32 



process is called "sanding," and, from what I could learn, appears to be a very injurious one. The 

 oysters are buried, and the bottom becomes smooth and hard. Where at least thirty bushels of 

 oysters could be taken previous to a gale, not one oyster could be found subsequent to it. The 

 winter gales have the greatest effect, owing probably to their greater severity, and direction, which 

 is bom the northward and westward. The "sand" oysters are found in largest numbers on the 

 eastern shores of the Sound, and about lvedge's and Hooper's Straits; consequently they would feel 

 a northwesterly gale much more than one from the opposite direction. They are said not to re- 

 cover from the "sanding" for several months, and upon their reappearance are noticeable on account 

 of the whiteness of their shells. Though there were several very heavy blows while we were in 

 the Sound, they were not of sufficient severity to produce the effect spoken of, and if they had been 

 I should not have been able to detect it, on account of the shallowness of the water in which the 

 scattered oysters lie, which prevented the schooner's dredging for them. 



EFFECT OF frAI.ES AND ICE. 



As there was no opportunity for me to investigate this question in person, the examination of 

 the beds having been accomplished during the summer and autumn months, the following infor- 

 mation is derived from the queries put to the oysternien and persons inhabiting the shores of the 

 Sound. The heaviest gales during the winter season are from the northward and westward ; during 

 the summer season, from the southward, and southward and eastward. The gales from the east 

 ward, southward and eastward, and southward, cause an increase of depth over all the beds, 

 amounting sometimes to 2 feet, and the northerly and westerly gales a contrary effect, but not suf- 

 ficient to leave any of the natural beds uncovered, except one or two small patches in Fishing Bay. 

 (.ales from any direction cut away considerably the leeward shores and points, especially when 

 they are of a sandy nature.. Those parts of the Sound suffering most in this respect are Bishop's 

 Head, Haines' Point, and Diel's Island, Little Island, the shores about and near Jane's Island 

 Great Fox Island, the shores about Horse Hammock, and the southern part of Watts and Tangier 

 Islands. Cod Harbor, in Tangier Island, is said to be rilling up with the washings of the sand- 

 spit to the southward. 



Though it is said the amount washed away from these points is considerable, no additional 

 deposit was ever noticed on the beds, nor did the gales appear to affect them in any way-other 

 than has already been described, except in conjunction with the ice in the winter. 



Ice never rests upon the main beds except in a few isolated cases where there happens to be a 

 very shoal spot on the bed; as, for instance, occasionally the ice will ground on some of the small 

 rocks in Fishing Bay and once in a while on the Woman's Marsh, but not often. The injury done 

 the oysters by the grounding depends upon the length of time the oysters are in contact with the 

 ice. If it only touches in a few places not much harm is done; indeed, it is supposed to protect 

 the majority on the bed by covering them, but where there is a contact all over the "rock," the 

 oysters are killed in a short space of time. The number of points in the Sound where it is possible 

 for the ice to rest is inconsiderable, and not many of the animals are destroyed by the grounding 

 of the ice, though they are affected seriously by its long continued presence. 



The winter gales break up the ice fields and pile them up in immense masses on the leeward 

 shores and over the adjacent beds. The Shark's Fiu Bed suffers particularly in this respect. A 

 good deal of damage is done to the shores by the ice, and the oysters feel the effect, showing it by 

 becoming what is called "winter killed," or poor and weak, having a slimy, sickly appearance when 

 opened. Many die on the beds from this cause, and after the disappearance of the ice ten days or 

 two weeks must elapse before they are tit for marketable purposes. Ordinary cold weather and a 

 moderate amount of ice is said to improve the fishing, the oysters appearing to be drawn more to 

 the surface of the bed and the shells to sink more toward the bottom. My informants said this 

 effect was quite noticeable. 



No one that I was able to interrogate had ever seen an oyster frozen in the water, and the 

 impression was that so long as the oysters were covered they would recover from any ill effects of 

 ice or ordinary cold weather. 



