24 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES 



an average rainfall during April and May, and in March only an inch 

 more tban the average. During the same period there had also been 

 some strong northwest and southwest winds. 



Although Mr. Battle's visit was made during the dry period of the 

 year, he undertook to ascertain by density observations the point 

 nearest to the planted grounds where fresh water could then be found, 

 both at the surface and the bottom. A line of such observations was, 

 therefore, run up the bay in a general northwesterly direction, from otf 

 the foot of Tremont street, Galveston, and over the jdanted grounds to 

 the mouth of the San Jacinto River, a distance of 25 miles. At the 

 foot of Tremont street the specific gravity was 1.017 at high water, and 

 1 mile farther, 1.0166. On section 1 of the planted beds it was the same 

 as the last, and on section 8, three-fourths of a mile away, it amounted 

 to 1.0164. Beyond the area of the planted grounds the observations 

 succeeded one another as follows : About 1 mile WN W. of the west end 

 of Pelican Island, 1.0147 ; about 1 mile SE. of Half-Moon lighthouse, high 

 tide 1.015, ebb tide 1.0142; about 200 yards from Half-Moon light-ship, 

 1.0144; about 1 mile NNP:. of Dollar Point, ebb tide 1.0132; about 2 

 miles south of Redfish light-house, ebb tide 1.007 ; Eedfish Beacon, 1.0036 ; 

 about 400 yards SE. of Northwest Beacon, 1.002. Five subsequent sta- 

 tions were made, the last about 1 mile N W. of Red Bluff Buoy, where the 

 water was practically fresh both at the surface and bottom. 



Information was furnished to the effect that the water in the bay is 

 never fresher than at the time of year when this examination was con- 

 ducted, but Mr. Battle is inclined to doubt the correctness of this view 

 as not being based upon scientific observations, and, moreover, the 

 occurrence of any particular freshet having its origin from 25 to 30 

 miles away might easily escape detection by those living along the sea. 

 Such a freshet would undoubtedly bring the fresh-water point much 

 nearer to the Gulf and might radically affect both planted and natural 

 oyster beds. Even if the salinity of the water is as great at all sea- 

 sons as it was in August, Mr. Battle thinks his observations clearly 

 demonstrate that it would be the height of folly to plant oysters north 

 of Redfish Bar. Empty shells are much more numerous than li\ing 

 oysters on this bar, and he has no doubt that fresh water was the main 

 factor in their destruction. An oysterman of long experience in this 

 region recalls that oysters have twice been destroyed in Galveston Bay 

 within the past twenty-five years, once by fresh water aiul again during 

 the great southeast storm of 1875, which lasted several days and swept 

 everything before it. 



Mr. Battle next made a critical investigation of the planted beds and 

 of the natural beds nearest to them, with the object of determining 

 their relative condition as to mortality and the character of the bottom. 

 Samides were obtained by tonging from all of the eight sections of the 

 planted ground. The total amount of material brought up was IJ 

 bushels, which contained 46 adult oysters and 092 spat. The oysters 

 were generally in grou])S or clusters, seldom single. The living adults 



