CIV EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



respecting the biology of the oyster. A person well acquainted with 

 the oyster-grounds of the region was also employed as an oyster pilot. 



Owing to the fact that nearly all the original triangulatiou i>oints 

 established by the Coast and Geodetic Survey had disappeared and 

 that the coast lines had been materially altered by currents since the 

 construction of the charts now in use, some delays occurred in the 

 placing of new signal stations, which it was necessary should be located 

 with much care to insure accuracy in the positions of all dredging and 

 sounding stations. The region was divided into three sections, to be 

 investigated in succession, the instructions being to complete the work 

 in one before beginning upon another. The southern half of Tangier 

 Sound, between its mouth and latitude 38° N., was firvSt taken up and 

 the hydrographic observations relating to it were practically completed 

 by July 18. Between that date and August 1 the examinations were 

 carried over the very shoal area between Tangier and Smith islands; 

 some time was spent in studying the advantages of the region for the 

 establishment of an experimental oyster station, which is uuich needed; 

 and lines of density observations were run back and forth across the 

 sound at different times of the tide. The Fish Ilatvix having returned 

 by this time, the dredging investigations were started August 3 and 

 were completed on the 28tli of the same month. 



Beginning then in the northern part of Tangier Sound, the inquiry 

 was continued there until October 22, the hydrographi<; and density 

 observations as far north as Clay Island light-house, and including also 

 Manokinand Great Annemessex rivers, being completed by that date, 

 as well as some of the dredging lines. The regular oyster-fishing season, 

 however, had opened in the meantime and hundreds of dredging boats 

 were at work, making it impossible to carry on the investigation in a 

 continuous and satisfactory manner. It was also considered that the 

 thorongh raking which the grounds were then receiving would render 

 the results to be obtained by the dredgings of the Fish HaicJc of little 

 value for comparison, so the vessel proceeded to Pocomoke Sound, 

 where the month of November was spent in delineating the oyster 

 beds. In this shallow area of water the Fish Ean-lc was only useful as 

 a.base of operations, the work being entirely carried on by means of 

 the steam launches and rowboats. No dredging was attempted. 



By the methods employed in conducting this investigation the out- 

 lines of the oyster-grounds, the areas of rank and scattered oyster 

 growth, and the barren grounds were all determined and marked out 

 as a part of the sounding work, the dredge being used to supi)lement 

 the results thus obtained, to ascertain the actual proportion of living 

 oysters to dead shells, the relative number of each size, tlie amount of 

 spat, and the general condition of the grounds. The proportions wer^ 

 calculated to the square yard, the dredge employed having a Avidth of 

 exactly 3 feet in the opening of the mouth and the distance over which 

 it was dragged each time being accurately determined. As this branch 

 of the work was completed in the southern half of Tangier Sound just 



