OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 79 



total estimated catch to about 500,000 bushels as a maximum which 

 could be taken with profit. 



As was the case with the market-oyster beds, the areas described 

 as bearing dense and scattering growths may be dismissed from further 

 discussion as being at present productive. The areas bearing a very 

 scattering growth are debatable, with seed oysters selling at 30 cents 

 per bushel, but would be undoubtedly entirely neglected by the 

 tongers were the price to fall to 20 cents. Their estimated yield at 

 the former price is about $7.50 per acre, and from the entire area of 

 842 acres the total product during the present season would not ex- 

 ceed in value $6,500, even if the tongers were willing to work for an 

 average of about $1 per day, exclusive of the time lost through bad 

 weather. 



The future of these areas of very scattering growth is difficult 

 to forecast. When, as in the area under discussion, there is not 

 and from the nature of the case should not be any application of 

 the cull law, there is no young growth which can be pointed to as 

 coming forward to replace the larger oysters removed. Young 

 and old alike are taken and the only oysters left are the residuum 

 which it is unprofitable to take. In other words, the annual increment 

 is taken or may be taken in the months immediately following its 

 deposit. The health and perpetuity of the beds depend upon the 

 quantity of clean shells exposed on the bottom ready for the strike 

 which each season may produce. Over the very scattering bottoms 

 of this part of James River there is a fair quantity of shells and under 

 the proper conditions these areas may become more productive. 



The depleted bottoms, as a whole, have neither present nor pro- 

 spective value under natural conditions, though the bottom is generally 

 of such character that if it were feasible to rent it for purposes of 

 oyster culture it could be made highly productive. Much of it is 

 so situated, however, that it is debatable whether, for reasons of 

 administration, it would be advisable to alienate it from the public 

 grounds. An inspection of the charts will show that, excepting 

 along the shores, these bottoms are generally in the midst of produc- 

 tive areas. Concerning the great area of barren bottoms the same 

 statement holds true in part, a considerable proportion of it lying 

 in the channels and deeper holes between the beds or in other situa- 

 tions which would make it difficult to delimit it from the public 

 grounds in a manner to facilitate the policing of the public rocks 

 and prevent abuses which experience shows would undoubtedly be 

 attempted. 



There are, however, certain areas in considerable blocks which 

 could be set apart for purposes of oyster culture without materially 

 reducing the area of the natural rocks included in the public grounds. 

 These places can be determined by an inspection of the chart. 

 20201—10 6 





