79 



so long as it is of sufficient consistency to prevent the oysters from sinking into the mud. A sticky 

 clay bottom is preferable, though the beds may be extended over sand shoals. 



In searching for new beds they will probably be found about the mouths of estuaries and 

 rivers, and where there are sudden changes of bottom. In the Chesapeake, depths of from two to 

 four fathoms will be most likely to reward a search, and where there are large beds in the creeks 

 and rivers it is likely that there has been a natural expansion through their mouths, and beds will 

 probably be found off' of them. The search must be carefully conducted, or the beds, which appear 

 to be long, narrow ridges, will be missed. The dredge should be dragged across the tide, as the 

 beds usually extend in the direction of the current. A sudden change of depth of two or three 

 feet, and from soft to hard bottom when on an oyster ground, is an unfailing sign of the presence 

 of a patch or bed. 



Considering the success which has attended the investigation of Professor Brooks, and the. 

 new light which it has thrown upon the embryo life of the oyster, I think that perhaps the 

 most efficacious means of maintaining the productive power of the beds would be in bringing, if 

 such be possible, the artificial impregnation of the eggs and subsequent care of the young to 

 such a state of perfection as would be of practical utility. Professor Brooks is, of course, the 

 best person to devise the method of successfully continuing his experiment, and I hope that he may 

 be able to do so and that he will meet with complete success. As pertinent to his work, which 

 is mainly conducted by means of aquaria, I would suggest that the study of the effect of changes 

 of temperature, so far as they affect the embryo, can be best and most easily done while engaged 

 upon the attempt to artificially raise them; or, in order to arrive at certain conclusions with regard 

 to the effect of changes of density or of temperature, the investigation, if conducted on the natural 

 beds, must be extended over many seasons in order to insure, by a coincidence of temperatures or 

 densities and results, the elimination of other affecting conditions. The study of the temperature 

 seems so important that anj' suggestion with regard to it is of value and should claim attention. 



I would also recommend that some person inspect and count, at intervals, the oysters on the 

 spat collector in the Big Annemessex Biver. It is securely moored and buoyed with a spar buoy, 

 and probably will remain in place. 



With regard to the direct protection of the beds in the Sounds, I can only renew my previous 

 recommendations. 



The deterioration of any bed will be evident by an abnormal ratio of young growth to mature 

 oysters; by a small and decreasing number to the square yard; by large and increasing percentage 

 of broken shells and other debris, and by the appearance of the oysters, as has been described. 



When all these indications are present, if the dredging is not totally prohibited it should at 

 least be so limited as to insure the number of young growth remaining at least one third greater 

 than the number of mature, and great changes from this ratio are to be avoided and guarded against. 



APPENDIX A. 

 Areas of oyster beds. 



Square yards. 



Fishing Bay Beds (solid) 3, 600, 000 



Fishing Bay Beds (scattered) 25, 605, 000 



Were Point (solid) 1, 845, 000 



Shark's Fin (solid) 1, 867, 000 



Nanticoke (solid) 3, 465, 000 



Clump Point (solid) 382, 000 



Horsey's Bar (solid) _ 202, 000 



Tyler's (solid) 675, 000 



Drumming Shoal (solid) 2, 430, 000 



Cow and Calf (solid) ; 292, 000 



Bed east of Bloodsworth Island (solid) 4, 027, 000 



Cedar (solid) 337, 000 



Turtle Egg Island (solid) 1, 620, 000 



Mud (solid) 1, 845 000 



