OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



37 



The depleted bottom consists partly of soft mud, partly sand, and 

 in places 3 inches of the former overlying a substratum of the latter. 

 The following examinations were made on this bed. 



Details of Examination of Heron Bay, West Side. 



Lying in the middle of Heron Bay is a long, narrow bed of planted 

 oysters, continuous at its northern end with what appears to be a 

 natural scattering growth. It is probable that this whole area is on 

 an old bed. 



HERON BAY, NORTHWEST ARM. 



It was understood that the northeastern arm of Heron Bay is com- 

 prised within the limits of private ownership, is used for purposes of 

 oyster culture, and contains no public beds. For that reason it was 

 not examined. Northwest Arm is public bottom, but contains very 

 few oysters of value. The following table shows the area, density of 

 oyster growth, and total contents: 



Oyster Growth in Heron Bay, Northwest Arm. 



The area of scattering growth lies as a strip along shore at the 

 eastern side of the mouth of the arm. The market oysters on this 

 area are rather large and some of them of good shape and quahty. 

 The depleted bottom stretches from shore to shore in the upper part 

 and continues as a strip along the western shore in the lower half of 

 the arm. The oysters, of which a fair proportion are of good size, 

 lie in clusters on a bottom of soft or very soft mud in which there are 

 many buried shells. The indications are that this body of water 

 would produce good oysters if a firm surface could be provided by the 

 use of sand and shells. 



