CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE NATURAL OYSTER BEDS AND 
BARREN BOTTOMS IN THE VICINITY OF 
_ APALACHICOLA, FLA. 
By Ernest Danauane, Scientific Assistant, Bureau of Fisheries. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The survey began on January 16, 1915, in the western portion of 
St. George Sound about 1 mile east of the first oyster bed and was 
completed April 16 at the western extremity of St. Vincent Sound. 
The Fisheries steamer [ish Hawk, in command of Boatswain J. J. 
O’Brien, arrived off Apalachicola, Fla., December 21, 1914, and 
served as the base of operations. The interval from the arrival of 
the vessel until the beginning of the survey was utilized in recovering 
triangulation stations established by the United States Coast and 
Geodetic Survey, constructing signals over these stations, and 
selecting prominent points for additional and auxiliary signals. 
During the progress of the survey 43 signals were built, 3 of which, 
owing to the low elevation of the shore and the width of Apalachicola 
Bay, were much larger than any heretofore erected by this Bureau. 
The signals were anchored and secured by guy lines of telephone wire. 
Including range beacons, Cape St. George Lighthouse, and other fixed 
objects, a total of 56 signals were in use. Figure 1 is from a 
photograph of the signal built on St. Vincent Point. 
Permanent cement monuments, in the top of each of which there is. 
a 3-inch brass disk inscribed ‘‘U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, 1915,’’ were 
planted under signals Marsh, Yent, Fet, Cedar, and Schep. 
During the early part of the investigation the weather was unfavor- 
able on account of high winds or haze, but there were no violent 
storms and but few heavy rains. The latter part of the season, 
especially during the month of April, was almost ideal for both 
hydrographic work and biological investigations. 
Gasoline motor boats were used for the work and proved to be 
entirely satisfactory for the needs of the party. They were better and 
more economical than the steam launches employed on previous 
oyster surveys. 
Throughout the survey Boatswain J. J. O’Brien, United States 
Navy, and Templeton Van de Bogert were the observers. The latter 
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