﻿.164: 
  

  

  increased 
  or 
  diminished 
  temperature 
  upon 
  the 
  mature 
  oyster 
  

   and 
  embryos. 
  

  

  Investigations 
  into 
  the 
  character 
  of 
  the 
  water, 
  especially 
  as 
  

   regards 
  its 
  increased 
  or 
  diminished 
  density 
  and 
  its 
  extent. 
  

  

  Investigations 
  into 
  the 
  character 
  of 
  the 
  bottom 
  and 
  its 
  in- 
  

   fluence 
  upon 
  the 
  oyster. 
  

  

  A 
  determination 
  of 
  the 
  direction 
  and 
  velocity 
  of 
  the 
  cur- 
  

   rents, 
  and 
  such 
  collection 
  of 
  statistics 
  of 
  the 
  oyster 
  trade 
  and 
  

   fishery 
  as 
  would 
  show 
  its 
  present 
  condition 
  and 
  give 
  a 
  value 
  

   to 
  the 
  dredging 
  factor; 
  and, 
  lastly, 
  a 
  collection 
  and 
  study 
  of 
  

   the 
  /anna 
  of 
  the 
  beds, 
  particularly 
  of 
  those 
  animals 
  supposed 
  

   to 
  affect 
  the 
  oyster. 
  

  

  An 
  attempt 
  has 
  also 
  been 
  made 
  to 
  collect 
  the 
  experience 
  of 
  

   the 
  oystermen 
  and 
  dealers, 
  as 
  to 
  the 
  habits 
  of 
  the 
  oysters 
  and 
  

   as 
  to 
  the 
  effect 
  of 
  the 
  various 
  changes 
  of 
  environment. 
  

  

  Having 
  shown 
  what, 
  in 
  my 
  opinion, 
  were 
  the 
  objects 
  to 
  be 
  

   obtained, 
  and 
  the 
  direction 
  which 
  the 
  investigation 
  should 
  

   pursue, 
  it 
  remains 
  now 
  to 
  describe 
  in 
  detail 
  the 
  work 
  of 
  the 
  

   party 
  in 
  each 
  branch 
  of 
  the 
  inquiry 
  and 
  to 
  decide 
  upon 
  the 
  

   value 
  of 
  the 
  results. 
  

  

  DELINEATION 
  OF 
  THE 
  BEDS. 
  

  

  The 
  beds 
  in 
  Tangier 
  and 
  Pocomoke 
  Sounds 
  were 
  surveyed 
  

   during 
  the 
  season 
  of 
  1S78 
  and 
  described 
  in 
  my 
  report 
  of 
  the 
  

   operations 
  of 
  the 
  party 
  during 
  that 
  year. 
  During 
  the 
  last 
  

   season 
  the 
  survey 
  of 
  the 
  beds 
  has 
  been 
  but 
  an 
  incidental 
  part 
  

   of 
  the 
  work, 
  only 
  such 
  having 
  been 
  delineated 
  as 
  time 
  and 
  

   circumstances 
  would 
  permit. 
  

  

  Those 
  lying 
  inside 
  the 
  Sounds 
  have 
  been 
  subjected 
  to 
  an 
  ex- 
  

   amination 
  and 
  survey 
  similar 
  to 
  that 
  of 
  the 
  previous 
  season. 
  

  

  BEDS 
  IN 
  THE 
  NANTICOKE 
  RIVER. 
  

  

  These 
  are 
  small 
  and 
  inconsiderable, 
  embracing 
  a 
  total 
  area 
  

   of 
  827,025 
  square 
  yards. 
  

  

  Most 
  of 
  them 
  lie 
  on 
  the 
  eastern 
  side 
  of 
  the 
  channel 
  and 
  ex- 
  

   tend 
  a 
  short 
  distance 
  above 
  Kagged 
  Point, 
  though 
  detached 
  

   groups 
  may 
  be 
  found 
  much 
  further 
  up 
  the 
  river. 
  

  

  The 
  beds 
  are 
  small 
  and 
  the 
  oysters 
  and 
  shells 
  uniformly 
  

  

  