24 



NATURAL OYSTER BEDS OF DELAWARE. 



With this area this report will not deal, as it was examined by the 

 writer in but the most cursory manner and the survey of the private 

 beds was being made solely as a State undertaking. It may be stated, 

 however, that the private beds are planted partly with shells, mostly 

 brought from points on Chesapeake Bay, but generally with seed 

 oysters taken from the natural beds. The grounds are in large part 

 leased or controlled by residents of Philadelphia and New Jersey, and 

 the product is consumed principally in Philadelphia, being marketed 

 through Maurice River Cove in New Jersey. 



The natural rocks, with which alone this report is concerned, lie in 

 a narrow strip between Blake Channel and the main ship channel on 

 what is known as Joe Flogger Shoal, and between these channels and 

 the Delaware shore in a belt which stretches from the east line above 

 mentioned to about abreast of the upper pier at Woodland Beach, a 

 distance of about 13 miles. 



At its southeastern end, where it adjoins the planted area, this zone 

 is about 3 miles in width, but it gradually narrows to the northward 

 until at its upper extremity it is hardly one-half mile wide. The most 

 extensive beds lie in the lower half of the zone and the most intense 

 fishery is carried on in that region. During the time of the survey 

 this was practically the only place in which the dredgers were operat- 

 ing, and we were informed that but little had been done elsewhere 

 earlier in the season. 



The following tables summarize the data of the extent, condition, 

 and general distribution of oyster growth on the several beds pre- 

 viously discussed in more detail : 



Areas of Oyster Beds. 



Name of bed. 



Character of oyster growth. 



Dense. 



Scatter- 

 ing. 



Very 

 scatter- 

 ing. 



Depleted. 



Not 

 deter- 

 mined. 



Total. 



Bombay 



Thrum-cap 



Over-the-Bar 



Between Over-the-Bar and Sand.. 



Sand 



Leipsic Rock 



North of Silver 



Between Silver and Simons Creek. 



Silver 



Between Silver and Ridge 



Drum 



Ridge 



Northeast of Ridge 



Old 



Outside of Old 



Between Ridge and Southwest 



Southwest 



Stone 



East Line 



Flogger 



Total. 



Acres. 

 Ill 

 6 

 109 



Acres. 

 12 

 14 



Icres. 

 6 



55 

 15 

 21 

 11 



Acres. 

 26 

 3 

 39 



Acres. 



(') 



417 



174 



27 



5 



140 



12 



171 



56 



693 



Acres. 



C) 



163 

 21 



54 



4 



25 



17 



270 

 36 

 68 



371 



7 



37 



16 



23 



106 

 33 



1 Less than 1 acre. 



2 Practically all depleted. 



