127 
pertinent to the subject or evidently influenced by self-interest 
or other considerations, has been excluded. 
There has been no material change of the channel within 
the memory of the oldest fishermen, nor have they ever found 
oysters in the deep water of the main channels of either Sound. 
With regard to the improvement or deterioration of the beds, 
it was the general opinion that the beds had been much ex- 
tended in size, that the quality of the oysters had improved, 
both as to size and flavor, but that the number on the beds 
had been very materially diminished, so much so, that it was 
hardly profitable to work on some of the beds. About thirty 
years back, the large beds in the Sound were not known 
to the fishermen and when first discovered and worked, the 
oysters were in clusters, long and thin valved and of poor 
quality, though very numerous and easily taken. Since their 
discovery and especially during the last ten years, the beds 
have been greatly overworked and the number of oysters 
much lessened. 
Formerly, the best oysters were found on the Terrapin Sands, 
and there were none on the sands in shore of the beds; 
now the finest oysters in the Sounds are found on the sands 
bordering on the beds and are considered better than any in 
the general market. All the beds have been much extended 
by dredging, especially the Bird Rock in Poeomoke Sound 
and the Great Rock in Tangier Sound, the former being two- 
thirds larger than when first discovered, and the three rocks, 
of which Great Rock was originally composed, having been 
dragged into one continuous bed. Though thus extended, it 
was the opinion that there were not as many oysters on the 
beds at present as were found on the smaller areas. Fishing 
Bay, at the northern extreme of Tangier Sound, though the 
beds as a whole had deteriorated, during the last four years 
there had been some improvement on account of a more rigid 
observance of “ close time.” 
The cause assigned for the deterioration, and even the 
admittance of the fact, depended very much upon the oc- 
cupation of the informant. The tongers, or those who 
pursued the fishery with tongs alone, were unanimous in 
