20 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 



market oysters are of medium size, most of tliem being bstween 3 and 

 4 inclies long with a few of greater lengtli. The young growth is 

 prolific. The areas of scattering growth are two, lying respectively 

 to the east and west of the dense growth in slightly deeper water. 

 In these areas the oysters are generally in clusters, lying on a hard 

 bottom. Tlie young growth is slightly more abundant than on the 

 denser portions of the bed. 



The following table expresses the details of the several examinations 

 made on the bed: 



Details of Examination ok Dutch Gully. 



Angle 



Date of 

 examination. 



Depth 

 of 



water. 



Character of growth. 



Oysters caught per 

 square yard. 



Estimated quantity oys- 

 ters per acre. 



No. 



Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



475 



Dec. 31,1910 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Feet. 

 1.8 

 1.0 

 2.8 

 4.3 

 1.0 



Dense 



2.3 

 1.3 

 .8 

 2.3 

 9.6 



31.3 

 23.3 

 22.2 

 33.1 

 18.3 



15.3 



16.8 



15.4 



8.5 



4.2 



Bush. 

 235 

 172 

 211 

 248 

 196 



Bush. 

 245 

 269 

 246 

 136 

 67 



Bush. 

 480 



476 



.do 



441 



477 



.do 



457 



485 



Scattering 



384 



487 



. ..do 



263 













Dutch 

 Survey c 

 extends f r 

 Dutch 



The 

 bed: 



WEST SIDE OF DUTCH ISLAND. 



is a small shell bank called Gull Island on the Coast 

 s. The oyster bed designated by the name used above 

 om the western edge of the island to barren bottom, between 

 Peter Billy's Gully. 

 g table exhibits in summary the data relating to this 



Oyster Growth on West Side of Dutch Island. 





Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Estimated content of oysters. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Under 3 

 inches. 



Over 3 

 inches. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



Dense 



Acres. 

 42 

 21 

 24 



Bushels. 

 322 

 298 

 165 



Bushels. 



279 



99 



13 



Bushels. 



13,524 



6,258 



3,960 



Bushels. 



11,718 



2,079 



312 



Bushels. 

 25,242 



Scattering 



Depleted 



8,337 

 4,272 







Total - 



87 







23,742 



14, 109 



37,851 









Close to Dutcti Island there is an area of hard shelly bottom with 

 a growth of densely clustered irregular-shaped small oysters, prac- 

 tically devoid of market stock. Over most of this area the water is 

 very shallow, reaching a maximum of 2 feet. To the westward of 

 this is an area of dense growth, most of w^hich lies in water from 2 to 

 4 feet deep, with a maximum of about 5 feet at its western edge. On 

 this part of the bed there are few oysters over 4 inches long, most of 



