14 Survey of Oyster Bars, Somerset County, Md. 



veying and leasing of oyster lots, and much other important matter of legal and scientific 

 value. 



These two sets of publications are planned and arranged to supplement each 

 other without unnecessary duplication, and when combined they form a complete 

 report of operations, methods, and results of the work of both the Government and 

 State. 



COOPERATION OP THE COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 



The work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, as the name of the Service indicates, 

 includes a survey of the coasts of the United States made on a geodetic basis. This 

 has involved the gradual construction of a great framework of interstate triangulation 

 for use as a foundation for detail hydrographic and topographic surveys, from which 

 there has been compiled and published a complete set of charts of the coasts of the 

 United States, including all waters of Maryland where oysters grow. This existing 

 triangulation, hydrography, and topography is essential for a correct and practical 

 survey of natural oyster bars; and it being one of the fundamental functions of the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey to furnish such data, the cooperation of the Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey with the Bureau of Fisheries and the Maryland Shell Fish Commission 

 is a practical and natural development of Government work leading to the conservation 

 and increase of the supply of food. 



COOPERATION OF THE BUREAU OP FISHERIES. 



The Bureau of Fisheries has cooperated with the Coast and Geodetic Survey and 

 the Maryland Shell Fish Commission principally as an advisor in matters relating to the 

 biological and economic survey of oyster bars and the methods to be employed for that 

 purpose. A steam launch, rowing boat, and certain apparatus have also been fur- 

 nished. 



The primary function of the Bureau of Fisheries is to increase the productiveness 

 of marine and fresh waters by such measures as may be best suited to the purpose, and 

 the services rendered in connection with the survey of the oyster bars of Maryland are 

 strictly in line with the fundamental law under which it acts. In certain States other 

 than Maryland similar work has been conducted by the Bureau acting independently, 

 the same ends being attained at greater expense to the Government. 



GENERAE REMARKS. 



A brief account of the particular surveying operations which constitute an "oyster 

 survey" as now being carried on in Maryland will assist in the interpretation of records 

 contained in the technical part of this report, and will be of interest to the many who 

 may not understand the necessity for the great amount of work being done or its com- 

 plicated character. 



To those familiar with surveying methods on open waters the necessity for the various 

 operations performed are evident, especially when it is known that the boundaries of 

 the public oyster bars and of the private lots leased for purposes of oyster culture must 

 be surveyed and charted with the greatest attainable accuracy. To others it will be 



a Hon. George M. Bowers, Commissioner of Fisheries, has detailed for this service Dr. H. F. 

 Moore, Assistant, Bureau of Fisheries. 



