NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



9 



The results of the examinations of this bed are shown in the follow- 

 ing table: 



Details of Examinations of Thrum-cap Bed. 



OVER-THE-BAR BED. 



This bed, like the preceding, from which it is separated by a dis- 

 tance of a little over one-eighth of a mile, lies just beyond the edge of 

 the shifting sands, which extend to about the 12-foot curve. It is 

 about 1 h miles from shore, and takes its name from its position some 

 distance outside of a long sand bar, which, according to the naviga- 

 tional charts, is covered by about 4 feet of water at low tide, but on 

 which the present survey found water a little deeper. The depth on 

 the bed itself varies from 15 to 20 feet. 



The extent and general condition of the bed in July, 1910, is shown 

 in the following tabic: 



Oyster Growth on Over-the-Bar Bed. 



The dense growth is found on two areas, 41 and 68 acres in extent, 

 respectively, separated by a depleted area containing nothing but 

 buried shells. The upper area is long and narrow and contains a 

 large preponderance of oysters over 3 inches long. The northern 

 end of the lower area is similar, with four or five times as many 

 large oysters as small ones, but in the southern the two are in 

 approximately equal quantity, and the average of both sizes is about 

 335 bushels per acre. The area of very scattering growth is found at 

 the inshore edge of the southern part of the bed, and was apparently 

 formed by a recent strike on a previously depleted area. The three 

 depleted areas lie at the ends and the middle of the bed, the latter in 

 reality separating the rock into two distinct parts. The depleted 



