APPENDIX A 



Description of Sampling Stations. Jiine 1. 1949 



Some of the sampling stations were located on natural, un- 

 cultivated oyster reefs. Other stations were on reefs which haye 

 been cultivated to some extent for the past 50 years. The oysters 

 were collected with the use of commercial oyster dredge boats, hand 

 tongs end in some cases where the water was sufficiently shallow, the 

 oysters were gathered by hand from the bottom. 



Area I (Fig. 2) 



Station 1 - Buoy Reef . This bar has an average depth of 9 

 feet with a good oyster bottom of broken shell and stiff mud. Oysters 

 were uniformly small and there was no evidence of mortality. The 

 oyster meats were in only fair condition but all oysters were feeding. 

 New shell growth was just starting; the gonads were half spawned. 

 Oysters and shells were covered with a new set of oysters approximately 

 one to two weeks old. One cluster of oyster drill egg cases was found 

 but no adult snails. Fouling organisms on oysters were moderately 

 numerous. The reef is depleted and needs additional shells to catch 

 the yoting oysters. The presence of drill eggs indicates that this 

 pest may cause a serious loss of oysters in seasons when the salinity 

 level Is higher. 



Station 2 - Cat Island Spit . This reef has a hard shell bottom 

 mixed with some sand. There is an average depth of 10 feet. In August 

 1947 it was heavily planted with shells. The oysters were mostly small 

 and there was approximately an 8 per cent mortality. Five drills were 

 found and seven clusters of drill eggs in approximately 1 1/2 barrels 

 of bottom material but apparently only a few of the dead oysters had 

 been killed by snails. Fouling organisms were moderately numerous. 

 There were many recently set spat on oysters and shells. This bar 

 supports a good growth of oysters but drills probably cause consider- 

 able damage. The oysters were feeding and the gonads were about half 

 spawned . 



Station 3 - Cat Island Channel . This area is the deepest reef 

 in the area extending down to 25 feet. The bottom of firm mud mixed 

 with shells Is mostly depleted. The oyster population is made up of 

 large old shells and a few large old oysters. There was no evidence of 

 recent mortality. The oysters were in fair condition, about 1/4 spawned 

 and actively feeding, A very few new set were found on the old shells. 



