OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 45 
Details of Examination of Point of Shoals Rock. 
Station 
num- 
ber. 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of wa- 
ter. 
Character of growth . 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Estimated 
quantity 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
oysters per 
acre. 
Feet. 
Bushels. 
321 
Aug. 25,1909 
5.0 
Dense 
8.7 
10.5 
0.3 
101 
327 
....do 
5.5 
do 
11.9 
10.3 
.3 
116 
328 
do 
7.5 
do 
7.7 
9.3 
7.0 
162 
329 
do 
7.5 
do 
17.3 
23.-3 
4.3 
253 
334 
.do 
8.5 
do 
8.7 
33.4 
1.3 
229 
336 
do 
4. 0 
do 
33.9 
34.8 
.3 
353 
356 
do 
10.0 
do 
4.3 
16.0 
5.7 
165 
311 
Aug. 24,1909 
7.5 
Scattering 
8.0 
6.3 
.7 
81 
319 
Aug. 25,1909 
7.0 
do 
.2 
5.7 
4.3 
76 
335 
do 
7.5 
do 
6.2 
13.3 
.4 
104 
354 
.do 
8.0 
..do 
.8 
5.0 
5.8 
92 
358 
do 
8.0 
do 
2.0 
6.3 
6.7 
114 
308 
Aug. 24,1909 
7.5 
Very scattering 
.0 
1.0 
5.6 
65 
310 
do 
7.5 
do 
.3 
.0 
.3 
5 
320 
Aug. 25,1909 
7.0 
do 
.7 
2.3 
1.7 
34 
357 
do 
8.0 
do 
1.3 
2.7 
2.7 
50 
527 
Sept. 11,1909 
6.5 
do 
.5 
4.0 
2.9 
54 
309 
Aug. 24,1909 
7.5 
Depleted 
.0 
.0 
.0 
0 
326 
Aug. 25,1909 
9.5 
do 
.0 
.0 
1.1 
12 
333 
do 
10.5 
do 
1.7 
2.1 
1.7 
38 
355 
. . .do 
9.0 
.do 
.0 
.0 
.0 
0 
531 
Sept. 11,1909 
7.0 
do 
.0 
2.4 
1.1 
24 
SWASH ROCK. 
This bed lies inshore of the preceding, nearly surrounded by swash 
channels. It is connected by narrow isthmuses with Long Shoal and 
Dry Shoal Rocks and adjoins V Rock to the westward. It consists 
of a dense area surrounding two shoals ebbing bare, and two depleted 
areas which connect it with adjoining beds. 
Its condition and extent in August, 1909, was as follows: 
Oyster Growth on Swash Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
146 
115 
Bushels. 
293 
15 
Bushels. 
42,778 
1,725 
Depleted 
Total 
261 
44,50 
The dense area as a whole is prolific in its product, but the middle 
part of the bed, between the shoals pots, is less densely covered than 
the surrounding area. It is estimated that at the beginning of the 
season a tonger could take an average of about 39 bushels of oysters 
per day. The covering of clean shells is sufficient to guarantee a good 
strike under favorable conditions. The depleted bottom is practically 
bare of oysters and shells and is at present and potentially worthless 
under natural conditions. 
