on the desira- 

 bility and possibility of rehabilitating and maintaining oyster reefs 

 located in marginal areas wherever they occur. 



We may obtain the answers to these questions only by directing 

 OUT efforts on a long range program of testing and observing. Ex- 

 periments must be conducted under controlled conditions in the lab- 

 oratory as well as under natural conditions of flooding on the reefs. 

 The Gulf Coast is especially suitable for a research program of this 

 character because of its several rivers of varying magnitude iriiich 

 flow into oyster producing areas. The relatively warm climate enables 

 the oyster to remain active throughout the winter and it is possible 

 to conduct eoqperimental work in the field at a time when Atlantic 

 Coast oysters are hibernating. 



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