The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-16
KINDRED INDUSTRIES

KINDRED INDUSTRIES
 Tn addition to the shrimp and canning industries on Bayou la Batre there are six fish and oyster houses, doing local business or shipping fish and raw oysters throughout Alabama and adjoining states.
 All of the canneries and other indus tries at and near Bayou la Batre sus- tain heavy losses each year by reason of the shallow water at the mouth of the bayou, where it enters Mississippi Sound, and at two bars within the bayou between it's mouth and the county bridge. During the low tides of the winter months even the smallest of the shrimp ing and oyster boats are often delayed in entering or leaving the bayou, thus losing valuable time from work or jeo- pardizing their perishable cargoes.
 Vessels frequently run aground in the shallow water while loaded with shrimp, which have value to the catcher of $7.50 per barrel (20o pounds). Freight boats, loaded with canned shrimp for shipment to Biloxi Missl, or with box material for the canneries, have been detained by he low water for as much as five days at a time, waiting for tide that would permit such vessels drawing about six feet to enter or leave the bayou.
 0cAAyS OI lAlS CHdi hCleE dt IodyO Ia Batre entail an economic loss of many thousands of dollars each year. which could be saved by the deepen> ing of the channel and bayou 10 a depth of six feet at mean low tide. No statistics are known to be avail able showing the exact extent of the annual loss from this source, though abundant evidence is at hand to show that the shallow water in the bayou and at its mouth is seriously hamper ing and delaying the development of the shrimp, oyster and fish industry at Bayou la Batre.
 The deepening of the Bayou la Batre channel is of more than local interest and importance. The demand through out the United Stated for shrimp. oysters and other sea foods from gulf waters Is greatly in excess of the sup ply, so that any reasonable investment on the part of the federal government that will increase the production and improve the distribution of these foods will be of direct benefit to the coun~ try and it's citizens.
 VESSELS INCREASE
 As means for the protection of life and property. the improvement re. quested is important. Bayou la Naure is the only safe haven for the many small boats of the fishing fleet in nur- ricane weather between the ,'asca, gould river and the Mobile river. With the rapid increase in the number Of these vessels and in the tonnage of those required to serve the anno-ies as freighters, this necessity for q safe haven against the occasional storms that visit this coast becomes more pressing and important.
 tl- la Batre might also be used as lavsn in emergency by barges of the Misss- sippiWarrior plying Mississi ,pi Sound. Some idea of the size and sc> tivity of the fishing fleet at Bayou la Batre is given by the statement of Oliver Wentzell. agent there for the Texas company. that an average If 1000 gallons per day of gasoline from that company alone is used through out the shrimping season
 EXTEND BUSINESS
 Three of the canneries at Bayou la Batre have declared their intention to put in plants for drying and grinding shrimp heads and refuse to be used as fertilizer. also plants for the utiliza. tion of fish refuse for the same -2ur. pose. therepy creating new and cluch needed source of fertilizers In .his section.
 The statement Is made by A. H. Daughdrill of the canning firm, A. H. Daughdrill & Bros, Bayou la Batre. that that firm will go into the busi- ness of catching and shipping ree snappers from that port on much larger scale than heretofore, provided the channel there is so improved as to permit the passage of vessels suit able for snapper fishing without can. ger of long and frequent delays. This will serve to hold fishing crews end other labor together during the months when nothing is being done in the shrimp and oyster industries, thus giving year-around employment 10 the working people of that town and suc- tion.
 These canneries being, adapted for use in the canning of fruits and yes, etables. the Gulf Packing and Prese " ing company of Bayou la Batre Is pre- pairing to enter that field as an addi- tional means of providing work for