Oyster bottoms of Mississippi sound, ala. 



43 



within private claims. In addition to this there are what appear to 

 have been natural beds, lying in less than 2 feet of water, between 

 Cat Island, Murder Point, and the mouth of Goose Bayou, most of 

 which are now planted or claimed as planted. 



The entii-e area of 4,008 acres of natural beds surveyed embraces 

 37 per cent of dense growth, 13 per cent of scattermg, 12 per cent 

 of very scattering, and 38 per cent of depleted bottom. This dis- 

 tribution is summarized in the foUowmg table: 



Summarized Statement of Areas of Market Oysters on Public Beds. 



It should be understood that the foregoing classification in respect 

 to relative density of oyster growth is based solely on the quantity 

 of oysters 3 inches or more m length, irrespective of the quantity of 

 small oysters present. The classification furthermore represents 

 the condition at the time of examination and the several classes may, 

 and undoubtedly wiU, undergo redistribution from time to time. 

 The areas of dense growth may become less productive from over- 

 fishing or other causes, whUe a heavy set of spat may bring the 

 lower classes into increased productivity and raise them a step 

 higher in the scale. In some cases the number of young oysters 

 on the beds at the time of examination was sufficient to produce 

 this effect in the following year. On the whole, however, the general 

 conditions shown in this report, barrmg accidents, should be main- 



