Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 23; 



launch (see illustration opposite page 18). The position of each buoy 

 on the line of soundings and the number of each is recorded in both 

 the angle record and sounding record books. Their positions, indi- 

 cated by small flags, are also plotted on the boat sheets (see 

 page 24). 



Between consecutive plotted positions of the launch in a line of 

 soundings, shown in figure 8 by the numerals above the lines 

 (32-41), seven observations of the depth of water, character of the 

 bottom and condition of the oyster ground have been made. The 

 positions of these observation stations may be plotted on the lines 

 of soundings by dividing the part of the plotted line between con- 

 secutive positions of the launch, into eight equal spaces, the points 

 separating these spaces indicating the positions of the sounding 

 stations. The findings of the local assistant with the chain appara- 

 tus at these stations are indicated by writing the symbols B, V, S, 

 S, M or D below the lines as shown in figure 8. 



The results of the use of the chain-wire apparatus having been 

 thus plotted on the lines of soundings, the limits of the oyster or 

 shell covered bottom are then shown upon the boat sheet by draw- 

 ing a line (X-Y and M-N in figure 8) across the ends of the lines 

 of soundings through the spaces which separate the soundings, indi- 

 cating barren bottom, from those indicating the presence of shells or 

 oysters. 



This line, indicating the limit of the oyster-producing bottom, 

 does not mark the official limits of the oyster ground, but it serves- 

 as a guide for enclosing the ground within a straight-sided figure 

 (see figure 6 on page 73) such as is designated shall be used to define 

 the limits of the natural bars by Section 90 of the Haman Oyster 

 Culture Law. 



