388 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
support whatever to the oysters, and permits them to sink and be 
covered; hence none are found on bottoms of this nature. The muddy 
ground is much better for their growth, and wherever oysters can 
gain “a footing” on such bottoms they will live and thrive, provided 
the density of the water be favorable. An excellent example of this is 
found in the extreme eastern arm of Matagorda Bay and in some parts 
of Mesquit Bay. Tlowever, these grounds are subject to an ocea- 
sional deposit of mud, which may cover up and destroy the oysters. 
But where they are able to live, it will be found all along the coast 
that oysters on muddy bottoms attain a much larger and more rapid 
growth than those resting on other grounds, and the flavor is generally 
considered equally fine. But few oysters will be found on sea bottoms 
abundantly covered with vegetable life, because the grass, ete., covers 
up and smothers them even more effectually than the mud. Hard 
grounds form the natural resting-places for oysters, and wherever the 
water is suitable and the sea bottom is of this nature a generous supply 
of these mollusks will almost certainly be found. 
After inspecting a large part of the oyster reefs and making careful 
inquiry of the best-informed fishermen, L estimate the area of the sea 
bottom in this State that has produced oysters during the last ten years 
as follows: 
Area of 
Localities, ‘Total area.| oyster- 
grounds, 
Sq. miles. | Sy. miles. 
SSHING AKG Wwe wsicy sees apreicace sens 4 
Galveston Bay....- a singicgnielets sateen te <8 565 50 
DI OtOGONU a DAY. 26-5. ccac citeees ca eoe ane 440 45 
Bapinitu Santo Bay. .<<<n5.0<ssnmes ce 61 6 
Dall AU TOMIO WAY coc awcece oes cece ene 129 1 
WEGQSGU ISBT een on aon cen htaain Games ox 23 3 
AXONSAN DAY con eas- stage cc eeee acs eee 163 15 
Corpus Christi Bay 2.5-2.ccacecser~ se 185 13 
LOPONa NAOT sys cactus ke een cae s 811 3 
2, 471 137 
It is believed that this area of 87,680 acres represents as nearly the 
extent of ground in Texas on which oysters have been found as can be 
obtained without an actual survey of all the reefs in the State. 
It is interesting to note in this connection that an oflicial report of 
the State of Maryland, the greatest oyster-producing region in the 
world, estimates the area of the natural oyster-grounds of that State, 
excepting those of the Potomac River, to be about 123,520 acres. The 
area of the natural oyster beds of Connecticut has by actual survey 
been determined to be 19,911 aeres. The U.S. Fish Commission sur- 
veys made in 1891 show 7738 acres now producing oysters in South 
Carolina. In 1888 the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey determined 
the area of natural oyster beds in North Carolina to be 8,237.9 acres, 
and in Georgia in 1890 to be 1,756,8 acres, 
