REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 25 
seemed to be in as good condition as those examined on the natural 
beds, and the spat was still attaching and thrifty. Drawbridge Reef, 
about 24 miles southwest of the planted beds, which was next examined, 
is one of the best grounds as regards quality of oysters, but it has been 
overfished. It showed no signs of any special destruction which could 
be attributed to a late cause. It occupies a stable shelly bottom where 
the observations were made. On Blind Shoal Reef, another shelly 
bottom, about a mile northwest of the planted grounds, dead shells were 
more numerous, which may indicate a greater mortality, and the oysters 
were not so finely shaped as those on Drawbridge Reef. This bed is 
nearer the fresh-water point, but the density determinations were as 
high as 1.0126 and 1.013. The oysters on Half-Moon Reef, judging from 
the shells, show some deaths which may have been of late date, but not 
enough to assign any other cause for mortality than that of old age and 
the usual casualties. ° 
Finally, the character of the bottom on the planted beds was tested 
by means of a sounding pole, which showed it to be generally soft, and 
jn some places very soft. The pole would usually go down very easily 
a distance of 10 to 12 inches through the mud before it reached a 
harder substratum. Several times shells were felt at a depth of 10 or 
12 inches, apparently resting on this substratum. Judging from the 
softness of the bottom and the mud-stained condition of the shells, Mr. 
Battle is led to believe that mud has been a factor which will account 
in part for the destruction of the planted oysters. The general trend 
of the currents over these beds is southeast and northwest. One may 
readily conceive that strong northwest winds, which have a sweep 
down the bay from the mouth of San Jacinto River, would affect objects 
lying on the bottom in shallow water. It would naturally impart a 
motion to them and cause them gradually to sink. It is reasonable to 
suppose also that this disturbance would make the water very thick 
with suspended mud, especially that part of it near the bottom and 
immediately surrounding the oysters, and if continued for any length 
of time would resalt in great injury to the beds. Southwest winds 
would have a similar but less effect, for the reason that they do not 
have the same sweep. 
Comparing the general character of the bottom of the natural beds 
with that of the planted grounds, it will be found that the former are 
much more stable, owing to the yearly accretion of shells on which the 
living oysters grow. The plantings already made on the artificial beds, 
amounting to 400 bushels to the acre, may possibly furnish a foundation 
which will render the bottom more stable and result in the formation 
of a continuous oyster bed in the course of time, and the chances of 
success in that direction would be greatly heightened by the addition 
of more shells. 
Within 14 miles of the planted area are located mills for the manu- 
facture of creosote. It had been conjectured that the refuse from these 
mills might have been responsible for at least a part of the mortality 
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