72 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



it seems that the average daily catch per man has fallen off at least 60 

 per ceut, and probably more. One important factor in producing this 

 diminution is that large numbers of young oysters are taken from the 

 natural reefs and planted in other parts of the State. During certain 

 months of the year this business is quite extensive, and the drain on 

 the natural reefs is very considerable. 



It is immaterial for what purpose these young oysters are taken — 

 whether for transplanting to distant beds or to be thrown upon the 

 shell pile, the effect upon the reef is the same. In one case, of course, 

 they are wasted, and in the other they serve a useful purpose, but in 

 either case the natural beds are rendered less productive and placed 

 one stage nearer extinction. It can be readily seen that if this removal 

 of the young continues, whatever may be the reason or pretext, the 

 time must soon arrive when there will be neither young nor old, neither 

 marketable oysters nor seed, upon the natural reefs. It was in all 

 probability some such cause as this which led to the extinction of the 

 reefs in Barataria Bay. There are said to be 200 boats licensed to fish 

 on the natural reefs of La Fourche Parish, but many of them have 

 lately moved into Terrebonne Parish on account of the partial deple- 

 tion of the beds near Jack's Camp. There are no oysters excepting 

 raccoons south of Grand Point, although there are some young oysters 

 of good shape in Champagne Bay just eastward of the mouth of Bayou 

 La Fourche. 



THE NATURAL OYSTER-BEDS OF TERREBONNE PARISH. 



Terrebonne Parish contains the most important oyster-grounds of 

 the State, and there are GOO boats of all kinds licensed to fish within 

 its borders. The oyster-producing waters extend from the eastern 

 part of Timbalier Bay almost to Atchafalaya Bay, where the influx of 

 fresh water places a limit upon the growth of the oyster-beds. 



In the northern part of Timbalier Bay there is a newly discovered 

 oyster-bed lying in a small bay. These oysters are of rather inferior 

 shape, being somewhat of the raccoon type, as is often seen on beds 

 which have not been worked. There were 9 or 10 boats fishing here. 

 In Pass Felicity there are a number of beds of oysters somewhat like 

 those found in the vicinity of Jack's Camp. In the southern part of 

 Lake Felicity there are beds of long, thin-shelled oysters growing on 

 the soft mud along the shores. The young growth here is but moder- 

 ate in quantity. It is stated that the oyster-planters to the eastward 

 carry away shells and oysters, large and small, from these waters. 

 Along the northwest shore of Lake Felicity there is a reef, upon which 

 the oysters are in small clusters, of good size and shape, and with an 

 abundance of young growth. In this lake mussels are often quite 

 troublesome, overgrowing and crowding the oysters, and making it 

 difficult to cull them. The density is 1.0100. 



There are oysters on the northwest shore of Lake Barrc, especially 

 in the places known to the oystermeu as ]\Iud Bayou, Hatchet Bayou 



