United States Departaent of the Interior 

 Oscar L» Chapman, Secretary 

 Fish and Wildlife Service 

 Albert M» Day, Director 



Special Scientific Report - Fisheries 

 No, 14 



THE 1950 OPENING OF THE BONNET CARRE SPILLWAY: 

 ITS EFFECT ON OYSTERS 



1. Mississippi 



by Philip A. Butler 



Fishery Research Biologist 



2, Louisiana 



by James Be Engle 



Fishery Research Biologist 



CONTENTS 



Preface Page 



lo A svunmary report of Mississippi Soimd surveys 

 conducted to determine effects of Bonnet 



Carre Spillway opening, February-March 1950. • . • • 1 



Introduction. ».•»•.•••• •••••• 1 



Surveys ••e*««eo*«**«*e*****so«* t* 



Summary .^e ••••<>•« • 2 



2» Summary of observations in oyster producing areas 

 in Louisiana affected by the opening of the 



Bonnet Carre Spillway February 1950 »,,<>»»*» 3 



Litroduction •.•■••.•••... •• e 3 



Conditions at the Spillway and in Lake Pontchartrain. • 3 



Conditions in Western Mississippi Sound •••ee*** 4 



