OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 



73 



for detailed data. The following table summarizes the extent and 

 character of the bottom included within the Baylor lines: 



Summarized Statement op Market Oyster Areas on Public Grounds. 



Name of ground. 



Dense. 



Scatter- 

 ing. 



Very scat- 

 tering. 



Depleted 



Barren. 



Total. 





Acres. 

 } 256 







2(?) 



Acres. 



646 





 4 



Acres. 



514 





 3 



Acres. 

 1,640 

 22 

 24 



Acres. 

 4, 106. 8 



33.9 



16.8 



Acres. 



Isle of Wight No. 6 



7, 162. 8 





55.9 



Isle of Wighl No. 2 



49.8 



Isle of Wight No. 3 





Isle of Wight No. 4 . 















Isle of Wight No. 5 





 468 





 297 







4S9 



2 

 538 



5.1 

 3,723.0 



7.1 



Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep 



5,515.0 







Total 



726 

 5.7 



947 

 7.4 



1.006 

 7.9 



2, 226 

 17.4 



7,885.6 

 61.6 



12, 790. 6 





100.0 







It is estimated that the bottoms embraced by the several grounds, 

 classified in accordance with their relative productiveness, have a 

 total content of market oysters as follows: 



Summarized Content of Market Oysters on Public Grounds. 



Name of ground. Dense. 



Scatter- 

 ing. 



Very scat- 

 tering. 



Depleted 



Total. 



Nansemond No. 2 



Isle of Wight No. 6 



Bushels. 

 J.28,468 



Bushels. 



39.0S7 



Bushels. 

 17,855 



Bushels. 



21,052 



330 

 132 



Bushels. 

 106, 462 



Nan.-vinond No. 1! 



330 



Isle of Wighl No. 2 



200 



132 



69 



533 



Isle of Wight No. 3 





Isle of Wight No. 4 













Isle of Wight No. 5 









22 



5.S47 



22 



Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep Creek) 



57,355 



20,306 



21i780 



105,288 





86,023 



118 

 40.3 



59,525 



63 



28. 



39,704 

 39 



IS. 7 



27,383 

 12 



13.0 



212 635 



Average per acre 





Per oeni of total 



100 







This table is more or less misleading, as the real factor involved is 

 the quantity o<i oysters which can be profitably removed from the 

 beds. [1 must be obvious that the total quantity lying on the bottom 

 can not be regarded as commercially available, for when the density 

 of growth is reduced below a more or less definite minimum the value 

 of the average catch will fall below a minimum living wage and work 

 will cease. The minimum average quantity per unit of bottom which 

 will suffice to support commercial operations will depend upon the 

 price of oysters and the depth of water. In this report the price is 

 placed at 45 cents per bushel, and although it will vary somewhat on 

 the different beds and at different times, it is not practicable to make 

 distinctions. The price adopted is based on the testimony o( a Dum- 

 ber of oystermen as to their returns in recent years. The depth of 

 water is a highly variable factor, and as it is of prime importance in 



