22 



OYSTEK BOTTOMS OP MISSISSIPPI EAST OP BILOXI. 



The very scattering growth lies in two areas, one of about 13 acres, 

 occupying the southern margin of the bed adjoining the channel, and 

 the other of about 28 acres at the western end of the bed. The 

 examination of the former indicated about 70 bushels of larger oysters 

 and 183 bushels of smaller ones per acre. The larger area at the 

 western end of the bed has per acre oiily 50 bushels of oysters over 

 3 inches, but is much more productive in small ones, especially in 

 that portion which adjoins the dense growth, where examination 

 indicated 1,120 bushels per acre. This prolificness covers but a small 

 area and the production of both large and small oysters decreases 

 toward the boundary stakes of the planted beds. 



The depleted bottom, of which there are two areas, shown on the 

 chart, is almost bare. The following examinations were made: 



Details of Examination op Back Bay, West Bed. 



THE BEDS IN SUMMARY. 



The natural oyster beds of Mississippi east of Biloxi are restricted 

 to the waters adjacent to the mouth of the Pascagoula River and 

 Biloxi Bay. The beds of the former locality, of which there are two 

 and some insignificant patches, embrace almost exactly two-thirds 

 of the naturally productive bottom ; Scranton Reef, the larger of the 

 beds, comprises nearly one-half of the oyster area of the region sur- 

 veyed, and West Pascagoula Reef about one-sixth. The two, with 

 the small patches alluded to, cover about 1,126 acres, of which 115 

 acres have a dense growth of oysters of marketable size, 115 acres a 

 scattering growth, 531 acres a very scattering growth, and 365 acres 

 are so sparsely covered as to be classified as depleted. All of these 

 lie in water not exceeding 5 feet in depth and most of them, especially 

 the more productive parts, are covered by 3 feet or less. 



In Biloxi Bay there are four beds of more than insignificant size. 

 The largest of these, covering about 234 acres, lies on the west side 

 below the railroad bridge. The others in the order of their areas 



