46 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OP MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



It will be observed by comparing this table with that showing the 

 content of market oysters that certain beds, such as Kings Bayou, 

 Pass des Huitres, Dutch Island, etc., bear a quantity of small oysters 

 in excess of those of marketable size. On other beds, particularly 

 those like Bayou Reef, Pass aux Herons, etc., which have been most 

 worked, the contrary is the case, the small being quantitatively less 

 than the large. The reasons for this difference, particularly striking in 

 view of the loss of large oysters which Bayou Reef, Pass aux Herons, and 

 similar beds sustain through the fishery, may differ with the beds con- 

 cerned. It is probable that Kings Bayou Reef, from its location, feels 

 the effects of freshets, and many of the oysters are killed before they 

 reach a large size, leaving a preponderance of young. On other beds the 

 oysters are so densely crowded as to leave but little room for growth, or 

 they may be disadvantageously situated with respect to the food supply, 

 and the small oysters are stunted specimens rather than young. This 

 fact is of some importance when the oysters are used as seed, for stunted 

 oysters generally grow less rapidly than normal young when trans- 

 planted to places where the growing conditions are more favorable. 



In considering the adequacy of the small oysters to maintain the 

 future supply of marketable oysters, the measured quantity is mis- 

 leading, owing to the difference in bulk of individuals at different 

 ages. The significant real condition is the numerical relationship 

 which is shown in the following table: 



Number of Oysters Under 3 Inches Long for Each One Over that Length 

 ON THE Several Beds. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Scatter- 

 ing. 



Very 

 scatter- 

 ing. 



Depleted. 



Kings Bayou Reef 



Buoy Reef 



Cedar Point Reef 



Pass des Huitres 



Pass des Huitres Flats 



Dutch Gully 



Dutch Island, west side 



Big Gully 



Peter Billys Gully 



Grants Pass 



Pass aux Herons 



Redflsh Gully 



Black Lumps 



West Side Little Dauphin Island. 



Mussel Gully 



Sand Reef 



Dauphin Island Bay 



Sprinkels Bay 



Collier Bay 



East Base 



Half-Moon Patches 



Heron Bay, east side 



Heron Bay, west side 



Northwest Arm, Heron Bay 



Middle Ground 



Grassy Island 



Goose Bayou 



Southwest Van signal 



East of Marsh Island 



Planted oysters, Portersville Bay. 



North end, Portersville Bay 



West side. Coffee Island 



1.47 

 .94 

 2.99 

 2.21 

 1.70 

 2.55 

 2.08 

 3.02 

 1.75 

 1.02 

 1.G3 



.11 

 1.20 

 .50 



3.49 

 2.12 

 5.29 

 2.14 



6.86 



3.25 

 7.74 

 .73 

 2.30 



1.42 

 1.07 



5.17 



2.82 

 2.06 



2.37 

 "3." 35 



6.42 

 3.77 

 10.29 

 1.27 

 L23 



4.24 



'i."8i 



38.50 

 No small. 

 No large. 



29.60 



No small. 



No small. 



7.10 



12.07 



4.74 



No large. 



4.22 



35.33 



113.83 



81.33 



No large. 



No large. 



No small. 



1.00 



1.42 



1.75 



