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BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
to 32 parts per thousand at Timbalier Lighthouse (fig. 1). All but 25 samples were 
taken on flood tide. 
The bay is very shallow. On the western and southern sides, the depth ranges 
from 5.5 to 7 feet. The center and northeast sections are shallower, ranging from 3 
to 6.5 feet, but much of it on the eastern side does not exceed 4.5 feet. 
On March 8, the botton temperature averaged 71.5° F. (21.7° C.); March 12, 
61° F. (16.1° C.); March 13, 65° F. (18.3° C.); March 14, 62° F. (16.6° C.); March 
15, 64.5° F. (18.0° C.). 
LAKE RACCOURCI 
Lake Raccourci, which lies north of Timbalier Bay, has an area of approximately 
25 square miles. The depth varies from 2.5 to 4.5 feet. The bottom is soft mud 
mixed with small clam shells. There are no reefs in the center of the lake. A few 
oysters are to be found about the entire shore line, but the chief beds are at the north- 
ern end and at Philobruis on the southern boundary. At the time of the survey, 
March 9, 1934, the beds at the upper end of Lake Raccourci were not being worked. 
No mortality was observed. The salinity varied from 18 parts per thousand in 
Bay Courant above Lake Raccourci, to 22 parts per thousand at Philobruis. Boring 
sponge and boring clam were present. 
Thirty stations on flood tide and 8 on ebb tide were occupied on March 2, 9, 
and 14. The bottom temperature on March 2 averaged 63° F. (17.2° C.); on March 
9 and 14, the average temperature was 61.5° F. (16.4° C.); and 64.5° F. (18.0° C.), 
respectively. 
LAKE PELTO AND PELICAN LAKE 
Lake Pelto extends along an east and west line from Wine Island on the east 
where it connects with Terrebonne Bay, to Pelican Lake on the west. It connects 
with the Gulf at the southwest through Whiskey Island Pass. The lake is about 5 
miles wide and covers an area of 50 square miles. Oil wells are located at the eastern 
end of the lake about equidistant from the north and south shores. The few oysters 
found in this lake were of good appearance and flavor, and some from the western 
end were equal to any produced in the region. Extensive losses have been reported 
throughout the lake except along the northern shores and at the extreme western end. 
The greatest damage, amounting in certain cases to complete destruction of the beds, 
has occurred about the centrally located islands and along the southern shore within 
a radius of 5 miles of the oil wells. Of natural enemies, the boring sponge was most 
abundant, there were some boring clams and some drills. Most of the oysters in this 
region have very dark gills. 
Sixty-two stations were made on Lake Pelto on March 6 and 7. Salinity varied 
from 26 parts per thousand along the northern shore, to 30 parts per thousand along 
the southern shore. Bottom temperature varied from 64° to 71° F. (20.0°-21.6° C.) on 
March 7. The average depth through the center of the lake is about 7 feet. The 
greatest depth measured was 12.5 feet at Wine Island Pass. 
Pelican Lake is situated at the northwest end of Lake Pelto. The area is about 
9 square miles. The oysters were fairly fat, well flavored and of medium size. No 
mortality had occurred here according to the oystermen, and no clean shells were 
found on the reefs. The bayous leading off from the lake are well populated with 
coon oysters. The planted beds are limited to firm bottom around the shore and 
about the islands. Boring sponge was abundant, boring clams common, and there 
