26 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN MATAGORDA BAY. 



an average per square yard of 6 oysters over and 49 under 3 inches in 

 length. Of even the larger size very few individuals are found 

 which measure 3 J from end to end and practically all of the smaller 

 ones are between 1 and 2 inches, and the shells of all are more or 

 less covered with barnacles and have a greenish coloration, indirectly 

 due to their frequent exposure. This part of the reef is estimated to 

 contain about 2,200 barrels of oysters over 3 inches long, an average 

 of only about 20 barrels per acre, which is therefore shown on the 

 chart as a very scattering growth, though it is in reality a rather 

 dense growth of small oysters. The shells of the larger oysters espe- 

 cially are thick, indicating probably considerable age and slow 

 growth. The bed is worthless for commercial purposes, though the 

 oysters might be used for planting. 



East side. — The eastern margin of the reef is regular in contour 

 and sharply defined, and the bed rises sharply from the adjoining 

 muddy bottom to meet the exposed crest. For the purposes of this 

 report, it is considered to extend on the eastern side of the crest for 

 its entire distance, with a length of a little over 2J miles and an 

 everage width of 100 yards in the northern and 200 yards in the 

 southern half. At the extreme edge of the reef the depth is from 

 2J to 3J feet, rapidly decreasing toward the crest. 



There is a dense growth of good-sized oysters over the entire eastern 

 side, though in places, especially toward the south end, it was more 

 or less fished out during the season of 1904—5. A number of exami- 

 nations indicate an average content per square yard of 83 oysters over 

 3 inches and 66 under that length. It is estimated that this part of 

 Dog Island reef probably had on it in April, 1905, about 145,000 

 barrels of oysters of the larger size, a general average for the entire 

 area of about 1,000 barrels per acre, exclusive of the young. In the 

 northern half the density of both adults and young is greater, espe- 

 cially the latter. Past the middle of the reef toward Tiger Island the 

 adults are very much in preponderance. The diminished population 

 of the southern half of the bed is directly traceable to the extensive 

 oystering carried on there during the present and preceding seasons. 

 It is said that the season of 1904-5 was the first in many years 

 when the northern half of the reef had been worked, and man} 7 good 

 oysters were obtained, especially near and in Dog Island channel. 

 The product of the two localities differs in general character, the 

 oysters of the northern part being in larger clusters and more elon- 

 gate, while single oysters of rounder shape are more frequent toward 

 the southern end. The densest growth of both adults and young was 

 found toward the middle, where the excess over the average was 

 about 75 per cent. The quality of the oysters is good. 



South end. — This is commercially a very important part of the reef, 

 which for the purposes of this report is arbitrarily considered to in- 



