OYSTER BEDS OF MOBILE BAY. 
329 
there seems to be no apparent reason why those particular spots should offer any 
special advantages to the growth of the oyster. The bottom, although generally soft, 
contains areas which are of somewhat firmer consistency. From au inspection of the 
densities it will be seen that during the freshet which prevailed during the early part 
of the year the density of the water was uniform over this part of the bay and that 
the densities which were taken the following December (after a protracted drought) 
likewise show the salinity of the water to be uniform. The depth of the area lying 
outside of the 6-foot curve varies from 7 to 10 feet, of which a considerable part is 
about 8 feet. Between the 6-foot curve and the shore are areas of hard sandy bottom. 
This area contains 19,000 acres, and a large part of it may be classed as suitable for 
oyster-culture. 
In the large area which lies to the north and northwestward of the section just 
described — taking that portion which lies between the shore and the 12-foot curve — 
no oyster reefs are said to exist, except the one in the vicinity of Great Point Clear. 
It would be interesting to make a more minute examination and determine from 
actual survey if oysters exist, and to what extent, over this area containing over 
37,000 acres. 
The bottom of a large portion of this area which lies outside of the 6-foot curve is 
soft; but sticky bottom, hard mud, and even sand frequently occur. The observed 
densities taken in this section do not vary much from those at the places where the 
oysters are found. If there are no more oyster reefs it may be simply due to the lack 
of something suitable on which the spat could catch during the spawning season. 
WESTERN SHORE OF MOBILE BAY. 
On the western side of the bay the natural oyster beds are found to be much more 
extensive than those on the eastern shore. The beds are larger, and at present in a 
more flourishing condition. They may be somewhat favored in the struggle for exist- 
ence by locality, lying as they do more in the pathway which the fresh waters from 
the large tributaries at the head of the bay are said to take. This may be the source 
of an abundance of food, although at times this fresli-water supply may become a 
danger by continuing too long. 
At present oyster beds are found all along this side of the bay, and they extend 
from Fowl River to Grant Pass, a distance of 12 miles, and then for 4 miles more in a 
southeasterly direction and parallel to the northern shore of Little Dauphin Island. 
From the accompanying chart it will be seen that they are almost entirely 
confined to the area lying between the 6-foot and the 12-foot curve. That the 6-foot 
curve defines the inshore limit of these beds is probably due to the fact that this is 
about the outer limit of the sandbar which skirts the entire shore in this part of the 
bay. The outer edge of this bar is from one-half to 1 mile from shore. It is only 
along the outer edge that this sandy cordon is continuous, for in many places between 
here and the shore are found areas of mud of various degrees of hardness. 
The area between the shore and the 12-foot curve, from Fowl River to the eastern 
end of Little Dauphin Island, comprises about 25,000 acres, 5,000 acres of which lie 
between the shore and the 6-foot curve. The actual location and extent of the natural 
beds or “reefs” are shown on the chart. As far as surveyed they amount to 2,245 
acres. 
