6 CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Oyster culture 41 



Necessity and general considerations 41 



Demand upon the natural beds 41 



Previous output and possible yield 42 



The oyster laws and public sentiment 44 



Synopsis of existing laws 44 



Discussion of existing laws 46 



Attitude of the public toward oyster culture 47. 



Physical and biological conditions of oyster growth 48 



Bottoms and depths 48 



Tides 51 



Currents 53 



Temperature ■ 55 



Densities of water 57 



Storms, freshets, and silting 61 



Enemies of the oyster - 63 



Drumfish 63 



Mussels 65 



Borer, or boring clam 66 



Boring sponge 67 



Barnacles 67 



' ' Red grass " 67 



Food of the oyster : 68 



Character of food and manner of feeding 68 



Distribution and availability of food 69 



Food value of waters of Matagorda Bay 71 



Table showing stomach contents of oysters from principal 



reefs of Matagorda Bay and food constituents in the water. 72 



Table showing food value of waters of Matagorda Bay 73 



Methods employed in determining food value of water 75 



Description of organisms constituting food of oysters in Matagorda 



Bay 77 



Spawning of oysters 81 



Seed and cultch 82 



Summary, conclusions, and recommendations 85 



