1 6 Survey of Oyster Bars, Somerset County, Md. 



matters as affect the growth of oysters. In this work the oyster investigation stations 

 are located and buoyed by the hydrographic party while engaged in the survey of the 

 oyster-shell limits. They are selected with the view of obtaining characteristic data 

 which can be used for the interpretation of the recorded vibrations of the chain 

 apparatus at all other points covered by the survey. 



The actual surveying operations and oyster investigations having been completed 

 for any one county, there still remains technical work of nearly equal magnitude to 

 that described." This work consists of the preparation of charts and technical descrip- 

 tions of boundaries and landmarks for record and publication by the Government, 

 the manufacture and planting of the "State buoys" at all corners of the oyster-bar 

 boundaries, the preparation of that part of the annual report of the Commission cover- 

 ing the oyster investigations, the making of the leasing charts and finished projections, 

 and finally the survey and record of the boundaries of oyster lots leased from the State 

 by private individuals for the purposes of oyster culture. 



From the foregoing account it can be seen that a complete oyster survey properly 

 conducted so as to answer all practical requirements of the present and permanency of 

 results for the future is a very complicated affair, involving many lines of surveying 

 and other scientific work, and requiring the professional services of experts in the various 

 operations of cartographic surveying and shell-fish investigations. 



REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 



INSTRUCTIONS. 



The two following letters, together with the laws 6 of the United States relating 

 to the subject, constitute the "instructions" received by the chief of the Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey party engaged on work in connection with the Maryland Shell Fish 

 Commission. They are short and definite, but furnish ample authority and leeway for 

 all legitimate development of the cooperation of the Government and the State in the 

 survey of oyster bars. The "free hand" permitted by these orders, together with the 

 aid and many valuable suggestions received from the officers of the Survey at Washington, 

 has proved very beneficial to the work, and is greatly appreciated. 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 



Office of the Secretary, 



Washington, June 2, 1906. 

 Sir: In reply to your letter of May 28, requesting me to designate officers of the Coast and Geodetic 

 Survey and of the Bureau of Fisheries to cooperate with the State of Maryland in making survey of 

 and locating the natural oyster beds, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. C. C. Yates will be desig- 

 nated to cooperate on the part of the Coast and Geodetic Survey as soon as Congress makes the provisions 

 of the act effective by providing an appropriation for the purpose. 



Respectfully, 



Lawrence O. Murray, Assistant Secretary. 

 His excellency Hon. Edwin WarfiELD, 



Governor of Maryland, Annapolis, Md. 



a No mention is made here of the large amount of administrative work of the Commission, which 

 is greatly complicated and increased by the economic and political effect of the oyster-survey opera- 

 tions on many thousands of people whose interests are more or less involved. 



& For these laws see Appendix A. 



