OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 



55 



The bottom of very scattering growth covers but a small spot at 

 the outer end of the middle shoal, and the density of growth is suffi- 

 cient to yield barely 5 bushels of seed oysters per day. 



The depleted bottom is practically denuded. It bears very few 

 shells, and the very scattering bottom is little better in this respect, 

 but the shell deposit on the dense areas is good. 



Details of Examination of Beds Between Rock Wharf Shoals and Spindle 



Rock. 





Mean 



Date of ex- 



depth 



amination. 



of wa- 





ter. 





Feet. 



Aug. 28,1909 



4.0 



....do 



6.0 



....do 



7.0 



....do 



5.0 



....do 



3.5 



....do 



7.5 



....do 



G.5 



....do 



7.0 



Character of growth. 



Oysters caught per 



square yard. 



Spat. 



Culls. 



Counts. 



8.6 



18.2 



1.0 



17.0 



10.0 



.8 



9.2 



9.0 



2.6 



9.4 



20.0 



2.6 



6.2 



8.4 



2.5 



.5 



3.1 



2.6 



.3 



1.3 



1.3 



.0 



.3 



1.3 



Estimated 



quantity 



oysters per 



acre. 



Dense 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Very scattering 



Depleted 



do 



Bushels. 

 147 

 146 

 121 

 178 

 101 

 46 

 22 

 15 



SPINDLE -ROCK. 



This bed follows the line of a shoal at right angles to the shores. It 

 consists principally of a dense growth, with insignificant areas of very 

 scattering oysters and depleted bottom at its inner end. Its area 

 and condition at the time of the survey were as follows: 



Oyster Growth on Spindle Rock. 



Character of growth. 



Area. 



Oysters 

 per acre. 



Estimated 

 total con- 

 tent of 

 oysters. 



Dense 



Acres. 

 14 

 3 

 2 



Bushels. 



140 



27 



12 



Bushels. 

 1 960 



Very scattering 



81 



Depleted 



24 







Total 



19 





2 065 









The dense area bears a growth of between 119 and 179 bushels per 

 acre, and is capable of producing about 21 bushels of oysters per day's 

 tonging; the area of very scattering growth will yield barely 5 

 bushels and the depleted bottom about 2 bushels. The area of dense 

 growth bears a good supply of shells, that of very scattering growth 

 hardly enough to insure reseeding except under the best conditions, 

 while the depleted bottom is deficient. 



