54 
OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
ROCK WHARF SHOALS ROCK. 
This bed lies near the western end of Public Ground No. 1, Isle of 
Wight County, across the river from the group of seed beds previously 
. described. It forms two patches surrounding shoals and consists 
principally of productive bottom, as shown in the following table: 
Oyster Growth on Rock Wharf Shoals Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
18 
8 
Bushels. 
140 
11 
Bushels. 
2,520 
88 
Depleted 
Total 
26 
2,608 
The dense area should yield an average of about 22 bushels of 
oysters per day, and is fairly covered with clean shells. The depleted 
bottom is practically bare of both oysters and shells. 
Details of Examination of Rock Wharf Shoals Rock. 
Station 
num- 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of 
water. 
Character of growth. 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Estimated 
quantity 
ber. 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
oysters per 
acre. 
421 
Aug. 28,1909 
Feet. 
4 
Dense 
7.3 
13. 6; 
2.1 
Bushels. 
129 
422 
do 
6 
do a 
11.3 
15.7 
1.4 
152 
420 
do 
3 
Depleted 
.0 
.2 
.9 
11 
BEDS BETWEEN ROCK WHARF SHOALS AND SPINDLE ROCK. 
These cover the largest area of productive bottom in the ground, 
distributed in three patches. Their aggregate area and extent are as 
follows : 
Oyster Growth on Beds Between Rock Wharf Shoals and Spind e Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
45 
5 
37 
Bushels. 
140 
46 
18 
Bushels. 
6,300 
230 
666 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
87 
7, 196 
The dense areas are close to the shoal spots, and in various places 
bear from 101 to 178 bushels per acre, the average density being 
sufficient to yield about 22 bushels per day to the tonger. 
