65 



3d. That all other groups exceed the maximum ratio. 



4th. That all beds in Pocomoke, with the exception of Parker's Bed, are below iu'miuimum. 



Instituting another comparison, that of the percentage of debris to the total amount brought 

 up, we find that, with the exception of Drumming Shoal, Harris' and Jane's Island Beds, the per- 

 centage constantly increases to the southward, and that in Pocomoke it is larger than elsewhere, 

 and larger on the Muddy Marsh and Bird Beds than on any others. 



A coincidence will here be noticed in the increased ratios in lower Tangier and the increased 

 percentage of debris, and in Pocomoke in the small ratios and very large percentage of debris. 



Table showing number of oysters to the square yard. 



TANGIER SOUND. 



Name of bed. 



Number of hauls 

 of dredge. 



1878. 



1879. 



1878. 1879. (Differences. 



Horsey's Bar 



Tyler's Bed 



Were Point 



Shark's Fin 



Drumming Shoal 



Tangier Grass 



Turtle Egg Island 



Mud Bed 



Chain Shoal 



Piney Island Bar 



Muscle Hole 



Manoliin Biver 



Big Annemessex Biver 



Harris' Bed 



Terrapin Sands 



Jane's Island 



Woman's Marsh 



Great Bed 



Little Thoroughfare — 



Great Thoroughfare 



California 



Johnson's 



12 

 50 

 80 

 57 



100 

 55 

 52 

 41 



198 

 87 

 90 

 41 



109 

 51 

 14 



110 



151 

 35 

 32 

 79 

 17 



1.254 

 1.014 



1.064 

 0.382 

 0.642 

 1.539 

 0.687 

 0. 826 

 0.134 

 0. 560 

 0.281 

 0.271 



0.240 

 0.165 

 0.145 

 0.115 

 0.212 

 0.187 



0.254 

 0.529 

 0.840 

 0.328 

 0.994 

 0.372 

 0.295 

 0.515 

 0.242 

 0.544 

 0.746 

 0.320 

 0.665 

 0.423 

 0.423 

 0.670 

 0- 125 

 0.265 

 0.104 

 0.236 

 0.261 

 0.074 



-.414 



-.692 

 -.087 

 -. 127 

 —.296 

 —.143 

 -.080 

 +.186 

 +.105 

 +.142 

 + 152 



— . 115 

 +.100 

 -.040 

 +.121 

 + 049 

 — . 113 . 



POCOMOKE SOUND. 



Upper Pocomoke Beds . 



Muddy Marsh 



Bird Bed 



Hern Island Bed 



Parker's Bed 



Brig Bed 



0.405 

 0-360 

 0.294 

 0.573 



0.269 



0.139 

 0.070 

 0.124 

 0.110 

 0.303 

 0.154 



—.335 

 -.236 

 —.184 

 -.270 

 -.115 



The number of oysters to the square yard ascertained, as described in my report of the inves- 

 tigation of 1878, has been calculated for each bed, and the results tabulated, together with those 

 of the previous season, for convenience of comparison. Though a standard has been established 

 by the number found on the unworked beds in the bay, no comparison, except in one way, is just, 

 the conditions of bottom and difference of growth upon the worked and unworked beds differing 

 so materially. The number on any bed, obtained by the method we have used, will always be 

 much less than what is really the case, but they will be much less true on an unworked bed thau 

 upon one which has been for some time subjected to dredging influences, and where the bottom'is 

 soft and yielding, and the oysters grow singly or in small clusters instead of being cemented 

 together and to the surface stratum, as they are on the undredged beds. Therefore, any number 

 obtained from a bed which has been worked should be larger than that obtained from an unworked 

 App. 11 9 



