OYSTER-BEDS OP LOUISIANA. 5^ 



worked, there would doubtless result an improvement in the quality of 

 the oysters, due to the breaking up of the clusters and the thinning out 

 and better distribution of the individuals. It would be distinctly 

 advantageous if many of these oysters could be gathered as seed and 

 planted elsewhere, under restrictions advocated in the recommenda- 

 tions attached to this report, thus producing not only an improvement 

 in the character of the plants, but also in the environment of those left 

 upon the natural beds. 



There are several places in the bay where the growth is quite dense, 

 and over considerable areas there is an average of from 6 to 8 clusters 

 of from 3 to 8 adult oysters each per square yard. Surrounding these, 

 and more or less connecting one dense area with another, there are 

 scattered clusters lying on the soft mud. The comparatively few oysters 

 taken from the beds in this region are used exclusively for steaming, 

 and the alga, which often grows in luxuriant tufts on the shells, detracts 

 from the value of the oysters for this purpose, as it is extremely difficult 

 to prevent its filaments from becoming mingled with the "meats." 



Northwest Jack Williams Bay is a northern extension of East Karako 

 Bay, and it bears the same general characteristics as are found in the 

 northern part of the latter. Its density is about 1.0110, the depth of 

 water is from U£ to 3£ feet, and the bottom is largely composed of soft 

 mud. Two beds of oysters were found — one in the center of the bay, 

 where there are scattered clusters on the soft mud, and another around 

 a shell island in the eastern part, the latter resembling the exposed 

 reefs described above. There is also a scattered growth along the 

 southwest shore. 



Picnic Bay extends westward from the bay just described, and at the 

 strait connecting the two is a small bed of oysters which extends for 

 some distance into the southern part of Drum Bayou. There are also 

 a few oysters scattered all over the bay, the mud there being very soft, 

 with a number of dead shells imbedded beneath the surface. They are 

 long, narrow, and sharp-edged, and grow in clusters, bearing mussels, 

 barnacles, and tunicates. The shells frequently contain dark vesicles 

 filled with black mud. The density in this bay was several degrees 

 lower than in the neighboring water, being but 1.0070. The depth 

 rarely exceeds 2£ feet. 



Drum Bayou and Turkey Bayou. — Drum Bayou is a long, narrow 

 channel leading from Mississippi Sound southward to Picnic and North- 

 west Jack Williams bays, and giving off a branch westward to Turkey 

 Bay. The depth of water ranges from 5 to 10 feet, with about 3 feet 

 on the bar across the mouth. The density is about 1.0105 and the bot- 

 tom is mostly soft mud. There are some large single oysters in the 

 channel, together with many dead shells and some young growth, and 

 at low water occasional large clusters of raccoon oysters are exposed 

 along the banks. The oysters in the channel are rather long and nar- 

 row, but at the time of examination were in fair condition and of good 

 flavor. The creek leading into Turkey Bayou possesses the same gen- 



