OYSTER BEDS OF MOBILE BAY. 
337 
and we were informed that not much oystering was going on there; that, although 
very fine, the oysters were not well liked in the local market on account of the sand 
which was liable to get on them in opening. They were also said to “ open ” (become 
fat and fit for market) much later in the season than those nearer the pass. At the 
time we were here the oysters appeared to be of good size, fat, and palatable. 
Grant Pass and vicinity . — Extending across Grant Pass and lying on both the 
north and south side of it is an oyster reef covering about 237 acres, 04 of which are 
rank and 173 scattering. On the south this bed extends to and across Pass aux 
Herons channel and onto the flats for some distance. To the northward the same is 
true; here it extends for some distance toward Cedar Point, increasing the area of 
this reef to about 400 acres. The depth of water over this area ranges all the way 
from 2 to 9J feet, with an average depth of less than 6 feet. 
The character of the bottom is largely hard and shelly, with areas of soft mud. 
The greater portion of the area is shoal, except where it is crossed by Pass aux Herons 
and Grant Pass. 
We were told that the present condition of this reef was not flourishing. No 
doubt excessive fishing is the prime cause. While taking observations on this reef 
in December I was shown a number of fresh oyster shells with drill holes made by the 
“conch,” and was informed by the local oystermen that these “ conchs” were found to 
be more numerous this fall than had been noted heretofore, and that they sometimes 
found the oysters on large areas of the reef killed in that way. They also said that 
the “conchs” or “drills” are seldom found in the gullies, and that the “drill” seems 
to prefer hard shells to soft ones. 
When culling oysters on the reef the oystermen generally separate the conchs 
from the callings before throwing the latter back on the reef. The conchs are then 
destroyed. A persistent adherence to this rule must be of some benefit to the reef. 
The quality of the oysters in this neighborhood was found to be good, their size 
and shape varying somewhat in the different localities of the reef. 
Dauphin Island Bay and vicinity . — West of the entrance to Dauphin Island Bay 
are two small reefs containing about 15 acres each; one is composed of scattering 
oysters, the other about half rank and half scattering. From the mouth of Dauphin 
Island Bay to Pass aux Herons the bottom was examined with the above result and 
a few additional patches of scattering oysters were noticed. In this bay oysters have 
been planted and are said to be doing well ; it is said that toward the eastern eud they 
do not thrive so well, owing to a prevalence of water of high degree of saltness. Quite 
a fine specimen of oyster from the reef at the mouth of the bay was given us by Mr. 
Marshall, who lives on Little Dauphin Island; also a specimen showing the type of 
oysters growing in the bayous connecting this bay with Mobile Bay. The latter are 
of the “coon oyster” variety (long and slender) and some grow to such length that 
they are locally called “cow horns.” 
The bottom of the bay is mostly sticky mud; near the mouth areas of shelly 
bottom and sand are met with. 
The mean of eleven observations taken at various times from March 8 to 21 gives 
a density of 1.0051 for surface and 1.0093 for the bottom; the lowest found was 1.0032 
and the highest 1.0136. Six observations taken December 1 and December 4 give for 
surface 1.0182, bottom 1.0181. 
F. C. B. 1895—22 
