16 



OYSTER BOTTOMS Or MISSISSIPPI EAST OF BILOXI. 



and contains about 106 acres of all degrees of productiveness. Its 

 southwest edge is indeterminate, the oyster growth bemg continued 

 shoreward to or above low-water mark. 



The following table summarizes the area and distribution of oyster 

 growth on this bed: 



Oyster Growth on Deer Island, East Point Bed. 



The area of dense growth is a small, narrow patch of not over 5 

 acres in extent, which is the most prolific part of the bed in both 

 market and small oysters. The oysters are of excellent shape and 

 good quality. The scattering growth occupies the outer edge of the 

 bed in a depth of from 6 to 8 feet. The market oysters vary in 

 quantity in different places between about 75 bushels and 110 bushels 

 per acre, and are similar in shape and quality to those on the area of 

 dense growth, but small ones are much less numerous. The very 

 scattering growth is inshore of the two areas previously described, and 

 covers about 35 acres; and the depleted bottom, which occupies 

 approximately 47 acres, borders the southern and western edges of 

 the bed. The boundaries of this growth are indeterminate on the 

 landward side, as scattered clusters occur in the shallow water to 

 low-water mark or beyond. 



This bed, as a whole, produces the best oysters found in Mississippi 

 during the survey. The exammations made gave the data shown in 

 the following table: 



Details op Examination op Deer Island, East Point Bed. 



