24 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN MATAGORDA BAY. 



what too high owing to the fewer large oysters found on the north- 

 ern part of the eastern side. The density of growth is greatest near 

 the margin of the reef and becomes less as the crest is approached. 

 A few boats fished on the productive area during the season of 1904-5, 

 but the bed has been resorted to but little since 1902-3, when it 

 was more or less depleted by the oystermen. The present supply has 

 been growing since then. It is reported that ten years ago it yielded 

 an annual output. 



The west side of the reef, though of much greater extent, is like 

 the corresponding parts of the other long reefs of Matagorda — of 

 practically no value commercially. It extends from Shell Island to' 

 within about 100 to 150 yards of the shore, with an average width of 

 about 200 yards and a total area of approximately 120 acres. It is 

 much indented on its western margin with projecting tongues of 

 shelly oyster-bearing bottom separated by muddy bights and blind 

 channels (not shown on the chart). The oyster-bearing bottom con- 

 tains an average of 67 young oysters per square yard, practically the 

 same number as on the productive area before described, but the num- 

 ber of oysters over 3 inches long is only about one-fourth as great and 

 the average size of the individuals is so much less as to make them 

 practically useless for the markets. It is estimated that there are 

 about 7,500 barrels of 3-inch oysters on this part of the reef, an 

 average of 63 barrels per acre, excluding the muddy areas. The 

 slope from the surrounding mud to the exposed crest is more gentle 

 than on the eastern side. The oysters are generally of raccoon type 

 and are never taken for the market. 



FORKED BAYOU REEF. 



This reef lies about one-half mile northwest of the mouth of 

 Forked Bayou, is about 200 yards long and 100 yards wide, and has 

 an area of about 4 acres. It is an old bed reposing on a mass of 

 shells, has a depth of about 2 feet at low water on its crest, and 

 rises from a surrounding depth of from 4i to 6 feet. It is said 

 to have been overwhelmed and partially destroyed by sand during 

 the gale of 1875, a statement that is substantiated by the presence 

 of a layer of sand about 1 foot below the present deposit of shells 

 and oysters. Oystermen state that it has been fished more or less 

 regularly for the past thirty years, and several boats were working on 

 it at the time the survey was made. 



In April, 1-905, this reef had an average density per square yard 

 of 31 oysters over and 30 under 3 inches in length, both old and 

 young being more abundant toward its eastern edge. Its total 

 contents of marketable oysters are estimated at 1,500 barrels, an 

 average of 375 barrels per acre. The adults are large (averaging 

 from 4^ to 5 inches long) and broad, with clean shells of moderate 



