50 
OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
V ROCK. 
This bed takes it name from the shape of a bare shoal near its 
southwestern edge. It is inshore of the preceding rock and adjoins 
Swash Rock to the southeast. 
The area and character of growth on the bed are epitomized in the 
following table: 
Oyster Growth on V Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
240 
73 
73 
Bushels. 
227 
84 
15 
Bushels. 
54,480 
6,132 
1,095 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
386 
61,707 
The dense area occupies the middle belt of the bed and carries a 
growth of between 144 and 344 bushels per acre, the average estimated 
yield per day to the tonger being about 21 bushels. 
The very scattering growth lies along the northwestern edge of the 
bed and on a comparatively shallow ridge along the swash channel 
near its mouth. It bears oysters in a quantity to yield about 7 
bushels per acre. 
The depleted area adjoins similar bottom on Swash Rock and is 
practically bare of both oysters and shells. The supply of shells- on 
the rest of the bed is ample to secure their reseeding under proper 
conditions. 
The data for the bed are as follows : 
Details of Examination of V Rock. 
Station 
num- 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of 
Character of growth. 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Estimated 
quantity 
oysters per 
acre. 
ber. 
water. 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
229 
Aug. 20,1909 
Feet. 
9.0 
Dense 
31.8 
16.5 
1.7 
Bushels. 
265 
235 
do 
12.5 
do 
10.8 
45.7 
.4 
293 
236 
do .... 
10.5 
20.6 
19.4 
.0 
204 
268 
Aug. 23,1909 
12.5 
do 
4.4 
15.2 
9.6 
203 
303 
Aug. 24,1909 
9.5 
do 
21.7 
10.4 
.8 
173 
304 
do 
7.5 
do 
18.3 
10.0 
.0 
144 
305 
.....do 
6.5 
47.7 
19.7 
.0 
344 
306 
do 
15.5 
do 
13.9 
14.6 
4.8 
197 
317 
do 
10.0 
22.5 
18.7 
.8 
21 e 
302 
do 
9.5 
Very scattering 
2.5 
7.9 
2.9 
84 
315 
.....do 
10.0 
Depleted 
1.3 
.4 
2.1 
31 
316 
do 
10.0 
do 
.0 
.0 
.0 
0 
