NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



19 



OLD BED. 



Old bed lies close to the southeastern edge of the Ridge, from which 

 it is separated by a narrow strip of mud with many buried shells. 

 It is stated that the dredgers sometimes haul across the barren 

 bottom from one bed to the oth< 



The condition and extent of the bed as determined by the survey 

 were as follow-: 



Oyster Growth ox Old Bed. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Under 3 

 inches. 



Over 3 

 inches. 



Estimated 

 content of 



Total. 



:iterin<i 

 Depleted 



Total. 



A cres. 

 20 



17 



Bushels. 

 40 

 10 



Bushels. Bushels. 



42 



3 13 



Bushels. 

 S40 

 221 



1.061 



Although the bed is at present not very productive it has the 

 appearance of former greater value. It lies on a dense bed of shells 

 and is undoubtedly the remnant of an old accumulation. There are 

 very few large oysters to be found, but the young growth is fair in 

 places and the conditions for a new set are good. The bed evidently 

 has been subjected to severe dredging. 



The following observations were made: 



Details of Examinations of Old Bed. 



Station 

 num- 

 ber. 



130.. 

 131.. 

 132.. 

 133.. 

 74... 

 75... 

 78... 

 134.. 



Date of 



examina- 

 tion. 



1910. 

 June 27 

 June 30 



..do 



..do 



..do 



June 27 



..do 



..do 



June 30 



Depth 



of 

 water. 



Feel. 

 16 

 17 

 19 

 19 

 19 

 17 

 • 

 17 

 20 



Character of growth. 



Very scattering. 



....'do 



do 



do 



do 



Depleted 



....do 



do 



do 



rs caught per 

 * square yard. 



Calls. Counts 



10.4 

 6.0 



10.4 

 4.8 

 0.0 

 1.2 

 0.0 

 0.6 



1.4 

 5.0 

 1L6 



4.4 

 2.0 

 2.0 

 1.2 

 4.4 



V 



0.0 

 0.0 



as 

 ao 



0.0 

 0.0 



0.4 



o.o 



Estimated quantity 

 oysters per acre. 



Seed. Market. Total 



Bu. 



46 



26 

 30 



77 



J 

 7 



19 



OUTSIDE OF OLD BED. 



Immediately outside of Old bed is an area of about 16 acres, sur- 

 rounded by sand, for which the oystermen appear to have no name, 

 if. even, they are aware of its existence. But one observation was 

 made at this place, where a dense growth of young oysters was found. 

 If the other parts of the bed are equally productive this patch con- 

 tains about 8,800 bushels of oysters, practically all of them under 3 

 inches in length. The present growth is apparently of recent origin. 

 —11 18 



