16 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



decreases shoreward from a scattering growth to a depleted area 

 which extends to low-water mark. For the outermost mile of its 

 length the reef is hardly more than 200 yards in width and the dense 

 growth averages about 100 yards wide. Within a half mile of shore 

 the dense area expands and curves southward to connect with the 

 corresponding area of Pass des Huitres bed. The proportion of 

 market oysters to small ones is generally high throughout this dense 

 area and is relatively much lower on the less densely populated 

 bottoms. 



As has been already stated, the scattering and very scattering 

 growths occur as fringes along the edges of the dense growth. The 

 depleted area expands on the shoreward part of the reef, extending 

 from the dense growth to the shore, as widely scattered clusters of 

 small oysters lying on the sand. These clusters lie in very shoal 

 water, and although the growth was not examined with care, it appa- 

 rently extends for some distance northward from the end of Cedar 

 Point. 



The depth of water lying over Cedar Point Reef varies from 6^ 

 feet at its outer end to less than 2 feet at the inner edge of the area 

 of dense growth. The surrounding water is generally about 2 feet 

 deeper than over adjacent parts of the reef. 



The following table shows in detail the results of the examinations 

 made on the bed: 



Details of Examination of Cedar Point Reef. 



