OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
27 
area the probable average yield is estimated at between 1J and 2 
bushels per day of tonging. On the area of scattering growth on the 
bed inside of High Shoal young growth is almost absent, giving the 
bottom the appearance of having been planted. On the very scat- 
tering area in the same bed the quantity of young is sufficient to 
yield about 6 bushels per day per tonger. 
On the dense and scattering areas of the other bed there is a dense 
growth of young oysters, sufficient to yield on the former about 18 
bushels and on the latter about 13 bushels per day. On the depleted 
bottom as a whole it would probably be impossible to take more than 
3 bushels of young per day, though there are spots where the yield 
might be double that amount. 
The following results were obtained from examinations: 
Details of Examination of Fishing Point Rocks. 
Station 
num- 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of wa- 
ter. 
Character of growth 
of market oysters. 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Estimated quantity oys- 
ters per acre. 
ber. 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
Seed. 
Market. 
Total. 
466 
Sept. 3,1909 
Feet. 
8.0 
Dense 
3.8 
27.4 
8.5 
Bush. 
203 
Bush. 
103 
Bush. 
306 
467 
do 
8.0 
.....do 
1.2 
24.7 
11.2 
168 
135 
303 
62 
Aug. 13,1909 
14.0 
Scattering 
.0 
.3 
6.7 
2 
81 
83 
468 
Sept. 3,1909 
9.0 
do 
6.2 
39.7 
6.1 
298 
74 
372 
469 
do 
9.5 
do 
2.5 
18.3 
7.5 
135 
91 
226 
66 
Aug. 13,1909 
13.0 
Very scattering 
4.0 
6.8 
3.6 
70 
44 
114 
73 
do 
8.5 
Depleted 
2.6 
6.9 
2.0 
62 
24 
86 
84 
do 
10.0 
do 
.0 
1.3 
.7 
8 
8 
16 
99 
Aug. 14,1909 
9.0 
do 
.3 
7.3 
2.4 
49 
29 
78 
100 
do 
8.0 
do 
.3 
.3 
1.2 
4 
14 
18 
ROCKS BETWEEN FISHING POINT AND BALLARDS MARSH ROCKS. 
In this region there are two small rocks for which no names were 
obtained. One of these lies close to the Baylor line and is encroached 
on by planted areas. It consists of a dense area inshore, the oysters 
becoming very scattering farther out, surrounded by a fringe of 
depleted bottom. The other bed is a small patch of very scattering 
growth about 400 yards farther out, in the direction of Dog Shoal 
Rock. 
The following table exhibits the extent and condition of these beds: 
Oyster Growth on Rocks Between Fishing Point and Ballards Marsh Rocks . 
Character of growth of market oysters. 
Area. 
Oysters per acre. 
j 
Estimated 
content 
of market 
oysters. 
Seed. 
Market. 
Dense 
Acres. 
5 
8 
18 
Bushels. 
183 
1 
0 
Bushels. 
268 
31 
0 
Bushels. 
1,340 
248 
0 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
31 
1,588 
