Mapping of productive oyster reefs-Galveston Bay, Texas.

One hundred and sixty oyster reefs in Galveston, Trinity, East and Dickinson Bays were charted. A hand sextant was used in surveying all reefs. Approximately 3,046 hectacres (7,527 acres) of exposed reefs ranging in size from .4-526 ha (1 to 1,300 ac) were surveyed. The Redfish Bar reef complex, which has produced 75% of all commercially harvested oysters in Texas since 1962, contained 982 ha (2,427 ac). Twenty-one and four-tenths percent, or 653 ha (1,613 ac) of reefs were in waters closed to oyster harvesting.