32 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN MATAGORDA BAY. 



somewhat elongate, but not objectionably so, and at the time of the 

 survey were quite fat, though insipid in flavor owing to the low 

 density of the water (about 1.0040). There are a few barnacles and 

 mussels, but the latter have not yet obtained the footing noted on 

 other beds in the upper bay. 



The density of growth on the bed is quite uniform and remark- 

 able, averaging about 2,200 barrels per acre, a total of 11,000 barrels 

 for the bed. The author knows of no productiveness approaching 

 this in any oyster region with which he is familiar. The bed is evi- 

 dently a valuable one, but has not been fished during the present 

 season (1904-5) owing to the low salinity of the water and the re- 

 sulting inferior flavor of the oysters. Should the proposed new cut 

 be completed and maintained, Boggy Lump should yield a good 

 product. 



GRASS LUMP. 



Grass Lump is a small, dense reef about 300 yards from shore and 

 about the same distance east of the mouth of Boggy Creek. It is 

 an old reef, elevated several feet above the surrounding bottom so 

 that its crest is nearly awash at low water. At the time of the sur- 

 vey its position was marked by a stake. The oysters are thin-shelled, 

 sharp-edged, and irregular in outline, the adults averaging about 4 

 inches in length, and single individuals and small clusters predomi- 

 nate. There are no mussels, but many barnacles, and the oyster shells 

 are characterized by a bright green color in places. The small ones 

 are hard-shelled, heavy, and with crenate edges, such as are usually 

 possessed by small oysters in localities where the water is shoal and 

 the bottom hard. 



The detailed examination yielded an average count per square 

 yard of about 55 oysters over 3 inches long and about 61 young. 

 Most of the young were between 1 and 2 inches long. The catch on 

 this bed contained many dead shells, but most of these were old 

 and derived from the dense shelly mass, 2 to 3 feet deep, on which 

 the living bed lies. It is understood that this bed has been worked 

 in former years, but nothing was done on it during the present 

 season. 



IDLEBACH PATCHES. 



These lie on the western edge of Idlebach Flats, a sandy shoal ex- 

 tending for upward of one-half mile from shore between East Point 

 and North Base signals. The growth is a very scattering one of small 

 patches, each containing a few oysters, single or in clusters. Several 

 sections examined on the most prolific bottom gave an average of 

 about 9 oysters per square yard, but this production is not maintained 

 over a very large part of the area shown on the charts. 



