30 OYSTER BOTTOMS OP MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



Details of Examination op Mussel Gully. 



SAND REEF. 



This bed lies in Mobile Bay, stretching from Redfish Gully to Pass 

 Drury for a distance of about 2^ miles along the outside of Little 

 Dauphm Island. It has an average width of about one- third mUe 

 from above low-water mark to a depth of about 10 feet. It is the 

 largest bed falling withm the limits of this report, but at the time 

 of exammation it was of comparatively little economic value, and at 

 no time were boats observed at work on it. Its extent, the distri- 

 bution of oyster growth, and content of oysters are shown m the 



following table: 



Oyster Growth on Sand Reef. 



The dense growth covers a nearly continuous strip running the 

 entire length of the bed. The oysters occur in rather large clusters 

 and are of medium size, with comparatively few over 4 mches long, 

 and inferior m shape and quality. The scattermg growth lies prin- 

 cipally mshore of the upper or northeast half of the dense area, extend- 

 ing well up to or above low-water mark. The oysters lie in clusters 

 and are apparently tossed about by the waves and often more or less 

 submerged in the sand. The very scattermg growth fringes the off- 

 shore edge of the upper third of the dense area. The depleted bottom, 

 which is the most extensive of the four classes of o^^ster growth repre- 

 sented, lies mamly in a large body in the half of the bed close to the 

 mouth of the bay. The oysters on this bed probably rarely, if ever, 

 become fit for market, and are of value as seed only, and even for 

 such purposes they should be used with caution, owing to the danger 

 of transplanting the drills which abound. 



