16 



NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



The most prolific part of the bed is an area about one-fourth mile 

 square extending across its middle, consisting of an area of dense 

 growth flanked on each side by one bearing a scattering growth. The 

 northern end of the bed is composed of a gradually narrowing area 

 of very scattering growth, and there is a small patch of similar char- 

 acter at the inside corner of the southern end. 



The depleted bottom is in two patches, one adjoining the scattering 

 and very scattering growths at the lower end and the other interposed 

 between the dense scattering and very scattering oyster deposits just 

 above the middle. The bottom is soft on the areas of very scattering 

 growth and on part of the northernmost depleted area, but is elsewhere 

 hard and shelly. 



Small oysters exceed in quantity those over 3 inches long, excepting 

 on the area of scattering growth, where there are about twice as many 

 large as small ones. Loose shells are in fair abundance and of a char- 

 acter to catch a good set under favorable conditions. 



The following observations were made : 



Details of Examinations of Drum Bed. 



RIDGE BED. 



The Ridge bed, known to the oystermen as "The Ridge," is at 

 present the most important natural bed in Delaware, and during the 

 period of the present survey it sustained by far the heaviest dredging. 

 During the latter half of June numerous vessels were at work daily 

 and until the end of the month, when the dredging season closed, there 

 appeared to be a fair catch. 



The Ridge lies about H miles from the nearest shore, midway 

 between Dona River and Mahon River. It is triangular in shape, 

 with a deep indentation or slough of muddy bottom projecting deeply 

 into its base at the southern end. It has an extent of slightly over 1 

 mile north and south and its southern end is almost of equal extent 

 east and west. It has a total area of 371 acres and the most produc- 

 tive bottom, that which is rated in this report as bearing dense and 



