30 
OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
The following observations were made on this bed : 
Details op Examination op Creek Channel Shoal Rock. 
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. 
383 
Aug. 26,1909 
Feet. 
13.0 
Depleted 
0.0 
0.0 
1.4 
Bushels. 
0 
Bushels. 
19 
Bushels . 
19 
384 
do 
6.0 
do 
0.0 
1.1 
.2 
7 
3 
10 
AARON SHOAL ROCK. 
This is the only bed in Public Ground No. 2, Isle of Wight County. 
It is almost or quite surrounded by private beds, the boundary stakes 
of which formed a forest which made it difficult to tell, without spend- 
ing on the bed more time than its importance warranted, what was 
planted ground and what was not. 
The following statistics exhibit its present condition : 
Oyster Growth on Aaron Shoal Rock. 
Character of growth of market oysters. 
Area. 
Oysters per acre. 
Estimated 
content of 
market 
oysters. 
Seed. 
Market. 
Dense 
Acres. 
2 
4 
3 
24 
Bushels. 
129 
135 
0 
112 
Bushels. 
100 
33 
23 
5 
Bushels. 
200 
132 
69 
120 
Scattering 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
31 
521 
The dense area forms a very narrow strip along the northern edge 
close to and among the stakes. Its area could not be very definitely 
determined without wasteful expenditure of time, but is probably 
about 2 acres. About 10 bushels of oysters per day could be taken by 
the tonger. 
On the scattering growth it is estimated that about 4J bushels, and 
on the very scattering about 3 bushels, per day could be taken. The 
depleted area is for the most part bare. There is a good growth of 
young on the dense and scattered areas and at two spots on the de- 
pleted bottom. 
The following examinations were made : 
