22 



NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



STONE BED. 



This bed possibly takes its name from the quantity of hard, sandy 

 worm tubes, known to the oystermen as ' ' stone coral," which are found 

 attached to and overgrowing the oysters. It is probable that a good 

 many of the latter are stifled and killed by this growth, which is 

 even more abundant on a small depleted patch lying between the 

 Stone bed and the mouth of Mahon River. 



The bed covers an area of about 33 acres of very scattering growth, 

 on which there is an average of about 53 bushels of oysters per acre. 

 It is estimated that about July 1, 1910, there were on the entire bed 

 about 1,750 bushels of oysters, the large and small being in about 

 equal quantities. 



The following observations were made: 



Details op Examination of Stone Bed. 



EAST LINE BED. 



This bed lies just at the line which marks the southern limits of the 

 public grounds, and it appears that for that reason it has a sentimental 

 interest to the oystermen. It has a diameter not much greater than 

 the length of a boat and is too small to plot on the chart, on which its 

 position is indicated by a circle. 



Numerous examinations were made in its vicinity over an area 

 of 6 or 8 acres, but at only one place were oysters found, and there 

 they were very dense and mostly of marketable size. 



The data obtained at this station are shown in the following table : 



Details of Examinations of East Line Bed. 



