The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1909-12-11
OYSTER COMM|S-
S|ONERS MEETING

The Board of Oyster Commissioner
has submitted its biennial report to tn
Legislature of Mississippi for 1908 an
1909, setting forth in detail the amount
of receipts and expenses of the industr
under its supervision, with certain
changes in the law which, in the opinio,
OF the board, would be for the best in
terests OF the oyster industry. TIL,
Legislature, on March 20, 1908, enacted
law appropriating out of the State
treasury the sum of $4,000 to be used
IN 1908, in spreading oyster shells and
other suitable material for the establish
ment of new oyster reefs and oyster
beds, planting, dredging, cultivating
and improving the natural oyster reefs
now in existence along the Mississippi
coast. The whole of this amount was
expended by the commission in 1903 in
extending the reefs of White Harbor.
Square Handkerchief, Bay of Biloxi and
Bay OF st. Louis north of the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad bridge. This
amount was also supplemented by
part OF the sic, 200 which the board was
authorized to expend out of the revenues
derived from the oyster fund. During
1908 there were placed upon the White
Harbor Reef II, 1927 barrels of shells:
upon Square Handkerchief Reef, A O33
barrels: Bay of Bilnvi 40 70
=, ,oU5 barrels;
Do, nay OF St, Louis MS :ze1,, o,s38 barrels
making total OF 160,001 barrels spread
upon the reefs in all during 1908. There
were also 20,649 barrels of oysters placed
upon the Scranton Reef in extending it
during 1908. During 1909 there were
planted upon the Deer Island, Hender-
son Point, Square Handkerchief and
White Harbor Reefs 10t ,629 barrels of
shells in extending these reefs. All OF
the reefs mentioned are in fine condi-
ton, and oysters are being fished upon
them daily. The Waveland Reef, which
is by far the largest reef that has been
planted by the commission, is not in as
good condition as the other reefs.
This is accounted for by the commission
from the fact that no oysters have been
taken therefrom since the reef was es-
tah!shed. The reason why no fishing
has been done on the Waveland Reef is
that the Legislature in 1908 passed .
law f9r3idding the commission to permit
any fishing therefrom unless the persons
so fishing would pay cents per barrel
for oysters taken from this particular
reef, and also foIhadt- the use o + dredoes
aad scoops. This reef is about four
miles from the shore and but in water
from eight to fifteen feet deep. s~.,
impossibl il 4ough ;s
thefe1rom : .yaatbar - sa's
III ordinary oyster skiffs.
Inc commission recommends that this
section IN the law be repealed and a
provision be enacted placing Waveland
IN the same position as the other reefs
OF the State. The board also recon-
mends that law be passed allowino the
board to close at it's pleasure in the
oyster season any reef in the State
wnen IN the judgment of the commission
any reef has been impaired bv reason
OF the fact that too many oysters have
oeen taken therefrom, and to open same
at It's pleasure When in it's iudoment
such reef has been sufficiently replen
lshed. The board has been in con,,,n-
nlcatlon with the Bureau of Fisheries of
the Department of Commerce and Labor
OF the National Government, and that
department has sent to the commission
some valuable literature on oyster cul-
ture. Commissioner of Fisheries Geo.
M. Bowers has promised to send to the
waters some time aft er Janu-
ary, 1910, an assistant to make AN ex-
OF the oyster grounds of the
state. In this connection the board ex-
pressed It's thanks to the governor of
the State for his activity in interesting
the Bureau of Fisheries of the National
Government in the oyster culture of the
State. The board recommended that
the Legislature make the usual appro-
priation OF $4,000 for expenses and st5,-
OOO cut OF the oyster fund, to be ex-
pended in improving the reefs, spreading
shells, making new bottoms, under the
direction of the board for 1910 ane 1911.
The term of O. T. Cassilery as a mem
Der OF the board expired and w. J. Gex
vas commissioned by the governor as
ais successor. The term of J. D. Minor
also expired, and he was recommis-
stoned. The board expended 81 ,O59. %
n 1909 in equipping the patrol boat
With motor power. The recapitulation
If expenditures and receipts for the two
years shows total of S35 ,20O.84, with
balance of S60.10.
While in the midst of preparations