REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CV 



before the opening of tlie oyster season, the information obtained can 

 be relied npon to show the true condition of the grounds in that region 

 during- the hitter part of the customary period of rest which is allowed 

 them every year. 



A final report upon this survey has not yet been prepared for publi- 

 cation, but the principal results obtained, including maps illustrating 

 the outlines of the oyster beds and the relative abundance of oysters 

 in different parts of the two sounds, have been communicated to the 

 governors of Maryland and Virginia, both of which States are now 

 considering measures for the improvement of their oyster fisheries. 



In addition to his regular duties in recording the character and 

 condition of the material obtained by dredging, Mr. Moore made many 

 interesting observations upon the younger stages of oysters following 

 their fixation and until their sliells had attained a diameter of three- 

 quarters of an inch. He also succeeded in rearing the embryo oysters 

 as far as the larval-shell period, when they all suddenly disappeared, as 

 they did in the experiments made by Prof. John A. Eyder and Lieut. 

 Francis Winslow. No light Avas thrown upon the causes of this dis- 

 appearance, 



Mohjaclc Bay. — During tlie last of May, 1892, an oyster survey, iden- 

 tical in its purposes .and methods with that conducted the previous 

 year in Tangier and Pocoinoke sounds, was begun in Mobjack 3>ay, 

 Virginia, the launch Petrel being detailed to make the delineation of the 

 oyster beds and adjacent bottom, over whicli it was intended to run 

 dredging lines later in the season by means of the steamer Fish Hawk. 

 This investigation was still in progress at the close of the fiscal year, 

 at which time the sounding, operations in the bay proper were well 

 under way, but it was expected that some time would be required to 

 finish the survey in the tributary creeks, which contain beds of con- 

 siderable importance. The work was in charge of Mr. John D, Battle, 

 assisted by Mr. W. F. Hill and Mr. B. L. Hardin. 



Delineation of public oyster-grounds by Virginia. — During the spring 

 of 1892, under an act of the State legislature, arrangements were com- 

 pleted by the governor of Virginia looking to the delineation or marking 

 off of the natural oyster beds in the waters of that State by right lines', 

 with the ultimate object of retaining the areas so inclosed as public 

 grounds and of granting the use of any suitable bottoms outside of 

 those limits to individuals for oyster cultural or planting purposes. 

 The benefits to be derived by fixing the outlines of all grounds held 

 oi)en to the public, so that their boundaries may readily be determined 

 at any time by bearings from the shore or by sextant angles, unless, in 

 fact, they be actually buoyed out, and by establishing their status 

 permanently through legislative enactment to avoid constant interfer- 

 ence through the courts, will be thoroughly appreciated by everyone 

 who feels a genuine interest in the advancement of this important 

 fishing industry. 



