34 



OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 



the river. It lies on the north side of a shallow ridge, extending 

 thence shoreward toward Watts Creek as far as the Baylor line. 

 Its extent and present general condition are as follows: 



Oyster Growth on Kettle Hole Rock. 



Character of growth of market oysters. 



Area. 



Oysters per acre. 



Estimated 

 content of 



Seed. 



Market. 



market 

 oysters. 





Acres. 

 258 



66 

 111 



11 



Bushels. 



317 



207 



180 







Bushels. 



105 



82 



42 







Bushels. 

 27,090 





5,412 





4,662 

 



Depleted 







Total : 



446 







37,164 



.. -- - - - 









The principal area of dense growth starts from the ridge and ex- 

 tends as a broad belt as far as the Baylor line inshore. The public 

 ground includes but a portion of the shoal, possibly because the 

 southern part was taken up as private ground prior to the Baylor 

 survey. The productive bottom probably extends across the ridge, 

 but as it is not included in the public grounds and is staked as a pri- 

 vate holding it was not examined. The growth of market oysters on 

 the public ground is rather uniform and is sufficient to provide the 

 tonger with from 8 to 13 bushels per day, the average being about 

 9 or 10. Near the middle of the inner part of the dense area is a small 

 spot where market oysters are deficient in quantity, but the growth 

 of young is so prolific that it has not been thought advisable to differ- 

 entiate it on the chart. There is also a small area of dense growth on 

 a shallow spot east of the main area. 



The scattering growth on Kettle Hole Rock forms a fringe along the 

 western border of the dense area, with a broad tongue thrust into the 

 latter near its middle. The growth of market oysters is sufficient to 

 yield to the tonger an average of about 6 bushels per day. 



The areas of very scattering growth form a border on the eastern 

 and inshore edges of the dense growth, and it is estimated that about 

 3 or" 3J bushels of oysters could be tonged per day on the areas taken 

 in their entirety. 



The depleted bottom is insignificant and bare of everything except 

 a few buried shells. 



There is a heavy growth of young oysters over practically the entire 

 extent of this bed. On the dense areas they are estimated to be pres- 

 ent in sufficient quantities to yield to the tonger about "28 bushels per 

 day as an average at the beginning of the season, while on the scatter- 

 ing and very scattering areas the yield would probably average about 

 16 or 17 bushels. Undoubtedly the entire bed can be regarded as 



