OYSTER BOTTOMS IN VICINITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLA. 53 
The oysters are, for the most part, large, deep, and occur in small 
clusters or as singles. The dense growth, comprising about 61 per 
cent of the total area, occupies the western portion of the bar. The 
scattering growth and depleted bottoms, of about 17 and 21 per cent, 
respectively,*are found at the eastern section. At the time of the 
inspection the oysters were fat, fresh, and milky. Sea lettuce was 
observed at some stations. 
The acreage, character of growth, and details of examination are 
shown in the following tables: 
OysTER GROWTH ON HatF Moon Bar. - 
Oysters per acre. Esti 
mated 
Character of oyster growth. Area, content 
Under 3} Over3 Total of 
inches. | inches. oysters. 
—EESE SSS SS eS ESS 
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. 
MVGNSO Ss cmiec esscis aces e-em 75 26 262 288 
Scattering 21 7 109 116 2,436 
Deplopedecere. ssn oeeeere a saeco ek an ee ee 26 0 12 12 312 
Thr 2) Lene RE cc ee a ee ee pO) || eee asl Semmes Sze ae ic 24,348 
DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF HatF Moon Bar. 
Oysters suet per Estimated quantity 
square yard. Shells oysters per acre. 
Seis Te oe per Character of 
tion. | nation. | water. | ered. Be hers oyster growth. 
Spat.|Culls.| Counts.| Y°T°- | Seed. | jc; | Total. 
r 1915. Feet. |\Sq. yds. Bush. | Bush. | Bush. 
1250... . Apr. 12 5.5 2.38 O| 2.1 6.3 4 22 192 214 | Dense. 
1254 55.55. Gin ese 4.5 2. 80 0| 2.9 10.9 1 31 332 363 Do. 
TOBE Ly 22d@. ...- 5.0 2. 55 0| 0.8 3.9 0 9 118 127 | Scattering. 
1253... - a2 Obs 22 4.5 2. 80 0; 0.4 3.3 2 4 100 104 0. 
1252... I REG (Oe 4.5 2.80 0 0 4 0 0 12 12 | Depleted. 
38. SHELL BANK BAR. 
This long sinuous bar begins in the shallow water along the north 
shore of the sound near Signal Tree and extends south and south-— 
east for about 14 miles. The greater part is very narrow, the 
crest or top of which consists of small bars dry or awash at low tide. 
The easternmost extremity broadens to a nearly circular outline with 
a breadth of about one-fourth mile. The entire area is about 129 
acres. It is separated from Picoline Bar by a channel known locally 
as Big Gully, which has a depth of 26 to 29 feet. The hard, clean 
bottom is composed principally of sand, shell gravel, and shells, 
and depth of water ranges from a few inches to about 6 feet. 
The oysters are large, of good shape, generally deep, and occur in 
small clusters or as singles. When examined they were fat and 
6111°—17—43 
