

OYSTEK BEDS OF JAMES RIVEK, VIRGINIA. 

 Oyster Growth on Long Shoal Rock. 



49 



Character of growth. 



Area. 



Oysters 

 per acre. 



Estimated 

 total con- 

 tent of 

 oysters. 





Acres. 



331 



10 



84 

 79 



Bushels. 



241 



64 



60 



16 



Bushels. 



79, 771 

 640 







5,040 



Depleted 



1,264 







Total 



504 





86, 715 









A dense growth of small oysters, with a good proportion of larger 

 ones in a few spots, covers the major part of the bed. At various 

 places the total growth varies between 148 and 364 bushels per acre, 

 and it is estimated that at the beginning of the season a tonger could 

 take about 28 bushels per day. 



The scattering growth is comprised in one small spot about 100 to 

 200 yards from the light-house, where about 9 bushels per day may be 

 taken. 



The very scattering growth lies in two small patches along the 

 western border of the bed and a larger area south of the ridge is con- 

 tinuous with similar bottom on Point of Shoals Rock. It is capable of 

 yielding between 6 and 7 bushels per day. The depleted area lies 

 south of the outer half of the ridge, with a small patch on the swash 

 channel. It is practically bare of oysters and shells. 



The areas bearing oysters in dense and scattering growth are cov- 

 ered with a supply of shells amply sufficient to serve the purposes of 

 cultch. The small patches of very scattering growth are also fairly 

 covered, but the large area south of the ridge and the depleted area 

 adjoining are deficient. 



The following observations were made: 



Details op Examination of Long Shoal Rock. 



Station 

 num- 

 ber. 



295 

 296 

 298 

 299 

 300 

 301 

 313 

 318 

 322 

 529 

 541 

 297 

 312 

 538 

 307 

 528 

 534 

 535 

 539 

 540 







Mean 



Date of 



ex- 



depth 



amination. 



of wa- 







ter. 







Feet. 



Aug. 24 



1909 



8.0 



do.. 





10.0 



do.. 





12.5 



do.. 





0.5 



do.. 





6.5 



do 



7.5 



do 



8.0 



6.0 



do 



Aug. 25 



1909 



5.0 



Sept. 11 



1909 



5.0 



do.. 





6.0 



Aug. 24,1909 



11.0 



do.. 





9.0 



Sept. 11 



1909 



4.0 



Aug. 24 



L909 



8.5 



Sept. ii 



1909 



6.5 



do.. 





7.0 



do.. 





7.0 



do.. 





(i. 



do.. 





(i.O 



Character of growth. 



Dense . 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ...do. 

 ...do. 



Scattering 



Very scattering. 



do 



do 



Depleted 



do 



...do 



...do 



....do 



...do 



Oyst 



ers caught per 



square yard. 



Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



25.8 



29.7 



2.3 



20.4 



25.4 



.4 



11.9 



13.4 



9.0 



22.8 



17.1 



2.5 



19.2 



10.0 



12.5 



20.3 



7.3 



.7 



19.7 



25.8 



.0 



40.7 



30. 7 



.0 



.0 



4.0 



13.1 



19.7 



21.4 



.0 



1.1 



6. (i 



2.3 



(i. I 



•t. 5 



1.9 



2.1 



3.3 



4.2 



3. 9 



3. 2 



.0 



L.4 



1. 1 



2.5 



.0 

 1.3 



t. t 

 3.4 



.5 

 .3 



.0 



. 5 



.3 







5 



•> 



.5 



. 5 



. 2 



Estimated 



quantity 



oysters per 



acre. 



Bushels. 



237 

 232 

 230 

 283 

 l is 

 232 

 364 

 164 

 210 

 til 

 74 



36 

 39 



II 



27 







