22 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



shells. The area of scattering growth lies south and west of this 

 in a depth of water between 1 and 5 feet. Although this part of the 

 bed bears but about one-fourth as many market oysters per acre 

 as are found on the dense area, there are practically as many small 

 ones. The bottom bearing the dense growth of market oysters 

 lies between that just described and Dutch and Grant Islands, its 

 western limit being defined by the very shallow water extending from 

 Dutch toward Grant Pass. The depth of the water ranges from 

 about 1 to 5 feet and the market oysters vary in quantity from 160 

 to upward of 600 bushels per acre. The densest growth occurs 

 north of Grant Island, and on the steps lying between that point and 

 Gull Island there is a large proportion of single oysters, a considerable 

 number of them being large. 



The foregoing description is based in part on the data shown in the 

 following table: 



Details of Examination op Big Gully (Grants Pass Gully). 



PETER BILLYS GULLY. 



This lies opposite Big Gully and on the west side of the shallow 

 water lying south of Dutch Island. It includes the oysters lying 

 between the bed on the west side of Dutch Island and Grants Pass 

 bed and is continuous with both. Its area, character of oyster 

 growth, and contents are shown in the following table: 



Oyster Growth in Peter Billys Gully. 



