18 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI EAST OF BILOXI. 



Details of Examination of Small Patches, Biloxi Bat. 



BILOXI BAY BELOW RAILROAD BRIDGE. 



This bed begins close to the piers of the railroad bridge and stretches 

 down the middle of the bay southwest of the channel for a distance of 

 about 1^ miles. It has a maximum width of about 600 yards near 

 its middle, tapering toward the ends, and it embraces an area of 

 about 234 acres. At its inner edge, where it runs to, or practically 

 to, the stakes marking the private beds, the water is about 3 feet 

 deep, gradually increasing to from 5 to 7 feet toward the channel. 

 It consists of a long strip of dense and scattering growth, broadly 

 fringed on its southwest side by less prolific bottom and with an inter- 

 rupted narrow belt of the same character toward the channel. 



Its general condition and extent are shown in the following table: 



Oyster Growth in Biloxi Bat Below Railroad Bridge. 



The scattering growth occupies nearly one-half of the total area 

 of the bed as a strip from 100 to 300 yards wide running practically 

 the entire length of the bed. On this area there is an average 

 growth per acre of about 122 bushels of oysters 3 inches or more 



