14 OYSTEE BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 



results of the chain indications, the methods of obtaining which 

 have been before explained. All areas in which shells or oysters 

 were encountered are regarded as rocks, but their character, so far 

 as productiveness is concerned, was determined by tonging and 

 counting the yield in the manner heretofore described. The de- 

 pleted areas, except where it is shown that they contain a reasonably 

 heavy growth of young, may be regarded as worthless from the 

 viewpoint of the tonger; the areas of very scattering growth are of 

 doubtful value except where a heavy growth of young oysters indi- 

 cates potential improvement, while the areas of scattering and dense 

 growth can be regarded as really productive natural rocks. The 

 barren bottom, which is shown on the chart as an unshaded area 

 outside of the red lines, is that on which neither oysters nor shells 

 were found. A few small unshaded areas inclosed by red lines indi- 

 cate beds the exact nature of which was not accurately determined. 



An attempt is made in this report to designate the rocks by the 

 names employed by the oystermen, so far as these could be ascer- 

 tained. In several cases, as for instance " Fishing Point Rocks" 

 and " Marshy Island Rock," names have been coined to serve the 

 purposes of reference and designation. The exact extent of Point 

 of Shoals Rock was not definitely ascertained, and as shown on the 

 chart it may not accord with the usage of the oystermen. There 

 was also some doubt about the location of Kettle Hole and Thomas 

 Point Rocks, but, as the names used in the text are clearly shown 

 on the charts, there can be no confusion in the references. In a 

 number of cases where the several beds were more or less continuous 

 with one another arbitrary boundaries have been adopted, but, as 

 these usually pass through depleted areas and as in a later discus- 

 sion the rocks are considered as a whole in their grouping in the 

 public beds, the necessity for this treatment causes no loss in the 

 final accuracy or exactitude. 



In the following pages the rocks are considered in detail. 



MARKET OYSTER AREA. 

 HOLLANDS ROCK. 



This was intended to be included by the Baylor survey in Public 

 Ground No. 3, Nansemond County, though it is stated that a mistake 

 was made by which it was omitted. The area, 22 acres, which is 

 described under this name included the only bottom within the public 

 ground which gave any indication of being an oyster bed, though the 

 examination showed it to be depleted. It is completely surrounded 

 by planted beds. 



The results of the examination were as follows: 



