70 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 
7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 
part, at the junction with the southern divisions, or in the neighbourhood of North 
Bunbury shoals, between the northern parts of the quadrangle and March Water 
section. 
August 6, three samples taken on the way to Bideford river showed the presence 
of oyster fry, but none over 120 mu. South of Low point, 1021 at 70° F., and on route 
to Grand river the same result was secured, and also from Grand river to March water. 
August 7, the story of yesterday was repeated, and again on the 8th. The catch 
between the ‘‘ Klondike ” bed and North Bunbury shoals was mostly composed of snails. 
On August 10, at the west end of Horseshoe shoals, and therefore on the line of junc- 
tion with the Lower bay, snails were few, but mussel and other bivalve larve most abun- 
dant; few oyster fry were observed; but so much sand was present as to render the 
examination difficult. On August 17, towing north of Bunbury en route to Bideford 
river yielded one fry 160 mu, on high water. Farther north, 1021-3 at 70° F., a second 
fry of 160 mu turned up, and a few smaller fry near Low point. Fry grew more abun- 
dant near the mouth of Bideford river. August 20 enroute to Grand river, six samples 
were taken from North Bunbury to half-way to cape Malpeque (Charles point) with 
water 1020 at 68° F., and no fry were found. Next day, between Ram and Bunbury 
islands, at the entrance to March Water channel the same story was repeated. We may 
conclude, therefore, that the main stretch of Richmond bay proper is well depleted of 
oysters, and that the more abundant plankton of its estuaries and shores is not carried 
- into it, to more than a slight extent. 
THE OUTER OR LOWER BAY. 
This division of Richmond bay is wide in the west, embracing the extensive Horse- 
shoe shoals; and is narrow in the east, where the deep channel of Malpeque harbour 
leads out between Bill Hook island and Royalty point to the inlet. Farther east, Darn- 
ley basin connects from the south, between Royalty point and cape Aylesbury. Ovster 
beds are located north of the Horseshoe shoals, near Hog island, south, near Ram 
island, east, in the “harbour,” and also at Montgomery point between Royalty point 
and Prince point. 
August 5, samples taken near the beds of Ram Island point, wad at the harbour, 
-were crowded with mussel and other bivalve larve, among which was a small propor- 
tion of oyster larvee, the largest being 165 mu; water 1020 at 68° F. In Darnley 
basin, 1021 at 70° F., low flow, no oyster larve were found either near’ 
its outlet or near its head; but an enormous number of Peridinias were 
present. August 10, strong east wind blowing against a_ strong out-going 
tide, between Horseshce shoals and’ Ram island, one fry 120 mn, apveared, and 
several smaller ones in 30 quarts. Vertical sampling of a total of 30 feet, showed fewer 
fry, but more silt. In the harbour, a comparison by dipper sampling, with vertical 
sampling, showed so much sand that the determination of the fry was unsatisfactory ; 
so far as the evidence went, it showed the presence of fewer fry than farther up the 
bay. North of the shoals, towards Hog island, the samples doubtfully contained oyster 
fry, but were crowded with Peridinias; west of the shoals, a few fry less than 120 mu 
were found. August 28, at Montgomery point, vertical sample showed a ratio of one 
fry per 15 feet, mainly small, but sizes 320 and 360 mu were also present. 
Commentary: Our samples of this, and of the Central divisions of the bay, except 
March water, were not so numerous as they should have been to form definite con- 
clusions. These parts of the bay are specially difficult of study, except in calm weather, 
at which time conditions are also extra favourable for study of regions richer in fry. 
Enough has been learned to make it reasonably certain that oyster fry were abundant 
in proportion to the distance from the outlet, and we believe this is due to at: least 
three causes: (1) loss by ebb tides; (2) coldness of water near the inlet; (3) fewer 
oysters. ven when the oyster beds nearest the central and lower divisions of the 
bay were in their original full vigour, we believe that they were maintained with a nar- 
rower margin of survival than those farther away. Under the circumstances, it has 
been easier to deplete them, and will be correspondingly more difficult to restore them. 
