BUREAU OF FISHERIES XXIII 
to return a greater quantity of shells to the natural beds, to extend 
the beds by ‘planting shells on adjacent firm bottoms, to restore the 
depleted oyster beds by planting seed and adult oysters, to collect the 
set on brush and shells planted on tidal flats, and to transplant it on 
suitable bottoms below low-water mark. 
The survey of Texas waters covered the region from Corpus Christi 
to Galveston and has shown that oyster reefs in these coastal waters 
produce enormous quantities of oysters, some of which have little 
market value. It was recommended that the overcrowded reefs be 
used as the source of an almost unlimited supply of seed oysters, and 
to plant them on the bottoms of the following bays: Aransas, Mes- 
quite, Lavaca, north of Sandy Point, Kellers, Karankawa Reef, Tres- 
palacios, and. Matagorda between Portsmouth and Pallacios Points. 
The work in North Carolina consists chiefly in a hydrographic 
study of Pamlico Sound with reference to oyster culture. The 
temperatures, salinities of the water, sedimentation and shifting of 
the bottom, and the distribution of the oyster set have received par- 
ticular attention throughout the entire year. One of the most serious 
problems in planting oyster shells is the danger of the set being 
smothered with sand or silt by shifting currents. Studies on sedi- 
mentation and currents, therefore, are designed to discover the areas 
where cultch can be planted safely and where producing beds can be 
extended by artificial means. The State of North Carolina has co- 
operated actively by furnishing a vessel for this research work. 
Some of the studies were conducted at the Beaufort biological labora- 
tory and some in the soils laboratory of the University of North 
Carolina. 
In Mississippi Sound and in Mobile Bay observations on the hydro- 
graphic conditions that affect oyster culture in that region have been 
under way throughout the year. Experiments on the use of brush as 
spat collectors have been undertaken on a large scale, and favorable 
results through the coming growing season are anticipated. Present 
observations in Mississippi Sound tend to show that the productive- 
ness of oyster beds can be increased by the planting of shells and 
srush in order to utilize the abundant natural set. 
Because of the extensive depredations of the drill in the oyster 
beds of Chesapeake Hay a study is being carried on at Norfolk, Va. 
(where a temporary laboratory has been “established ), with a view to 
finding an efficient method for combatting this pest. A thorough 
study of the life history of the drill is under way, including field and 
laboratory observations on the spawning habits, feeding habits, 
migrations, and distribution of the animals. If the abundance of 
the oyster drill in Chesapeake Bay can be reduced, a saving of thou- 
sands of dollars to the oyster industry will be effected. 
A number of minor surveys and inspections of oyster grounds have 
been made. At the request of the National Research Council, obser- 
vations were made in the vicinity of Tampa and Key Largo, Fia., for 
the purpose of determining whether conditions there were suited to 
the cultivation of the Japanese pearl oyster. Black Water Sound, 
Palmasola Bay, and Largo Sound were found to be suitable for 
experiments in artificial pearl culture. 
At the request of the Alabama Fish and Game Commission, a brief 
survey of the oyster bottoms in Mobile Bay was made during April, 
1927, to determine the abundance and character of oyster erowth on 
