334 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
tlian any of tlie territory in the eastern part of the bay. The evidence, from the speci- 
mens obtained, points to the fact that the drills cause considerable depredation. The 
specimens show that line oysters grow on this reef; they were fat, well formed, and 
large. The oysters from this reef always command a good price in the Mobile market; 
and this fall, when 75 cents per barrel was being paid for western “reefers,” the 
“Shellbank” oysters brought $1.75 per barrel. 
Shellbanlc Reef to Fort Morgan . — Nodetailed survey was made in this section of 
the bay, for we were told that westward from Shellbank Reef as far as Fort Morgan 
there were no oyster reefs of importance. Up to within a few years there was a reef 
a little to the northeastward of Little Point Clear, but drills and sanding up have 
nearly destroyed it. Years ago it had an area of about one fourth of a square mile. 
From Little Point Clear to Fort Morgan oysters of fair quality are found in the 
bayous and along the shore. Some are of the variety locally called snapper or slough 
oysters, having a white shell. Although not generally in the market, they are said to 
be good oysters. 
Planting is done to some extent in the bay north of Collins Creek, and is reported 
to give fair results. Shellbank Bayou and Collins Creek are also planted, the plants 
in these places being very fine. Some exceptionally fine specimens were shown us by 
Hon. H. P. Hanson from his planted beds in Collins Creek. 
WESTERN SHORE— DESCRIPTION OF AREAS EXAMINED. 
Fowl River . — In the area lying between the mouth of Fowl River and Mobile Bay 
Light a number of reefs of scattering oysters and oyster shells were found, separated 
from each other in some instances by a considerable distance. Altogether they cover 
about 100 acres, scattered over an area of several square miles. The depth of water 
here ranges from 5 to 11 feet. Soft mud, mud and shells, and patches of hard shelly 
places characterize the bottom. 
During February and March the water was entirely fresh in tins neighborhood 
and extended from the shore nearly to the light house. In the early part of the 
following December a density observation taken near the shore gave 1.0116 for surface 
and 1.0117 for bottom, while another taken nearer the channel and just north of the 
beds gave 1.0118 and 1.0182, respectively. 
During the first time that observations were made in this locality the temperature 
of the water varied all the way from 12° to 22°, depending on time and location, 
surface and bottom generally the same. On December G it was 17°. 
The specimens obtained from these beds were mostly mud-covered shells, and, as 
well as could be judged, the beds were several inches under the mud. The proximity 
of these beds to the channel, which is being continually dredged, and the dumping 
of the mud taken from this channel near by are responsible for the depletion of these 
beds. 
White House Reef . — This oyster reef, which received its name from a house stand- 
ing on shore just west of the reef, lies between Mobile Bay light-house and Point 
Juliet. The reef is 3 miles long, extending NNE. and SSW. It varies in width from 
a few yards to 1,300 yards. Its nearest approach to the shore is at its southern 
extremity, which is 14 miles offshore; its northern end is about 3 miles from shore. 
TLis reef contains 881 acres, of which 286 are rank and 595 are scattering. 
The depth of water ranges from 74 to 12 feet, with a general average of about 104 
feet. The bottom is about the same as that of the other oyster beds in the bay, except 
