Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners 145 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 45 



Areas Designated for Tonging Operations. 

 Pocomoke Sound. 



The oyster-producing section of Pocomoke Sound, belonging 

 to the State of Maryland, extends along about twelve miles of 

 coast line from Williams Point to Cedar Straits and, in its 

 widest place, is about two miles in width. A continuous sup- 

 ply of fresh water enters this section from one only of its 

 several tributaries, the Pocomoke River. The tide has a mean 

 rise and fall of about 2% feet, with a maximum of about 4^/2 

 feet, and is the chief source of the currents which flow over the 

 oyster bottoms. The rate of flow over the natural bars was 

 observed at the examination stations during the period covered 

 by the survey of the section (May 29- June 27) at stages of the 

 tide when the flow is swiftest. Near shore the observations 

 show that currents are never swift, but that a gentle "set" of 

 the water takes place with the tide. In the shallow water about 

 half way between the shore and the Maryland-Virginia Line a 

 maximum flow of about .30 .mile per hour takes place. Near 

 the State Line the maximum flow is from .68 and .79 mile per 

 hour. Currents as swift as these were not observed in 1878, 46 

 but the difference in result is no doubt due to difference in 

 method and time of observation. The table below gives the 

 minimum and maximum densities of the water observed over 

 the natural bars. 



Minimum Tempera- Maximum Tempera- 

 Date. Name of Bar. Density. ture. Density. ture. 



6:27 Kitts Creek 1.0074 80 1.008 80 



5.296:17 Marumsco 1.008 66 1.0109 73 



5:17 Gunby 1.0113 71 1.0118 70 



5:30 Long Point 1.009 66 1.0092 65 



5.29,30 Watkins 1.009 66 1.0101 65 



5:30.. ..Stone . . 1.0094 66 1.0098 66 



^charts showing the location of all natural oyster bars and crabbing 

 bottoms in the waters of Somerset County, the triangulation stations on 

 shore and the lines bounding Somerset County waters and the waters 

 adjacent thereto opened for leasing with Somerset County, will be pub- 

 lished on or about February 1, 1908, by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, 

 page 37 of Winslow's Report. 



