REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 25 



seemed to be iu as good condition as those examined on the natural 

 beds, and the spat was still attaching aud thrifty. Drawbridge Reef, 

 about 2| miles southwest of the planted beds, which was next examined, 

 is one of the best grounds as regards quality of oysters, but it has been 

 overfished. It showed no signs of any special destruction which could 

 be attributed to a late cause. It occupies a stable shelly bottom where 

 the observations were made. On Blind Shoal Reef, another shelly 

 bottom, about a mile northwest of the planted grounds, dead shells were 

 more numerous, which may indicate a greater mortality, and the oysters 

 were not so finely shaped as those on Drawbridge Eeef. This bed is 

 nearer the fresh- water point, but the density determinations were as 

 high as 1.0126 and 1.013. The oysters on Half-Moon Reef, judging from 

 the shells, show some deaths which may have been of late date, but not 

 enough to assign any other cause for mortality than that of old age and 

 the usual casualties. 



Finally, the character of the bottom on the planted beds was tested 

 by means of a sounding pole, which showed it to be generally soft, and 

 in some places very soft. The pole would usually go down very easily 

 a distance of 10 to 12 inches through the mud before it reached a 

 harder substratum. Several times shells were felt at a depth of 10 or 

 12 inches, apparently resting on this substratum. Judging from the 

 softness of the bottom and the mud-stained condition of the shells, Mr. 

 Battle is led to believe that mud has been a factor which will account 

 in part for the destruction of the planted oysters. The general trend 

 of the currents over these beds is southeast and northwest. One may 

 readily conceive that strong northwest winds, which have a sweep 

 down the bay from the mouth of San Jacinto River, would affect objects 

 lying on the bottom in shallow water. It would naturally impart a 

 motion to them and cause them gradually to sink. It is reasonable to 

 suppose also that this disturbance would make the water very thick 

 with suspended uuid, especially that part of it near the bottom and 

 immediately surrounding the oysters, and if continued for any length 

 of time would result in great injury to the beds. Southwest winds 

 would have a similar but less effect, for the reason that they do not 

 have the same sweep. 



Comparing the general character of the bottom of the natural beds 

 with til at of the planted grounds, it will be found that the former are 

 much more stable, owing to the yearly accretion of shells on which the 

 living oysters grow. The plantings already made on the artificial beds, 

 amounting to 400 bushels to the acre, may possibly furnish a foundation 

 which will render the bottom more stable and result in the formation 

 of a continuous oyster bed in the course of time, and the chances of 

 success in that direction would be greatly heightened by the addition 

 of more shells. 



Within IJ miles of the planted area are located mills for the manu- 

 facture of creosote. It had been conjectured that the refuse from these 

 mills might have been responsible for at least a part of the mortality 



