183 
I find the ratio of young growth to mature oysters to be, 
generally speaking, a constantly increasing one from the head 
of Tangier Sound to the last section. 
In my report of the investigation carried on in 1878, 1 called 
attention to the notieeable absence of “ young ” on the beds 
above Piney Island Bar and Hedge’s Straits, and to the large 
attachment on the southern beds, and the ratios in Table II 
begin increasing materially on those beds where there was a 
successful attachment of young during the previous season. 
Referring to the “ Spatting Table,” it will be seen that on 
the upper section there has not been a successful attachment 
since 1876 or 7 ; hence, the mature oysters from two to three 
years old, the growth of those seasons, should be in the as- 
cendant naturally, and, hence, the small ratios on the upper 
section. 
Apparently the ratios should be about the same on the mid- 
dle section, as its successive spatting season was also in 1876 
or 7 ; but the moderately successful season was in 1878, while 
on the upper section it was in 1S79 ; and as brood oysters are 
constantly taken from the beds in constantly increasing num- 
bers, it follows that the yield of each succeeding year will be 
less. As an additional cause, more of the beds in the upper 
section are worked during the summer than in the others. 
During the season of 1878 there was an extraordinary 
growth of young on Harris’ Rock, which accounts for its large 
ratio, and the increase of the other ratios over those of the 
first section is due, to some extent, to the attachment of the 
season of 1878. 
On the lower section the ratios are very large, by reason of 
the successful attachment in 1878, and the but moderate suc- 
cess of the seasons of 1876 or 7. 
The variations in the ratios can thus be accounted for by 
the success or failure of different spatting seasons, and no 
doubt this success or failure has its influence, but that its ef- 
fects are not invariable can be seen by reference to the ratios 
of Pocomoke Sound. 
With the exception of Parker’s Rock, a small bed lying 
near Watt’s Island, and which has not been dredged upon as 
