OYSTER BOTTOMS IN VICINITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLA. 
45 
DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF MIDDLE Bar. 
Oysters ae per Estimated quantity 
: t : 
Date of | Deptt] Maree square yar Shells oysters per acre 
Sta ol een of Ase per Character of 
tion nation. | water. | ered. Nard Mae oyster growth, 
: Spat.|Culls.| Counts.| Y°"°- | Seed at Total. 
1915 Feet. | Sq. yds. Bush. | Bush. | Bush. 
1097..-| Apr. 5 6.0 2.21 0| 3.6 11.8 3 42 314 356 | Dense. 
1174. Apr. 7 6.5 2.12 0} 8.0 18.9 ii 86 574 660 Do. 
1177 ==00.--~- 6.5 2.12 Opto 9.9 2 20 301 321 Do. 
26. SILVA BAR. 
Formerly Silva and St. Vincent Bars constituted one continuous 
oyster reef without a distinct line of demarcation, but within the 
‘last two decades a decided severance occurred, so that the two are 
now separated by a stretch of barren bottoms of about one-fourth 
mile in extent. It appears that Silva Bar has, during this interval, 
moved westward about one-fourth mile. 
This bar, oblong in shape, lies partly in Apalachicola Bay and 
partly in St. Vincent Sound and is about midway between Green 
and St. Vincent Points. It measures about three-fourths mile in 
length by 350 yards in width and has an approximate extent of 100 
acres, 69 per cent of which supports very scattering growth of oysters. 
It lies on about the general level of the contiguous areas and has a 
depth at mean low water of 5 to 6 feet. The medium-hard bottom 
is composed of sand and mud. . 
The oysters are in small to large irregular clusters and shapely 
singles. At the time of the examination they were fat and in good 
condition, but were becoming milky. A number of mussels and 
small barnacles were taken while tonging. At one station near the 
southwest border, which has very scattering growth, black shells 
buried in mud and green alge or sea lettuce were found. At this 
place the oysters were in only fair condition. Fishing was not 
carried on extensively on this bar during the survey. 
The following tables exhibit the condition of this bed: 
OysTER GROWTH ON SitvaA Bar. 
Oysters per acre. 
Character of oyster growth. Area. content 
Under 3} Over3 Total of 
inches. | inches. oysters. 
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. 
DONSO Shae 85 SIRE Fes ha es Ashe eae woe ee eeameek ie 23 39 318 357 21 
Seattering - 7 nos cashes secure Co lae cme Renee ae mae = =e 8 60 138 198 1, 584 
Very scattering: se Si 2b ers. Sees Se ES 69 13 57 70 4,830 
WGtalcs: {5<taes foo ee See ee EE: 1001/2552 Se ees | 14, 625 
