BULLETIN OF THE UNITED 8TATES FISH COMMISSION. 55 



by the kiml of dredges used. Tbe dredges ou board the Lookout 

 were large and with good-sized teeth, well suited for work on mud bot- 

 toms sueh as are found mostly in connection with the planted beds, but 

 for the natural beds a " scrape '' is required in order to gather up many 

 oysters. 



The oysters in this bay were all very large and of exceedingly tine 

 flavor, perhaps the finest yet tested. 



September 20. — Execution Light-house Rock. This is a patch of nat- 

 ural oyster ground of several acres in extent, and located in water from 

 8 to 12 fathoms in depth. Four dredgings were made from the steamer, 

 the first two bringing up full complements of oysters, and the second 

 two bringing up mostly mud and shells. The oysters as a rule were 

 large, but set very ragged, similar to the Raccoon oysters of the South, 

 and of very poor flavor, being quite thin and watery. 



Probably later in the season they would be of better flavor, as the 

 oysters on this rock spawn later than ou any other bed in this part of 

 the sound. 



First dredge: 253 oysters, shells, some set. 



Second dredge : 87 oysters, shells, some set. 



Third dredge: 35 oysters, mud, shells. 



Fourth dredge: 23 oysters, mud, shells. 



A few drills were noticed among these oysters. 



September 22. — Port Chester and Eye Beach. In the immediate neigh- 

 borhood of Port Chester and in New York waters only planted beds 

 were found, and these did not appear to be very prolific, and such oys- 

 ters as were taken were quite small. 



First dredge : 5 oysters, shells, few drills. 



Second dredge : -t oysters, shells, few drills. 



Along Eye Beach there was quite a strip of natural ground, but all 

 the oysters were very small, as they are culled over constantly during 

 the season for seed for the planted beds. The small oysters were quite 

 numerous, however, although, on account of their size, no great number 

 could be taken at any one haul. Most of the oysters were about the 

 size of a silver quarter or a half dollar. They bring 75 cents a bushels 

 as seed, and. a re sold to New York and Connecticut oystermen. 



First dredge : 50 oysters, some shells, crabs. 



Second dredge : 75 oysters, some shells, crabs. 



Third dredge : GO oysters, some shells, crabs. 



The dredges used here are small scrapes of from 15 to 20 pounds in 

 weight. A good many drills were found among these oysters. The 

 crabs taken were small and of the stone-crab species. 



September 23. — Northport Harbor. It was expected that a good deal 

 of natural ground could be found in this harbor, but soon after we 

 began work we were led to infer from the statement of Mr. William 

 Thompson, who was taken ou board as pilot, that there were no nat- 

 ural grounds, until the outer harbor was reached, and we did not learn 



