28 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



BLACK LUMPS. 



This bed lies west of liedfish Gully and south of the western part 

 of Pass aux Herons and is continuous with both. The name as used 

 by the oystermen appears to be of very indefinite application and is 

 probably more restricted than as employed in this report. Some of 

 the oysters in the part immediately adjoining Pass aux Herons are 

 excellent; but m most places they arc inferior. Drills were found in 

 abundance at places on this bed and a great man}?^ small spat had 

 been killed by them. 



The area, conditions of oyster growth, and total contents of seed 

 and marketable oysters are shown in the following table: 



Oyster Growth on Black Lumps. 



• 



Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Estimated content of oysters. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Under 3 

 inches. 



Over 3 

 inches. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



Scattering 



Acres. 

 13 



49 



77 



Bushels. 



140 



136 



14 



Bushels. 



139 



49 



3 



Bushels. 

 1,820 

 6,664 

 1,078 



Bushels. 



1,807 



2,401 



231 



Bushels. 

 3,627 



Very scattering 



9,065 



Depleted 



1,309 







Total . . 



139 







9,562 



4,439 



14,001 











The scattering growth occurs as a small area adjoining the south- 

 west corner of Redfish Gully bed, and south of it is a small patch of 

 very scattering growth. A larger area of the latter is found at the 

 northeast corner of the bed, in the angle between Pass aux Herons 

 and Redfish Gully beds. The depleted bottom, which comprises 

 the major part of the bed, lies in the western and southern part. 



The detailed data of the examination are as follows: 



Details of Examination of Black Lumps. 











Oysters caught per 



Estimated quantity of 



Angle 

 No. 



Date of 

 examination. 



Depth 



of 

 water. 



Character of growth. 



square yard. 



oy 



Bters per acre. 























Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 







Feet. 











Bush. 



Bush. 



Bush. 



325 



Dec. 8, 1910 



4.40 



Scattering 



4.4 



15.6 



8.7 



140 



139 



279 



386 



Dec. 16,1910 



3.40 



Very scattering 



3.2 



5.5 



1.8 



61 



29 



90 



334 



Dec. 9, 1910 



3.90 



do 



27.5 



24.0 



8.0 



351 



128 



479 



337 



do 



3.70 



do 



8.2 



1.8 



1.8 



70 



29 



99 



338 



do 



2.20 



do 



20.0 



13.6 



1.9 



235 



30 



265 



519 



Jan. 2, 1911 



12.00 



do 



1.4 



7.2 



2.8 



60 



45 



105 



521 



Jan. 5, 1911 



14.00 



do 



1.5 



4.2 



2.1 



40 



34 



74 



317 



Dec. 8, 1910 



4.90 



Depleted 



2.5 



.0 



.0 



18 







18 



318 



do 



3.50 



do 



.0 



.0 



.0 















319 



do 



3.00 



do 



.0 



.0 



.0 















320 



do 



3.00 



do 



7.1 



.0 



1.3 



50 



21 



71 



335 



Dec. 9, 1910 



5.70 



do 



.7 



.0 



.0 











5 



336 



do 



Dec. 8,1910 

 Dec. 7, 1910 



5.70 

 2.80 

 4.50 



do 



.0 



3.3 



.0 



.0 



2.1 



.0 



.0 

 .0 

 .0 







38 









 

 







316 



do 



38 



239 



do 













