12 



NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



So far as could be learned the rock has not been worked for several 

 years. 



The following examinations were made : 



Details of Examinations of Leipsic Rock. 



BED NORTH OF SILVER BED. 



North of the western end of Silver bed and separated from it by 

 about one-eighth of a mile of soft bottom in which scattering shells 

 are buried is a nameless bed covering about 25 acres. There are 

 about 8 acres covered by scattering growth estimated to contain 

 about 900 bushels of oysters and about 17 acres of very scattering 

 oysters containing about 750 bushels. The northern part of the 

 bed, which bears the heaviest growth, has a substratum of shells, 

 but the southern edge lies on sandy bottom. The proportion of 

 large oysters is greater than on Silver bed. 



The following observations were made : 



Details of Examinations of Bed North of Silver Bed. 



Station 

 number. 



Character of growth. 



Oysters caifght per 

 square yard. 



Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



Estimated quantity 

 oysters per acre . 



Seed 



Market- 



Total. 



158 



152.... 



Scattering 



Very scattering . 



No. 

 4.5 

 4.0 



No. 

 6.7 

 2 2 



No. 

 7.8 

 2.2 



Bu. 

 39 

 22 



Bu. 



Bu. 

 117 

 44 



BETWEEN SILVER BED AND SIMONS CREEK. 



Almost continuous with Silver bed and stretching for a distance of 

 nearly one-half of a mile toward the mouth of Simons Creek is a bed of 

 about 17 acres lying on the mud and sand. Its most productive 

 area is nearest Silver bed, and the opposite end is bare except of scat- 

 tered shells. The best part, about 5 acres in extent, bears a scatter- 

 ing growth of oysters estimated to contain about 375 bushels, and 

 the area of very scattering growth which adjoins it bears about the 

 same quantity on its 7 acres. The depleted bottom is practically 

 bare at present, but is in a condition to catch a small set under 

 favorable conditions. 



