332 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
This reef is said to be much overworked, and judging from our investigation such 
seems to be the fact. There were evidences of a good set of young oysters from 
the preceding summer, but the greater portion had been killed, and that, too, after 
obtaining quite a fair size, the shells being about an inch in diameter. A great many 
dead and broken shells, perforated by borers and covered with barnacles, were found 
on this reef. 
Some of the oysters caught were of remarkably fine size, of good shape, and fat, 
but fresh, the latter quality of course being only temporary. 
The enemies observed were mussels, barnacles, small crabs, and drills; the mus- 
sels thickly covered the oysters and the barnacles were plentiful. Almost every oyster 
was found to have a small crab living on the outside of the shell. Quite a large 
number of little conchs were found. The broken shells may indicate that the drum- 
fish was a visitor to this reef, although it is said that this fish prefers to attack the 
oyster when single and seldom in the reef, as the oysters are then not so easily acces- 
sible. The planted oysters are more scattered, and then the drumfish becomes quite a 
serious enemy. I was told by one of the oystermen from the western side of the bay 
that recently he had taken 25 barrels of oysters from a reef, culled them, and then 
bedded them previous to taking them to market, and in one night the entire lot was 
destroyed by a school of drumfish. 
Some good-sized oysters were found along the shore near Cypress Point. They 
were in good condition and were picked up at low water while going ashore to erect 
a signal. 
Bayou Coin' Reef . — This reef lies 2^ miles S. ^ E. of Cypress Point. It contains 68 
acres, 12 of which are rank and 56 are scattering. The depth of water ranges from 
4 feet in the central portions to 9 feet at the edges of the reef. Sticky mud with 
frequent patches of hard and shelly bottom and occasional areas of soft mud 
characterize the bottom and for a considerable distance around it. The formation 
of this reef, like the previous one, is simply the result of a gradual accumulation of 
oysters and dead shells built up by the bivalves themselves and is now elevated above 
the surrounding bottom. This elevation is now about a foot near the edges aud 
becomes as much as 5 feet at places near the middle of the reef. Ho grass was 
observed on this reef. 
Two observations taken here on the 20th and 27th of February give 1.0063 for the 
top and 1.0075 for bottom. On December 4 it was 1.0189 for the top and 1.0187 for 
the bottom. 
February 20 the surface temperature was 16°, bottom 14.5°; February 27, 
surface 12°, bottom 10.5° ; on December 4 the surface temperature was 18° and the 
bottom 17.5°. 
The condition of this reef, the quality of the oysters, enemies observed, etc., are 
about the same as found on Fish Eiver Reef. 
Bon Secours Reef . — This reef lies H. by W. 1 h miles from the mouth of Bon 
Secours River. It contains 38 acres, of whicli 12 are rank and 26 are scattering. 
The depth of water ranges from 4 to 7£ feet. The bottom is sticky mud, patches of 
soft mud, and shelly places. The surface of the reef is uneven and its general 
elevation is about 2 feet. 
A mean of two density observations taken on March 1 and 16 gives surface 1.0043 
and bottom 1.0046. Three observations taken here on December 4 give 1.0189 for 
surface and bottom. 
