28 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN MATAGORDA BAY. 



is more dense toward the north, gradually diminishing southward. 

 The contents are estimated at about 18,000 barrels, an average density 

 of 34 barrels per acre. 



The adults average barely 3J inches long and the small oysters 

 about 2 inches. The former are very hard-shelled and heavy, and 

 bear every evidence of a stunted growth. 



SPRING BAYOU REEF. 



This is a compact bed about 900 yards long and 200 yards wide, 

 containing about 32 acres, and lies between Fence and Greek signals 

 and about two-thirds of a mile off the mouth of Spring Bayou. It is 

 an old bed, lying on a moderate thickness of old shells, but is probably 

 of more recent origin than Boiler Bayou or Raymond Landing reefs. 

 It is said to have produced good oysters several years ago and to 

 have been worked during the season of 1902-3, but not since then. 



The average catch per square yard was 84 oysters over and 98 un- 

 der 3 inches long, and there were estimated to be on it at the time of 

 examination about 30,000 barrels of the larger size, a density of about 

 940 barrels to the acre. The adult oysters average a little over 4^ 

 inches in length. About half the catch consisted of single or double 

 oysters, the remainder being in clusters of moderate size, with mus- 

 sels and some barnacles attached. Some of the larger clusters con- 

 tained oysters of elongate form and considerable size, but on the 

 whole the individuals were of much better shape than on either Boiler 

 Bayou or Raymond Landing reefs, and in fact than on any of the 

 dense beds above Dog Island, with the single exception of Boggy 

 Lump. It is not unlikely that this is due to the fact that the bed has 

 been worked at a comparatively recent period, the clusters being thus 

 more or less broken up and the younger oysters permitted to grow 

 less subject to crowding. It is noteworthy in this connection that the 

 older clustered oysters more closely resemble the specimens of similar 

 age on Boiler Bayou Reef, though perhaps averaging a trifle greater 

 in transverse diameter. 



BOILER BAYOU REEFS. 



These beds lie about three-fourths of a mile off Fence signal. It is 

 stated that they were " first known to the oystermen about eight years 

 ago," but this should probably be held to mean that they were not 

 worked prior to that time. It is doubtful whether beds of this ex- 

 tent rising so near to the surface at low water could have remained 

 undiscovered, in view of their proximity to Matagorda and the fact 

 that they lie in the course of boats bound to the upper part of the bay. 



Boiler Bayou Reefs, as developed by the survey, are three closely 

 segregated beds, with areas of about 28, 7, and 1 acre, respectively. 

 They all repose on dense masses of shells several feet in thickness, 



