OYSTER-BEDS OF LOUISIANA. 71 



dence which results from lax enforcement of the culling laws. There 

 is no reason for believing that the beds were exterminated by oyster 

 enemies, although there is no doubt they did some harm, and no cre- 

 vasse has occurred during a period which would allow it to be offered 

 in explanation of the facts observed. Crevasses, and enemies, with 

 few exceptions, leave the shells upon the beds to serve as cultch and 

 assist nature in her efforts at recuperation; but the overzealous oyster- 

 man, raking seed from the natural beds, sometimes leaves not even the 

 shells. It is stated that for six or seven years oystering was here car- 

 ried on in a destructive way by men engaged in planting on other parts 

 of the coast. It is claimed that not only the small oysters but even 

 the shells were carried off, aud the present condition of the beds lends 

 color to the belief that the statement is true, at least in part. 



What has already occurred here is now taking place elsewhere, and 

 it behooves those interested in the oyster business of the State to cor- 

 rect a condition which will before long result in irremediable damage. 



THE NATURAL OYSTER-BEDS OF LA FOURCHE PARISH. 



The oyster regions of La Fourche include portions of Caminada and 

 Timbalier bays. The few oyster-beds at one time existing in the former 

 are now extinct and in the same condition as those in Jefferson Parish. 

 The two bays are connected by a canal, which furnishes the main avenue 

 of communication between Timbalier and the planting-grounds of 

 Plaquemines and the markets of New Orleans. 



At its western end the canal opens into Little Lake, in which there 

 is an extinct reef of small size, now utilized as a bedding-ground when 

 the oysters in Timbalier Bay are too salt. It is not improbable that 

 this reef was destroyed by the fresh water discharged into the lake by 

 the canal leading from Bayou La Fourche, the density here being but 

 1.0044. 



The most important oyster region in the parish is on the northeast 

 side of Timbalier Bay, in the vicinity of Jacks Camp, Camp Malnomme', 

 and Bayou Landry. At each of these places, but especially at the 

 first, there are considerable villages composed of the rude camps of 

 the oystermen built upon piles on the sea marsh. In the immediate 

 neighborhood of the camps the oystermen have their bedding-grounds, 

 upon which the oysters are stored until the cargo of the boat has been 

 completed. 



There are reefs all over this part of the bay, the oysters being of 

 moderate size and good flavor. The deusity is about 1.0160. Upon all 

 of these reefs there is a good growtb of young oysters, from 1 to 3 inches 

 long, about 50 per cent of the old oysters and dead shells having young 

 growth attached. A hurried examination of these beds indicates that 

 they are in a fairly satisfactory condition and not in danger of extermi- 

 nation unless through neglect of proper culling. There appears to be 

 no doubt that their productiveness has decreased during the past 

 four or five years, and from the estimates of a number of the oystermen 



