52 



OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 



The general distribution of oysters on Horsehead Rock is as 

 follows : 



Oyster Growth on Horsehead Rock. 



Character of growth. 



Area. 



Oysters 

 per acre. 



Estimated 

 total con- 

 tent of 

 oysters. 



Dense 



Acres. 

 33 

 192 

 139 



16 



Bushels. 



223 



104 



112 







Bushels. 



7,359 



19,968 



15, 568 

















Total 



380 





42,895 







The areas of dense growth are on the terminal isolated shoal and 

 in two small patches on the main part of the bed. The growth 

 varies between 178 and 283 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that 

 the area as a whole will yield an average of 20 bushels per day to the 

 tonger at the beginning of the season. 



On the areas of scattering oysters the density of growth is between 

 47 and 170 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that they are capable 

 of yielding, at the beginning of the season, an average of about 7 

 bushels per day per tonger. 



On the bottom which is rated as carrying a very scattering growth 

 the average per acre is slightly higher than on the preceding, but as 

 the water is deeper it is less productive in its return per day of labor 

 expended on it. 



The depleted bottom lies inshore, close to Mulberry Point, and is 

 practically, in many cases absolutely, bare of oysters and almost as 

 deficient in shells. On all other areas the deposit of shells is good 

 or fair. 



Details of Examination of Horsehead Rock. 



Station 

 num- 

 ber. 



256 

 257 

 258 

 263 

 255 

 259 

 261 

 262 

 264 

 273 

 260 

 274 

 280 

 291 

 292 

 293 

 294 





Mean 



Date of ex- 



depth 



amination. 



of wa- 





ter. 





Feet. 



Aug. 23,1909 



14.0 



do 



7.0 



do 



16.0 



do 



7.0 



do 



18.5 



do 



9.0 



do 



12.0 



do 



7.0 



do 



12.0 



Aug. 24,1909 



4.5 



Aug. 23,1909 



16.0 



Aug. 24,1909 



6.0 



do 



5.5 



do 



5.0 



do 



4.5 



do 



5.0 



do 



7.5 



Character of growth. 



do 



do 



do 



Scattering 



do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Very scattering 

 Depleted 



....:do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Oyst 



srs caught per 



square yard. 



Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



19.3 



35.4 



0.4 



16.5 



22.7 



.3 



6.5 



29.6 



4.1 



9.1 



24.5 



.6 



4.1 



6.4 



10.9 



6.5 



16.9 



1.2 



5.4 



15.1 



.5 



8.1 



5.9 



.3 



7.1 



12.5 



.4 



.4 



5.6 



1.1 



4.5 



16.3 



.5 



.0 



.0 



.3 



.0 



.2 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



.0 



Estimated 



quantity 



oysters per 



acre. 



Bushels. 



283 



203 



227 



178 



170 



122 



110 



74 



104 



47 



112 



4 



1 



















