OYSTER BEDS OF MOBILE BAY. 
331 
The temperature of the water at both surface and bottom on February 1G was 
11° 0. ; on March 1 6 the surface was 22° and the bottom 19°. 1 luring the early part of 
December there was a uniform temperature of 17° top and bottom. 
The condition of this oyster reef can hardly be said to be flourishing. Although 
comparatively little oystering is done here at present, there is little indication that the 
reef is extending its limits; rather, judging from the condition of the specimens of 
oysters we caught and its situation near the northern limitation of oyster life in the 
bay, the tendency may be to diminish the extent of these grounds. 
The quality of the oysters was fair; some were quite line and fat, but of course at 
that time very fresh to the taste. Oysterman Robert Cook, who showed us the locality 
of the reef, said that most of the oysters on this reef were soft-shelled and did not well 
stand shoveling. The growth of mussels was very abundant and their presence must 
be deleterious to the growth of the oyster. Several borers, locally known as conchs, 
whelks, or drills, were brought up with the specimens we obtained by tonging; also 
several “ oyster fish,” though the latter are probably not injurious. 
Great Point Clear Beef to Cypress Point . — From Great Point Clear Reef to Cypress 
Point is a distance of about 10 miles. We were informed that there were no known 
oyster reefs in this locality at present. Years ago there had been a reef off Mullet 
Point, but it is now extinct. Our time being short and bad weather threatening to 
further curtail it, the investigation of the bottom of this area was limited to a single 
line of soundings, which was run from Great Point Clear Reef to Cypress Point 
without discovering any reef. Abreast of Mullet Point an area of mud and shells 
was passed over, and this may have been the old reef. 
Mr. Dorval Weeks, who lives at the entrance of Weeks Bay, told us that twenty- 
live years ago oysters grew in that bay, though none were growing there now; he 
also said that several attempts had been made in late years to plant them there, but 
with poor success. Lately Mr. Weeks has started a plant bed just south of the 
mouth of Fish River. This plant bed is about 1,000 yards long and 200 yards from 
shore and is doing well at present. 
That a more minute investigation in this locality would discover a number of 
beds of small extent is quite likely; in fact we were told such lumps have been found, 
but the finder generally keeps the knowledge to himself. 
Fish River Beef . — This oyster reef lies 1J miles W. by S. of Cypress Point. The 
reef contains about 83 acres, 19 of which are rank and 64 are scattering. The depth 
of water ranges from 7 to 10 feet. The bottom is soft mud, with some sticky and some 
hard areas. Ro grass was found. The area covered by the oysters generally is found 
to be from 1 to 3 feet higher than the surrounding terrane, doubtless due to the fact 
that the reef has built itself up. 
The mean of two density observations taken on February 27 and March 1G give 
1.003G for surface and 1.0043 for the bottom density. The mean of four taken half a 
mile west of Cypress Point during the period between February 24 and March 1G give 
1.0049 for surface and 1.0050 for bottom. Density observations taken in this locality 
on December 4 gave at a point south of the reef 1.0187 both for top and bottom, and 
at a point north of the reef 1.0171 for surface and 1.01 7G for bottom. 
On February 17 the temperature of the water in this locality was 12°; February 
24 it was 11.5°; February 27 it was 8.5°, and March 1G it was 23°; the surface and 
bottom varied no more than half a degree. On December 4 the temperature was 18°. 
