OYSTER BOTTOMS IN VICINITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLA. 67 
of this condition was greatly retarded or ceased entirely for a period 
of about three weeks. By the middle of April, however, just as the 
survey was nearing completion, the oysters were becoming milky 
throughout the district. The stock was generally strong and vigorous 
and had every indication of a satisfactory productivity. 
On the various reefs there were noted from time to time a number 
of spat, but they appeared to be those that failed for some reason to 
mature or develop properly the preceding year. These are usually 
called ‘‘runt oysters.” 
A freshet during the early spawning season may, in consequence 
of a deposit of mud and silt, have a serious effect on the spat as well 
as on the maternal oyster. 
OYSTER CULTURE. 
Although the State provides suitable regulations for leasing barren 
grounds for the purpose of oyster culture, the industry is carried on 
to a very limited extent by private enterprise. At the time of the 
survey there were but three claims, all situated in St. Vincent Sound, 
and having an area of 113.5 acres. 
During the spring of 1914 the State planted several thousand 
barrels of oyster shells on the principal public. bars from Green Point 
and Porter Bars in St. George Scund to Paradise Flat in St. Vincent 
Sound. 
From the good average quality of the stock and the thickness and 
solidity of the shells, it appears that the waters furnish food and 
lime in quantities sufficient for the growth and development of the 
oysters, and also that a larger acreage could be maintained profitably 
without impairing or vitiating the public beds. 
There have been pointed out under the discussion of barren bot- 
toms different areas having good firm bottoms, apparently suitable 
for the establishment of safe and remunerative oyster beds. The 
western limit of St. Vincent Sound has a hard bottom generally 
and but few oysters. This latter condition may be due in part to 
the reduced width of the sound, its exposure to storms, and occasional 
strong currents, but probably to the high salinity of the water 
for periods longer than the oysters can endure with the best results. 
Before the planting of beds at places tentatively selected, it may be 
advisable to study the course of the currents, the action of storms 
on the bottoms, and the deposit of silt. 
Bulkhead Bar, although it does not bear a very good grade of ma- 
terial, could be made to produce a much better quality of oysters, 
provided the beds were judiciously cultivated. As it now stands, it is 
too densely populated to yield stock that will command prices com- 
mensurate with the time and labor necessary to place it on the 
market. 
