26 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN VICINITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLA. 
The eastern boundary is practically a straight line running in a south- 
southeast direction to Peanut Patch. The western boundary is 
indented and very irregular and has two rather prominent projections 
and two corresponding inlets or bays. It has a length of about 2 
miles, an average width of five-eighths mile, and an area of 794 acres. 
The depth of water ranges from 3 to 7 feet, the greater depth being 
along the east and west terminations. Through the center of the bed 
there is a rather broad north and south ridge, which slopes both to 
the east and west. The marginal elevations are from 1 to 2 feet 
above the adjacent regions. The bottom is firm and in good condi- 
tion, excepting that the east and west borders are inclined to be soft 
or muddy. 
The present limits of the bed have not changed greatly since the 
survey made 20 years ago. It appears, however, that there has been 
a gradual shifting to the westward and that the western border 
has become more irregular and indented. The width has remained 
nearly constant. 
The greater part of the bar is covered by dense growth, within 
which are four patches of scattering growth and one small area of 
depletedbottom. Theoysters are found mostly in rather small clusters 
and singles. Not many of the raccoon or scissor-bill type were 
observed. They vary in flavor from fair to good and fatten readily 
when the comparatively fresh and food-ladened water from East Bay 
flows over the bed. 
The bar is extensively fished and has been a good producer. During 
the survey as many as 38 oyster schooners were engaged in the indus- 
try at one time. There were shipped daily to Carrabelle, Fla., from 
this and some of the bars to the eastward from 75 to 150 gallons of 
oysters. Out of 100 gallons of freshly shucked stock there was only 
about 1 quart of dark or discarded oysters of poor quality. No 
pink or yellow color was observed or reported from this bed. The 
oysters will yield about 14 gallons per tub of 2.2 standard bushels. 
There were many mussels and barnacles and some Martesia in 
the old shells. Algz were found on the clusters near shore. 
The following tables show the area and distribution of oyster 
erowth: 
OysTER GROWTH ON Cat Point Bar. 
Oysters per acre. Esti- 
; mated 
Character of oyster growth. Area. content 
: Under 3 | Over3 Total 
of 
inches. | inches, oysters, 
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. 
: 686 78 473 551 377 
PCapverings* ~ "cbse oe Sete ee eee eee 102 40 114 154 15, 708 
1D (jo) (2) 1 BS ae Oe eee Pome Sy eae eee 6 63 21 84 504 
