8 10 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



been I should not have been able to detect it, on account 

 of the shallowness of the water in which the scattered 

 oysters lie, which prevented the schooner's dredging for 

 them. 



EFFECT OF GALES AND ICE. 



As there was no opportunity for me to investigate this 

 question in person, the examination of the beds having 

 been accomplished during the summer and autumn months, 

 the following information is derived from the queries put 

 to the oystermen and persons inhabiting the shores of the 

 Sound. 



. . . . The gales from the eastward, southward 

 and eastward, and southward, cause an increase of depth 

 over all the beds, amounting sometimes to two feet, and 

 the northerly and westerly gales a contrary effect, but not 

 sufficient to leave any of the natural beds uncovered. . . 

 Gales from any direction cut away considerably the 

 leeward shores and points, especially when they are of a 

 sandy nature. 



. Though it is said the amount washed away 

 from these points is considerable, no additional deposit 

 was ever noticed on the beds, nor did the gales appear to 

 affect them in any way other than has already been des- 

 cribed, except in conjunction with the ice in the winter. 



Ice never rests upon the main beds except in a few 

 isolated cases, where there happens to be a very shoal 

 spot on the bed ; . . . The injury done to the oysters 

 by the grounding depends upon the length of time the 

 oysters are in contact with the ice. If it only touches in a 

 few places, not much harm is done ; indeed, it is supposed 

 to protect the majority on the bed by covering them ; but 

 where there is a contact all over the " rock," the oysters 

 are killed in a short space of time. The number of points 



