64 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN VICINITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLA. 
SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE OBSERVATIONS IN ST. GEORGE SouND, APALACHICOLA 
Bay, AND St. Vincent Sounp—Continued. 
Water temperature. Specifie gravity. 
Locality. Date. 
Maxi- | Mini- | Aver- | Maxi- Mini- | Aver- 
mum. | mum. | age. mum. mum. age. 
1915. Sune IG ne 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.| Feb. 23-28........-| 60.8 57.2 59.4 | 1.0220 1.0114 | 1.0176 
Eastern part of Apalachicola |..-.- Gok as- hae ae 59 56.3 57.5 1. 0160 1.0117 | 1.01383 
ay. 2 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.| Mar. 1-6........... 69.8 | 538.6 | 57 1.0158 | 1.0069 | 1.0119 
ngeuty of Norman Bar, East |.-.-.. dOPe eee see 60.8 53. 6 56.8 1.0152 1.0068 | 1.0097 
ay. 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.| Mar. 7-15........-- 57.2 51.8 54.7 | 1.0189 | 1.0077 | 1.0135 
Vicinity of Apalachicola. .....|...-. dOjo3--£E 5 ate 57.2 55.4 56.6 1.0177 1.0038 | 1.0082 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.| Mar. 16-22.........| 60.8 53.6 57.2 1.0210 | 1.0119 | 1.0174 
Pentel part of Apalachicola |...-. donee th . HRY 57.2 55.4 56.6 1. 0228 1.0177 | 1.0209 
ay. 
Ue Hawk, at Lower An- | Mar. 23-28........- 59 55.4 57 1.0242 1.0077 | 1.0183 
chorage. 
Western part of Apalachicola |...-.. donne ecre a 62.6 55.4 60.3 1.0246 1.0149 | 1.0208 
Bay. 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.| Mar. 29-Apr.5..-..| 62.2 53.6 58.3 1.0198 | 1.0050 | 1.0120 
Western part of Apalachicola |-..... COtw enc assstes 59 ov. 2 58. 1 1. 0156 1.0118 | 1.0137 
Bay. 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.| Apr. 6-11........-.- 68 53.6 59.4 1.6190 1.0109 | 1.0151 
Eastern part of St. Vincent |..... MO espa ncreratatai 64.4 60. 8 62.7 1. 0204 1.0067 | 1.0115 
Sound. 
Fish Hawk, off Jetty Beacon.) Apr. 12-15.......--. 71.6 97.2 64.9 1.0188 1.0061 | 1.0121 
Central and western part of |..-... Gost coerce 76.1 68 71 1.0219 1.0074 | 1.0102 
St. Vincent Sound. 
The table shows that the average water temperature in Apalachi- 
cola Bay, as determined by the observations taken on the Fish 
Hawk, ranged from 53.2° F. in the middle of January to 64.9° F. in 
the middle of April, a gradual increase of 11.7° during the interval. 
Also, the lowest temperature observed was 48.2° F., off Cat’ Point 
in January, and the highest 76.1° F., in rather shallow water at the 
western borders of St. Vincent Sound during the middle of April. 
showing a change of 27.9°. 
During the early part of February a very low salinity observation 
(1.0001) was made near the eastern limits of Apalachicola Bay, and 
during the latter part of March, in the western part of the same body 
of water, an observation revealed a high salt content (1.0246). As 
has been mentioned, these extremes continue for very short periods 
only. The general average salinity is satisfactory and within the 
limits of safety. 
OYSTER ENEMIES. 
° 
From statements of dealers and tongers, as well as from obser- 
vation, it appears that the oyster in this locality has no aggressive 
enemies. Physical conditions, however, are often decidedly injuri- 
ous to certain bars or localities. Storms may cause a shifting of sand 
or mud over the beds and stifle the mollusk, freshets may deposit a 
layer of mud, droughts may reduce greatly the food supply, and: 
freezing weather accompanied by a low tide may prove very harmful. 
