52 
OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
The general distribution of oysters on Horsehead Rock is as 
follows : 
Oyster Growth on Horsehead Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
33 
192 
139 
16 
Bushels. 
223 
104 
112 
0 
Bushels. 
7,359 
19,968 
15,568 
0 
Scattering 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
380 
42,895 
The areas of dense growth are on the terminal isolated shoal and 
in two small patches on the main part of the bed. The growth 
varies between 178 and 283 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that 
the area as a whole will yield an average of 20 bushels per day to the 
tonger at the beginning of the season. 
On the areas of scattering oysters the density of growth is between 
47 and 170 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that they are capable 
of yielding, at the beginning of the season, an average of about 7 
bushels per day per tonger. 
On the bottom which is rated as carrying a very scattering growth 
the average per acre is slightly higher than on the preceding, but as 
the water is deeper it is less productive in its return per day of labor 
expended on it. 
The depleted bottom lies inshore, close to Mulberry Point, and is 
practically, in many cases absolutely, bare of oysters and almost as 
deficient in shells. On all other areas the deposit of shells is good 
or fair. 
Details of Examination of Horsehead Rock. 
Station 
num- 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of wa- 
ter. 
Character of growth. 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Estimated 
quantity 
oysters per 
acre. 
ber. 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
256 
Aug. 23,1909 
Feet. 
14.0 
Dense 
19.3 
35.4 
0.4 
Bushels. 
283 
257 
do 
7.0 
do 
16.5 
22.7 
.3 
203 
258 
do 
16.0 
do 
6.5 
29.6 
4.1 
227 
263 
. . . do 
7.0 
do 
9.1 
24.5 
.6 
178 
255 
do. . 
18. 5 
Scattering 
4.1 
6.4 
10.9 
170 1 
259 
.. do 
9.0 
do 
6.5 
16.9 
1.2 
122 
261 
do. . 
12.0 
do 
5.4 
15.1 
.5 
110 
262 
do 
7.0 
do 
8.0 
5.9 
.3 
74 
264 
do. . . 
12.0 
..do 
7.1 
12.5 
.4 
104 
273 
Aug. 24,1909 
4.5 
do 
.4 
5.6 
1.1 
47 
260 
Aug. 23,1909 
16.0 
Very scattering 
4.5 
16.3 
.5 
112 
274 
Aug. 24,1909 
6.0 
Depleted 
.0 
.0 
.3 
4 
280 
do 
5.5 
do 
.0 
.2 
.0 
1 
291 
do. . 
5.0 
do 
.0 
.0 
.0 
0 
292 
do. . 
4.5 
do 
.0 
.0 
.0 
0 
293 
.. do 
5.0 
do 
.0 
.0 
.0 
0 
294 
do . . 
7.5 
....do 
.0 
.0 
.0 
O' 
