8l2 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



Generally speaking, the beds in this (Pockomoke), as 

 in Tangier Sound, are in too much water to permit their 

 being uncovered by even the heaviest gale, or to allow 

 the ice to ground upon them at any time ; but those beds 

 in shoal water (of about one fathom), and the planted beds, 

 which are generally in less, are subjected to both evils. 

 The effect of gales and ice in Pockomoke Sound seems to be 

 less than that in Tangier Sound, in consequence of its less 

 extent and smaller area. 



GENERAL INFORMATION GIVEN BY OYSTERMEN. 



The following information is that derived from the 

 answers to the questions propounded to the fishermen and 

 others. 



All the oystermen and dealers that were encountered 

 during the season, so far as was possible, were interrogated. 

 That which was not pertinent to the subject, or evidently 

 influenced by self interest or other considerations, has been 

 excluded. 



There has been no material change of the channel 

 within the memory of the oldest fishermen, nor have they 

 ever found oysters in the deep water of the main channel 

 of either Sound. With regard to the improvement or 

 deterioration of the beds, it was the general opinion that 

 the beds had been much extended in size, that the quality 

 of the oysters had improved, both as to size and flavour, 

 but that the number on the beds had heen very materially 

 diminished, so much so that it was hardly profitable to 

 work on the same beds. 



. . . . In Fishing Bay, . . . though the beds 

 as a whole had deteriorated, during the last four years there 

 had been some improvement on account of a more rigid 

 observance of" close time." 



