8 14 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



after a dry season. Planted oysters above Pig Point and 

 the Old Rocks, in Pockomoke Sound, have been known to 

 die from absorbing too much fresh water, and those on the 

 Old Rocks have sometimes suffered from the same cause ; 

 but this only occurs during heavy freshets. 



With regard to the depth of water and character of 

 bottom, shallow water was preferred, and sticky mud or 

 mud and sand, about six inches in thickness over a hard 

 substratum, was considered the best, though a larger 

 amount of mud did not matter, provided it was not so soft 

 as to allow the oysters to sink in it, and had a strong 

 current over it. 



The oysters were said to feed on the flood tide, having 

 their bills open then and at no other time. No one had 

 noticed any enemies or animals that preyed upon the 

 oysters, and all seemed ignorant of the drills and their 

 destructive effects. 



The oysters are " culled," that is, they are separated 

 from the old shells and other debris, while the boat or 

 vessel is on or near the bed. Everything except the oyster 

 is thrown back, sometimes striking the bed and as often 

 the mud. The young oysters under a year and a half in 

 growth, and less than two inches long, are also thrown 

 back. 



All persons interrogated were of the opinion that at 

 least 75 per cent, of the oysters on a bed are taken off each 

 year, and that no more than 50 per cent, should be removed. 

 Off the beds near Haine's Point at least 100,000 bushels, 

 or about 20,000,000 oysters, were taken in the season of 

 1878. Off the Great Rock about 100,000 bushels were 

 taken by one hundred boats, in October and November of 

 1877. The oysters on the Rock at the end of November 

 were so scarce that but a very small number of boats could 



