215 
a larger number of oysters to be taken. In addition, the ma- 
ture oysters are smaller than on the southern beds, as shown 
in the Table I, Dredging Results, thus a greater number 
would be taken in the dredge and the proportion increased. 
2d. Though the proportions are very large, yet there is a 
serious decrease from that established in 1878. 
By reference to the u Table showing number of oysters re- 
moved,” I find that the largest number of oysters w T ere re- 
moved from this section in both seasons, and supposing the 
number of dredging vessels to have been constant, instead of 
diminishing, one-half the number of oysters removed in 1879 
would be greater by fourteen millions than the number re- 
moved in 1878, or that the fishing is proportionally increas- 
ing. 
As this fishing is confined principally to the mature oysters, 
it can be readily understood wdiy the proportion of these oys- 
ters to the square yard should be much decreased. 
In the second section we find the proportions to be nearly 
the same as those outside, and that there is a gain in the rivers 
wdiere there is the minimum amount of dredging, and on twO 
beds which were worked very little in 1878-9, on account of 
the young growth which had attached to them. 
The proportional increase of dredging, as shown by the 
numbers removed in each season, supposing the number of 
dredging vessels to have been the same, would be on this sec 
tion eleven millions, and these were taken from the western 
beds and Piney Island Bar principally, and on those beds 
there is a diminished proportion. 
Again, we find by reference to the tables that on the south- 
ern beds in Tangier Sound the proportion to the square yard 
is much smaller than that on the beds in the Bay, and this is 
due to probably two causes — the condition of the bed or the 
depth of the water, hardness of bottom and size of the oys- 
ters, and to the removal of too large a number of mature oys- 
ters. 
As I have pointed out a proportion on a worked bed which 
falls much below that on an unworked one, must, other things 
being equal, be accepted as an indication of a decrease in the 
