8 



NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



The details of the examination of this bed are shown in the following 

 table : 



Details of Examinations of Bombay Bed. 



THRUM-CAP BED. 



For a distance of about 5 miles* below Bombay bed the bottom is 

 reported to be barren, with the possible exception of a few patches of 

 insignificant size, and it was not deemed warrantable to incur the 

 expense of an examination. 



Thrum-cap bed is a somewhat triangular area lying about 1 mile 

 offshore opposite the small stream known to the oystermen as Hay 

 Ditch. It covers an area of about 78 acres, of which it is estimated 6 

 are covered by a dense growth, 14 by scattering, and 55 by very scat- 

 tering, and 3 acres are characterized by a total absence of oysters, but 

 with scattered shells buried in the mud. 



The areas of dense and scattering growth form a narrow strip on 

 the inshore edge of the bed, with the denser area at the upper end. 

 The bottom covered with very scattering growth stretches in gradually 

 decreasing productiveness from the outer edge of this strip toward 

 the deeper water. The depleted area is a small patch where the dense 

 growth shades off into the surrounding barren bottom. The depth of 

 water on the bed varies from about 18 feet at the inshore edge to 22 

 feet on the outer border. 



It is estimated that the bed contained at the time of examination 

 4,195 bushels of oysters of all sizes, of which the dense area bore 1,164 

 bushels, the scattering 1,106 bushels, and the very scattering 1,925 

 bushels. 



There were comparatively few dead oysters, and no indications of 

 the presence of drills were observed. In July the specific gravity of 

 the water varied from about 1 .003 at low water to 1 .01 1 at high tide. 



