24 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 

 Oyster Growth in Grants Pass. 



About one-half of the area inckided within this bed is covered by 

 a dense growth of market oysters, the eastern half being especially 

 productive. The oysters are larger than most of those produced in 

 this region and of better shape. There are many in the channel, 

 especially south and east of Grants Island, but on account of the 

 deep water, which reaches a maximum of 19 feet, and the strong 

 currents the work is arduous at most times, and most of the tonging 

 is done in depths of from 3 to 5 or 6 feet on the south side of the 

 eastern half of the channel. No boats were observed at work on 

 the north side of the row of dolphins. 



The scattering growth on this bed lies in two patches — one of about 

 13 acres surrounding Grants Island and the other of about half the 

 size between the easternmost two channel marks and continuous with 

 the similar growth on Big Gully bed. The oysters in the latter area are 

 somewhat larger and better than those surroundmg Grants Island. 

 The depleted bottom lies at the western end of the bed, between the 

 dense growth and the barren bottom. Both the young and the mar- 

 ket oysters here lie in patches of varying productiveness. 



The followmg table shows the character of this bed at the several 

 places at which detailed examinations were made : 



Details of Examination of Grants Pass. 



