14 



OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI EAST OF BILOXI. 

 Oyster Growth on Patches Near Scranton Reef. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Estimated content of oysters. 



Under 3 

 inches. 



Over 3 

 inches. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



Scattering 



Acres. 



10 



10 



8 



Bushels. 



207 



270 



4 



Bushels. 



77 



36 



3 



Bushels. 



2,070 



2,700 



32 



Bushels. 

 770 

 360 



24 



Bushels. 

 2 840 



Very scattering 



3,060 

 56 



Depleted 







Total 



28 







4,802 



1,154 



5,956 









The area of scattering growth, which covers about 10 acres, Ues 

 northwest of Scranton Reef proper in the shallow channel running 

 into West Pascagoula River. The larger of the patches of scattering 

 growth and the depleted bottom lie on the eastern edge of the sand 

 spit between Scranton and West Pascagoula Reefs. 



The following data are derived from the examination of these 

 patches: 



Details or Examination of Patches Near Scranton Reef. 



Angle 



Dat« of 

 exami- 

 nation. 



Depth 



of 

 water. 



Character of 

 growth. 



Oysters caught per 

 square yard. 



Shells 



per 

 square 

 yard. 



Estimated quantity 

 oysters per acre. 



No. 



Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



847 

 809 

 838 

 837 



1911. 



Feb. 1 



Jan. 31 



Feb. 1 



...do 



Feet. 

 4.0 

 4.0 

 3.5 

 2.5 



Scattering 



Very scattering . . 



do 



Depleted 



2.2 



24.5 



4.3 



.6 



27.4 



43.0 



5.3 



.0 



4.8 

 1.5 

 3.0 



.2 





 

 

 2 



Bu^h. 



207.2 



472.5 



67.2 



4.2 



Bush. 



76.8 



24.0 



48.0 



3.2 



Bush. 



284.0 



496.5 



115.2 



7.4 









WEST PASCAGOULA REEF. 



This body of oysters lies on the west side of the sand spit off the 

 mouth of West Pascagoula River, in a depth of water ranging from 

 2 feet on the eastern and northern edges to about 3^ feet on the west 

 and south. It consists of an area of dense growth almost surrounded 

 by very scattering oysters. The northern third of the bed, although 

 prolific in young, is rated as depleted, owing to the practical absence 

 of oysters over 3 inches long. The oysters on the bed as a whole are 

 undersized and badly clustered. 



The following table summarizes the area and conditions of oyster 



growth : 



Oyster Growth on West Pascagoula Reef. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Estimated content of oysters. 



Under 3 

 inches. 



Over 3 

 inches. 



Seed. 



Market. 



Total. 



Dense 



Acres. 



71 



119 



95 



Bushels. 



1,261 



177 



279 



Bushels. 



171 



38 



3 



Bushels. 

 89, 531 

 21,063 

 26,505 



Bushels. 

 12, 141 



4,522 

 285 



Bushels. 

 101,672 



Very scattering 



25,585 



Depleted. . 



26,790 







Total .. . 



285 







137,099 



16,948 



154,047 











