OYSTER BEDS OF MOBILE BAY. 
333 
In March the temperature of the water ranged from 13° to 22°. In December 
the water had a uniform temperature of 18.5°. 
The condition of this reef seemed to be fairly good at the time of our investiga- 
tion. It does not seem to have been overworked as much as the one northward of it, 
as the rank oysters are found to be more in proportion to area. There were found a 
great many dead shells and a few shells of young oysters. The young oysters were 
not plentiful, but this may have been due to the violation of the culling law, which 
requires that the oysters should be culled on the reef and the cullings (oysters not 
coming up to the requisite standard in size) thrown back into the water. The purport of 
this law is to prevent the extinction of the reef, but many local oystermen claim that 
by knocking off the young oysters and throwing them back into the water on the reef 
you make it easier for the drumfish to consume them, while if the reefer took the young 
oysters and planted them in his oyster garden the general prosperity of the industry 
would be increased even if the natural beds suffered. 
The quality of the oysters from this reef was found to be very fine both as to size 
and condition, being fat and well-shaped. 
The enemies observed were the same as on the neighboring reefs. 
Bon Secours River and Oyster Bay . — In this locality the planting of oysters is 
carried on to a considerable extent. We were told that in Bon Secours River and 
Oyster Bay there remained very little space suitable for oyster-culture not already 
occupied. In the river the oyster gardens occupy the space between shore and the 
channel. They are situated on both sides of the river and extend from its mouth for 
a distance of nearly 3 miles. Oyster Bay has an area of a trifie over 1 square mile 
and is said to be equally as thickly planted. As in our investigation actual survey 
was confined to the natural reefs, the number of acres under cultivation can not be 
given. The bottom area of the river as far as planted, together with that of the bay, 
amounts to about 1,000 acres. 
The planted oysters from this locality are considered very fine in the local market. 
The drumfish is said to be very destructive to the plant beds, so much so that in many 
instances brush fences are used to prevent their unwelcome visits; these fences are 
simply underbrush stuck in the mud around the oyster beds. This method, of course, 
is limited to shallow water and small areas. 
Sliellbank Reef . — This oyster reef, which derives its name from its proximity to a 
collection of oyster-shell heaps on the shore, lies N. by W. J W., distant 1 mile from the 
mouth of Collins Creek. It contains 188 acres, 90 of which are rank and 98 scattering. 
The depth of water ranges from 4 to 10 feet. The bottom consists of soft and sticky 
mud and hard shelly lumps. This reef is similar in formation to those already 
described and is in the nature of a nearly flat mound, which rises in places to an 
elevation of 5 or 6 feet. There are also several outlying lumps. 
One observation taken on February 22 and three on March 1 give a mean density 
of 1.0054 for top and 1.0062 for bottom. The density observation taken December 3 
showed 1.0192 for top and 1.0205 for bottom. 
During the latter part of February and the first days ot March the temperature of 
water varied from 12° to 15°, with no change for difference in depth. On December 3 
it was 18° for top and 19.5° for bottom. 
This reef, we were informed by residents of this locality, was being rapidly 
depleted by excessive fishing and other causes, drills mostly, and is of much less 
extent than in former years; however, its condition seems to be as good as or better 
