30 OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI EAST OF BILOXI. 



hazardous for oyster culture, although a few natural growth oysters 

 are found on it in places. In depths between 6 and 9 or 10 feet, and 

 probably somewhat greater, there is a good stiff and soft bottom, 

 most of the area falling within the former classification. iUthough 

 it is impossible to determine definitely without actual practical 

 experiment, this area, which covers upward of 9,000 acres, appears 

 to be well adapted to oyster culture. The streams discharging in its 

 immediate vicinity are comparatively small, and it is in proximity to 

 Dog Key and Ship Island Passes, therefore being guarded to a con- 

 siderable extent from destructive reduction of salinity during freshets. 

 The greater salinity might invite the inroads of drills or conchs, but 

 this danger could be somewhat minimized by planting seed oysters 

 rather than cultch. 



GENERAL PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. 



TIDES AND CURRENTS. 



During the hydrographic and biological survey tide gauges were 

 maintained at Pascagoula and Biloxi. The former was a plain staff, 

 graduated in feet and tenths, established at the end of the boathouse 

 at the light keeper's house at the mouth of the Pascagoula River. The 

 automatic gauge established by the United States Army engineers was 

 out of order and there was no bench mark available for reference. 

 Mean low water was established by readings from February 7 to 

 March 14, and by comparison with observations made simultaneously 

 during 20 days at Biloxi. 



At Biloxi a similar gauge was observed from February 21 to March 

 12, the mean low water being established by reference to the United 

 States engineers' gauges on channel beacons A and D, which have been 

 referred by leveling to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 bench mark. 



The observations were made primarily for the correction of the 

 soundings, and as the daily tidal range is small, usually about 18 

 inches, they are of little interest in connection with oyster culture or 

 the fishery. The tidal currents in the region are more or less modified 

 in velocity and duration by the winds, which often mask the lunar 

 tides. In general the currents are sufficient to maintain the distribu- 

 tion of oyster food. 



SALINITY OF THE WATER. 



The quantity of saline matter in solution in the water is an im- 

 portant factor in determining the growth and character of oysters. 

 If salt be absent entirely, or if its quantity be as great as that carried 

 by the waters of the open sea, oysters will not live, and as these two 

 extremes are approached the adverse effects are seen ia the stunted 



