OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



21 



the so-called market stock being between 3 and 4 inches in length 



and growing m hea^^ cUisters. The scattering growth lies in a zone 



between the dense growth and the soft muddy bottom of Mississippi 



Sound in an average depth of water of about 5 feet. Practically 



none of the oysters of marketable size are over 4 inches long. On 



botli this area and on the bottom covered with dense growth young 



oysters are abundant, varying from 180 to 546 bushels per acre, with 



an average density of over 300 bushels per acre. 



The foUowmg data state the residts of the exammations made on 



this bed: 



Details of Examination of Dutch Island. 



An?le 

 No. 



Date of 

 examinOvtion. 



Depth 



of 

 water. 



Character of growth. 



Oysters caught per 

 " square yard. 



Estimated quantity oys- 

 ters per acre." 



Spat. Culls. 



Counts. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



436 



Dec. 29,1910 



do 



do 



Dec. 31,1910 

 do 



Dec. 29,1910 

 do 



Dec. 31,1910 



Feet. 

 4.50 

 4.00 

 5.00 

 1.00 

 3.00 

 5.00 

 5.00 

 3.00 



Dense 



4.4 

 .5 

 5.6 

 3.6 

 2.5 

 6.2 

 9.4 

 4.2 



53.8 

 25.5 

 72.5 

 28.4 

 33.4 

 44.5 

 25.0 

 19.4 



17.4 



12.5 



29.4 



16.9 



14.2 



5.6 



6.8 



.8 



Bush. 

 408 

 182 

 546 

 224 

 252 

 355 

 241 

 165 



Bush. 

 228 

 200 

 470 

 270 

 227 

 88 

 109 



Bush. 

 636 



437 

 438 



do 



...do 



382 

 1,016 



473 



..do 



494 



474 

 433 

 439 



do 



Scattering 



do 



479 

 443 

 .•^50 



472 



Depleted 



13 178 









BIG G 



ULLY. 













This bed, which it is understood is also known as Grants Pass 

 Gully, lies between the dolphin, or cluster of piles marking the eastern 

 entrance to Grants Pass, and Dutch and Grant Islands. The depth 

 of water varies from 9 or 10 feet close to the dolphin to less than 1 

 foot near the island. 



The area of density of growth and total content of small and 

 marketable oysters are shown in the following table: 



Oyster Growth on Big Gully Bed. 



* 



Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Estimated content of oysters. 



• Character of oyster growth. 



Under 3 

 inches. 



Over 3 

 inches. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



Dense 



Scattering 



Acres. 

 44 

 10 

 11 



Bushels. 



284 



277 







Bushels. 



310 



80 







Bushels. 



12,496 



2,770 







Bushels. 



13,640 



800 







Bushels. 

 26, 136 

 3,570 

 



Depleted 







Total 



65 







15,266 



14,440 



29,706 









In the deeper water close to the dolphin and for a distance of 200 

 or 300 yards west and northwest in the area indicated as '' depleted" 

 on the chart, there are practically no oysters, either large or small, 

 the bottom being composed in large part of soft mud with buried 



