53 
OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
DEEPWATER SHOALS ROCK. 
This is considered as including all oyster bottoms within the Bay- 
lor lines above Mulberry Point. Its condition and extent are as 
follows : 
Oyster Growth on Deepwater Shoal Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense. 
Acres. 
17 
21 
241 
Bushels. 
129 
57 
12 
Bushels. 
2, 193 
1,097 
2,892 
Very scattering. 
Depleted 
Total 
279 
6, 182 
The comparatively small productive area on this bed all lies within 
a radius of about 1,000 yards of Deepwater Shoals Light-House, 
most of it being in the immediate vicinity of the light. The dense 
area is in two small patches on which there is a sufficient growth to 
yield an average maximum of about 15 bushels per day of actual 
tonging. 
The very scattering areas are three in number, all more or less 
intimately associated with the preceding. They should yield about 
6]bushelsjper day at the beginning of the season. 
The depleted|area|is|practically & devoid of oysters. On the areas 
of dense and very scattering growth there is a good covering of shells, 
and they are also found in ample numbers on the depleted area 
within a radius of 1,000 or 1,200 yards of the light, but elsewhere the 
bed|is practicallyjdenuded. 
The following examinations werejmade : 
Details of Examination of Deepwater Shoals 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. 
269 
Aug. 23,1909 
Feet. 
4.0 
Dense 
4.6 
12.6 
0.3 
Bushels. 
91 
270 
do 
9.0 
2.1 
12.9 
5.8 
138 
285 
Aug. 24,1909 
8.0 
do 
1.2 
17.0 
.9 
158 
272 
Aug. 23,1909 
5.0 
Very scattering 
1.2 
7.3 
.0 
44 
284 
Aug. 24,1909 
10.0 
do 
.0 
.8 
4.2 
49 
286 
do ... 
8.0 
do 
.0 
7.7 
3.3 
74 
288 
.....do. 
7.0 
.9 
4.9 
3.0 
62 
271 
Aug. 23,1909 
6.0 
Depleted...... 
.3 
2.9 
.6 
23 
282 
Aug. 24,1909 
5.0 
.....do 
.0 
.2 
.0 
1 
283 
do. 
6.0 
do 
.3 
1.5 
.0 
9 
287 
do 
7.0 
.7 
2.2 
.0 
15 
