106 
have been drawn through those positions where the propor- 
tion of oysters to the square yard was above the average. 
In designating the oysters, the term “ young growth ” has 
been applied to the small oysters that were evidently but one 
year or one and a half years old. The term “ young ” has 
been applied to small oysters of the last brood that were found 
clinging to the mature and old shells and were, on an aver- 
age, about one-half or three quarters of an inch in length, or 
under. 
Tangier Sound extends north and south, in round numbers, 
thirty-six miles, from Watts’ Island to the head of Fishing 
Bay and each side of the channel for thirty-two miles is lined 
with oyster beds of greater or less extent. These beds are 
■continued, though the oysters are generally scattered, through 
Kedge’s, Hooper’s and Holland Straits and on the shoal be- 
tween Smith’s and Tangier Islands. On each side of the 
•channels into the Nanticoke, Manokin and Big Annemessex 
Hi vers, beds are found and to a less extent in the Wicomico 
and Lit tle Annemessex Hi vers. 
By reference to the chart, it will be seen that the only parts 
of the Sound unoccupied by oysters are a short space, one 
mile in length, off Deil’s Island ; a space of two miles north 
of Jane’s Island Light and between the Big and Little Anne- 
messex Bivers and a stretch of two and a half miles on the 
western side of the Sound off Beach Hammock and the 
northern part of Tangier Island. 
With these exceptions, the oysters are to all intents, con- 
tinuous and the total area covered by them amounts to 60,127 
square nautical miles. 
The area of the beds proper or that part of the total area 
on which the proportion of oysters to the square yard was at 
least 0.1, is 17,976 square nautical miles. 
Whenever the names of the beds could be ascertained they 
have been given to them but in some cases they could not be 
and I have included them under general heads. 
Taking them from the head of Fishing Bay in regular or- 
der, they are twenty-eight in number. 
******* 
