OYSTEE BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI EAST OF BILOXI. 



15 



The area of dense growth, which comprises about one-fourth of the 

 total, undoubtedly represents the original natural growth, the sur- 

 rounding less prolific area having been stocked by shells and 

 oysters carried onto the mud by storms and waves and the 

 involuntary agency of the oystermen. This part of the reef is 

 extraordinarily productive, bearing an average of upwards of 1,400 

 bushels per acre, of which, however, the oysters over 3 inches 

 long constitute but 12 per cent in bulk and less than 6 per cent 

 numerically. In other words, for each oyster 3 inches or more 

 in length, there are approximately 17 smaller ones. Several small 

 schooners were tonging on this area at the time of the survey. 

 The area bearing the "rery scattering growth of market oysters prac- 

 tically surrounds that just described, lying in a depth of from 2 to 

 3 J feet of water. It contains hardly more than 20 per cent of the 

 quantity of large oysters per acre which occur on the dense area, but 

 as the small oysters are relatively still less abundant those over 3 

 inches in length comprise about 18 per cent of the total quantity, 

 although numerically they constitute less than 9 per cent. 



The depleted bottom which covers the inshore third of the reef is 

 practically devoid of oysters of marketable size, but in the number 

 and quantity of small oysters it excels the area of scattering growth. 

 The few marketable oysters are generally near the inner edge of the 

 bed, where the oyster growth becomes very sparse. Near the outer 

 edge of the area the young oysters are in places exceedingly abundant. 



A few scattered clusters lie on the sandy bottom stretching shore- 

 ward. 



The following table exhibits the results of examinations made at 

 various stations : 



Details of Examination op West Pascagoula Reef. 



DEER ISLAND, EAST POINT BED. 



This bed lies near the mouth of Biloxi Bay, north of the east end 

 of Deer Island, in a depth of water ranging from 3 to 6 or 7 feet. It 

 is over one-half mUe long and slightly more than one-third mile wide, 



