115 
side of the Sound, below the Little Annemessex, was 0.3, and 
the mean velocity was 0.2 of a mile per hour. The maximum 
of the ebb was 0.8, and the mean 0.7 of a mile per hour. 
Most of these currents were measured during northerly winds, 
which would increase the ebb and diminish the flood currents, 
and probably they are more equal than the observations show 
them to be. 
Over the Oak Hammock Hocks the flood sets to the north- 
ward and westward, and the ebb to the southward and east- 
ward, with a velocity of from 0.1 to 0.2 of a mile per hour. 
Heviewing the currents, it will he seen that the strongest 
on both tides were those over Terrapin Sands during the 
spring tides, their velocity being about one mile per hour. 
As the observations over the Sound were made during many 
various states of the weather and of tide, the highest velocity 
obtained is probably as great as ever sets over any of the beds. 
The velocity within wide limits, however, is not so import- 
ant to the oysters as the direction of the current, and that has 
been ascertained with, I hope, sufficient exactness to assist, so 
far as it can, in the study of the beds. 
DEPOSIT. 
It w T ould require a much longer period of observation than 
was at my disposal, and a much more extensive and careful 
investigation of the character of the water and bottom of the 
Sound than I was enabled to make to allow me to speak with 
authority or exactness upon this subject; but from the in- 
formation collected from the most intelligent of the oyster- 
men, whose experience on the beds was considerable, I am of 
the opinion that there is little or no systematic deposit going 
on upon any of the beds of the main Sound. 
There must be some sediment contained in the waters of 
the rivers and creeks, but it appears to be deposited on those 
beds near their mouths. In the upper part of Fishing Bay, 
on the Clump Point Hocks, Middle Ground of the Nanticoke, 
in the Manokin and Big Annemessex Hi vers there is a larger 
amount of mud in the surface, and underneath, than else- 
