20 NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



The following results were obtained from the examination : 

 Details of Examinations op Beds Outside of Old Bed. 



SCATTERED PATCHES BETWEEN RIDGE AND SOUTHWEST BEDS. 



On the soft bottom lying between these two beds are a number of 

 little patches of oyster growth, of which live were located with the 

 chain and three were examined by tonging. The latter were all 

 highly productive, and they probably represent the possibilities of 

 oyster production in this vicinity on beds not frequented by the 

 dredgers. 



The three beds examined covered a total of 11 acres, and it is 

 estimated that they contained about 5,300 bushels of oysters, of which 

 nearly three-fourths were over 3 inches long. Based on the results 

 of the examination, and assuming that the other beds found are equally 

 productive, the five beds probably contain about 11,000 bushels, and 

 it is probable that at least 20,000 bushels are scattered in little 2 to 5 

 acre patches in the vicinity. 



The following table shows the data obtained from examinations: 



Details of Examinations of Small Scattered Patches Between Ridge and 



Southwest Bed. 



SOUTHWEST BED. 



Southwest bed lies in the southeastern part of the present pro- 

 ductive natural oyster grounds of the State and its southern edge is 

 about one-fourth mile north of the "east line" which separates the 

 private beds from the public ones. It has a north and south extent 

 of upward of one-half mile and a maximum width of about one-third 

 mile, containing all told about 106 acres. 



The extent and relative productiveness of the bottoms, as classified 

 in this report, are shown in the table following. 



