32 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners 



APPLICATION OF DEFINITION. 



FACTORS NECESSARY. 



Much is left to be done after the adoption of this definition 

 of a natural oyster bar before its application can be made to 

 the oyster grounds surveyed. Not only must the actual condi- 

 tion of the grounds in question be accurately ascertained but 

 also the conditions under which oystermen resort to the oyster 

 grounds for the purpose of making a livelihood. 



The facts to be ascertained concerning oyster grounds are : 



1. The quantity of oysters they will yield. 



2. The average number of oysters, as- removed from the 

 ground, required to fill a bushel measure. 



The factors which must be taken into account in determining 

 the minimum livelihood of an oysterman are : 



1. Necessary annual expense. 



2. Length of actual working season. 



3. Total amount of bottom worked annually by an oyster- 

 man. 



4. Price received by oystermen for oysters. 



5. Quantity of oysters necessary to sell for the minimum 

 livelihood of an oysterman. 



The methods pursued to ascertain the facts and conditions 

 necessary for the application of the Goldsborough definition 

 of a natural oyster bar to the grounds surveyed by the Com- 

 mission, and the conclusions- arrived at in each case are fully 

 set forth in the pages which follow. 



SURVEY DATA INSUFFICIENT. 



It became apparent early in the survey that the data secured 

 on the hydrographic survey boat are valuable only for ascer- 

 taining the outlines of the oyster grounds and for giving, a 

 basis for determining the relative values of different grounds 

 and different parts of the same ground. They furnish no 



