432 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



tions in the metal content of the oyster meats and its relation to 

 environmental changes was carried out in Long Island Sound by 

 Dr. P. A. GaltsofF and Charles Weber. Over 100 composite samples 

 of oyster meats collected in previous years at the experimental oyster 

 farm at Milford, Conn., were analyzed for copper, iron, zinc, and 

 manganese. The results of the chemical analysis reveal interesting 

 facts regarding the fluctuations of these metals in oysters taken from 

 one locality. It has been found that copper is subject to wide and 

 irregular fluctuations while the iron content remains almost con- 

 stant. The manganese shows steady increase during the period of 

 gonad development, and an immediate drop after spawning. More 

 detailed studies showed that manganese is accumulated by the ovaries 

 but not by the testes or other tissues. All the oysters were very rich 

 in zinc, the content of which fluctuated between 5,500 and 13,700 

 milligrams of metal per kilo of dry meat. 



Alabama. — At the invitation of Commissioner I. T. Quinn, chair- 

 man of the Alabama Oyster Commission, Dr. Galtsoff made a pre- 

 liminary survey in November of the oyster beds in Mobile and 

 Perdido Bays to determine the best areas in which to initiate a 

 W. P. A. development program of the oyster reefs in Alabama. As 

 a result of this survey James B. Engle was sent to Alabama in 

 December by the Bureau to make a more detailed study of oyster 

 cultural problems in Mobile Bay with the view of assisting the 

 State in reviving the oyster industry. 



The reefs north of Cedar Point were found to have only a sparse 

 growth of seed oyster available for rehabilitation, being on tiie wliole 

 badly depleted, partly as a result, perhaps, of illegal dredging. As 

 an alternate area for seed supply Dauphin Island was suggested, 

 since in this region there are many small oysters in clumps which, 

 would break up during handling. In Bon Secour Bay the reefs 

 were also found to be badly in need of reshelling, the shells found 

 being pitted and disintegrating from age and decay. It A\'as sug- 

 gested that shucking houses use their discarded shells for this 

 purpose. 



In the shoals lying between Cedar Point and Little Dauj^hin Is- 

 land, an area of 6.000,000 square yards of densely covered bottom, 

 the oysters appeared to be overcrowded. Thus between 5C,000 and 

 75,000 barrels of seed could be obtained from this area at present 

 to the benefit of the beds. 



A sur.vey of conditions on reefs of western Mobile Bay showed 

 a good quantity of seed in small clusters and singles, which could 

 profitably be moved from this section to a bottom where there is 

 less chance of spring freshets destroying the young stock. 



In connection with these surveys an investigation was undertaken 

 to determine the effect on oyster bottoms of opening channels into 

 Dauphin Island Bay, now almost landlocked. It was concluded that 

 resulting changes in salinity would probably not be seriously detri- 

 mental to marketable oysters, unless conditions throughout Mobile 

 Bay and Mississippi Sound are bad. In any event, as a j-esult of 

 the exchange of waters and the consequent augmented sup])ly of food 

 organisms, oysters growing iu those dee})ened regions should be su- 

 perior in quality. They should also be benefited by the protection 

 against adverse temperature which deep water affords. 



