6o Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 



are absent from the upper part of Prospect bay. The bottom is 

 undulating and the water over it varies in depth from 2 to 18 feet. 

 In the lower part, the oyster-producing bottoms were found to be 

 rather closely confined to the hard and sticky areas situated between 

 the 6 foot and 18 foot depth curves, although the deep water limits 

 of the bars were often found to extend to and upon the soft bot- 

 toms at the edge of the channels over which depths as great as 27 

 feet were noted. 



The bottoms in Kent Island Narrows are everywhere hard and, 

 from the railroad bridge to the point about three-fourths mile 

 above the opening of the narrows into Chester river, they are well 

 stocked with oysters. The depth of water over the oyster-producing 

 bottoms varies from 3 to 15 feet and currents having a velocity of 

 nearly two miles per hour were observed. 



The position of barren bottoms with reference to productive areas 

 is such in some cases that it was considered advisable to include all 

 or a part of the former within the limits of natural bars, thus the 

 barren channel below Saw Mill creek has been included within Sa:i> 

 Mill Creek bar, the upper part of Cabin creek channel has been 

 charted with Cabin Creek bar and the upper part of the main chan- 

 nel forms a part of the area reserved within Prospect bar. 



During the period occupied by the survey of this section (the 

 latter part of August) observations showed the water over the 

 oyster grounds to have a density varying from 1.0078 to 1.0090. 

 The waters of the section of Chester river which is in immediate 

 connection with Prospect bay through the narrows, had a density 

 varying from 1 .0062 to 1 .0089 during June and July, and in Novem- 

 ber and December a density as high as 1.014 was observed in the 

 waters of the part of Eastern bay which is in wide communication 

 with the lower part of Prospect bay. Observations are lacking, 

 but it is probable that, on account of the Spring freshets, the density 

 of these waters may be reduced to 1.005 or perhaps lower during 

 the month of April. The indications are therefore that the waters 

 in Prospect bay vary in their density during the year from 1.005 

 to 1. 014. 



The area of bottoms not included within the limits of the natural 

 oyster bars of the section which is thought to be suitable, and will 

 soon be available for lease, for oyster culture aggregates about 

 475 acres. 



