OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI EAST OF BILOXI. 9 



of the oysters is concerned, at the time of the survey. If the oysters 

 were of ordinarily good condition and shape, which unfortunately in 

 most cas^s they were not, the areas indicated as bearing dense and 

 scattering growth would yield a product sufficient to make tonging 

 remunerative under the economic conditions existing. Where the 

 market oysters are rated as very scattering, the growth is insufficient 

 to support a fishery at the low price which the product would yield. 

 The depleted bottom is that on which the product of market oysters, 

 at the time of the survey, was very small, and is not necessarily 

 formerly productive bottom now denuded, as might be supposed 

 from a strict definition of the descriptive term employed. On the 

 contrary, it may be formeily barren bottom now coming into pro- 

 duction. 



The barren bottom, which is that totally devoid of oj^'sters, and in 

 most cases of shells, vastly exceeds the oyster bottom in extent. 

 Its interest in connection with the survey lies in its relative avail- 

 ability for oyster cidture; that is, whether or not its general character 

 is such as to enable it to become productive if proper measures to 

 that end be taken. The most unportant consideration is, usually, 

 the character and degree of stability of its constituent materials. 

 If the bottom be too soft the shells and oysters deposited thereon 

 will soon become engulfed. 



In previous surveys the method ordmarily used by oystermen has 

 been employed, the consistency of the bottom bemg determined by 

 probmg with a pole. By notmg the resistance which the bottom 

 imposes to the penetration of the probe, the observer forms an ojmiion 

 of its relative hardness and of its suitability, in that respect, for oyster 

 cidture. In many cases different observers will not agree as to the 

 proper term by which to describe the bottom so tested, and it is there- 

 fore difficult to convey to another the meaning desired. To overcome 

 this difficulty an mstrument " has been devised wliich gives these data 

 mechanically, by measurmg the number of inches the bottom is 

 })enetrated by a plunger of a constant v/eight and size falling through 

 a uniform distance. The instrument is used from an anchored boat, 

 from 6 to 10 tests being made at each station. Any readings which 

 are markedly higher or lower than the others are discarded on the 

 assumption that the plunger has fallen into a crab hole or other 

 depression, or that it has encountered a shell or similar accidental 

 obstruction. The average of the remainmg depths of penetration, 

 as indicated on the scale of inches inscribed on the rod, is regarded 

 as the measure of the consistency of the bottom. 



o Illustrated and described in "Condition and extent of the natural oyster beds and barren bottoms 

 af Mississippi Sound, Alabama." By H. F. Moore, Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 769. 



