OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
i 
Oyster Growth on Long Shoal Rock. 
49 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
331 
10 
84 
79 
Bushels. 
241 
64 
60 
16 
Bushels. 
79, 771 
640 
5,040 
1,264 
Scattering 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
504 
86, 715 
A dense growth of small oysters, with a good proportion of larger 
ones in a few spots, covers the major part of the bed. At various 
places the total growth varies between 148 and 364 bushels per acre, 
and it is estimated that at the beginning of the season a tonger could 
take about 28 bushels per day. 
The scattering growth is comprised in one small spot about 100 to 200 
yards from the lighthouse, where about 9 bushels per day may be taken. 
The very scattering growth lies in two small patches along the 
western border of the bed and a larger area south of the ridge is con- 
tinuous with similar bottom on Point of Shoals Kock. It is capable of 
yielding between 6 and 7 bushels per day. The depleted area lies 
south of the outer half of the ridge, with a small patch on the swash 
channel. It is practically bare of oysters and shells. 
The areas bearing oysters in dense and scattering growth are cov- 
ered with a supply of shells amply sufficient to serve the purposes of 
cultch. The small patches of very scattering growth are also fairly 
covered, but the large area south of the ridge and the depleted area 
adjoining are deficient. 
The following observations were made: 
Details of Examination of Long Shoal Rock. 
Station 
num- 
ber. 
295 
296 
298 
299 
300 
301 
313 
318 
322 
529 
541 
297 
312 
538 
307 
528 
534 
535 
539 
540 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of wa- 
ter. 
Character of growth. 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
Aug. 24,1909 
Feet. 
8.0 
Dense 
25.8 
29.7 
2.3 
do 
10.0 
20.4 
25. 4 
.4 
do 
12.5 
do 
11.9 
13.4 
9.6 
do 
6.5 
do 
22.8 
17.1 
2.5 
do 
6.5 
do 
19.2 
10.0 
12.5 
do 
7.5 
do 
20.3 
7.3 
.7 
do 
8.0 
do 
19.7 
25.8 
.0 
. .do . . . 
6. 0 
.do 
40. 7 
30. 7 
.0 
Aug. 25,1909 
5.0 
.....do 
.0 
46 
13.1 
Sept. 11, 1909 
5.0 
do 
19.7 
21.4 
.0 
do 
6.0 
Scattering 
1.1 
6.6 
2.3 
Aug. 24,1909 
11.0 
Very scattering 
6.1 
45 
1.9 
do 
9.0 
do 
2.1 
3.3 
42 
Sept. 11, 1909 
40 
do 
3.9 
3.2 
.0 
Aug. 24,1909 
8.5 
Depleted 
1. 4 
1.1 
2.5 
Sept. 11, 1909. 
6. 5 
do 
.0 
1.1 
.5 
do 
7.0 
do 
1.3 
3.4 
.3 
do 
7.0 
do 
.0 
.5 
.3 
do 
6.0 
do 
.2 
.5 
.2 
do 
6.0 
do 
.5 
.5 
.2 
Estimated 
quantity- 
oysters per 
acre. 
Bushels. 
308 
237 
232 
230 
283 
148 
232 
364 
164 
210 
64 
74 
72 
36 
39 
11 
27 
6 
6 
7 
