806 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



of the tongs, in the fishery. If used with moderation, the 

 surface of the bed would be cleaned, its area extended, the 

 animals would be more evenly distributed and allowed 

 more room for development, and the spat, having a larger 

 and cleaner amount of " cultch" exposed, would probably 

 attach in greater numbers. 



As, however, without stringent laws, rigidly executed, 

 it would be impossible to keep the dredging within proper 

 limits, and as there is but little prospect of such a thing 

 occurring, it is perhaps better, on the whole, that dredging 

 is prohibited. The mud surrounding the beds is of too 

 soft a character to permit any great extension of the pre- 

 sent area, and thus one of the principal advantages of 

 using the dredge would be lost, while all its evils would be 

 retained. Even as it is the fishery is carried to excess, and 

 all the beds, especially those in the neighbourhood of 

 Hampton Roads, are deteriorating. 



THE MUSCLE HOLE BED. 



This bed lies on the western side of the channel, south 

 of the Mud Rock. It extends north and south about three 

 miles, is from one half to one quarter of a mile wide, and 



comprises an area of 3,060,000 square yards 



The depth of water is from 12 to 34 feet, and the bottom 

 very irregular, . . . . The mature oysters were large 

 and single, and of good quality. A very large proportion 

 of young growth was noticed, at least one-half the oysters 

 being of that description. A large number of young, but 

 few drills (astyris), were found on the hard bottoms of the 

 central part of the northern portion. On the central and 

 southern portions of the bed the number both of young 

 and drills decreased, while they increased greatly on the 

 western portion. A large amount of red sponge was found, 

 and in greater quantities about the edges of the bed, especi- 



