CIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



revspecting: the Inolooy of the oyster. A ])erson well acquainted with 

 the oyster-grouiuls of the rci^ion was also employed as an oyster i)ihit. 



Owing to the fact that nearly all the original triangnlation ])oints 

 established by the Coast and Geodetic Survey had disappeaied 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 

 l^lacing 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 tlie work 

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

 Sound, between its mouth and latitude 38° N., was first taken uj) and 

 the hydrographic observations relating to it were practically cojiiplcted 

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

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

 S(mie time was spent in studying the advantages of the region for the 

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

 and lines of density observations were run back and forth a(;ross the 

 sound at different times of the tide. The Fisli Haivl- having returned 

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

 were comjilcted 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 hydrographic and density 

 observations as far north as Clay Island lighthouse, and including also 

 Manokin and 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 

 thorough raking which the grounds were then receiving would render 

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

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

 where the month of ]S;^ovember was spent in delineating the oyster 

 beds. In this shallow area of water the Fiah Haiclc was only useful as 

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

 the steam launches and rowboats. Iso dredging was attemi)ted. 



By the methods 'employed in conducting this investigation the out- 

 lines of the oyster-grounds, the areas of rank and S(!attcred oyster 

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

 as a part of the sounding work, the dredge being used to supplement 

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

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

 spat, and the general condition of the grounds. The i)ioportions were 

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

 exactly 3 feet in the oi)eningof the mouth and the distance over which 

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

 of the work was comi)leted in the southern half of Tangier Sound just 



