OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
55 
The bottom of very scattering growth covers but a small spot at 
the outer end of the middle shoal, and the density of growth is suffi- 
cient to yield barely 5 bushels of seed oysters per day. 
The depleted bottom is practically denuded. It bears very few 
shells, and the very scattering bottom is little better in this respect, 
but the shell deposit on the dense areas is good. 
Details of Examination of Beds Between Rock Wharf Shoals and Spindle 
Rock. 
Station 
num- 
Date of ex- 
amination. 
Mean 
depth 
of wa- 
ter. 
Character of growth. 
Oysters caught per 
square yard. 
Estimated 
quantity 
ber. 
Spat. 
Culls. 
Counts. 
oysters per 
acre. 
409 
Aug. 28,1909 
Feet. 
4.0 
Dense 
8.6 
i 
18.2 
1.0 
Bushels. 
147 
417 
do 
6.0 
do 
17,0 
10.0 
.8 
146 
418 
.....do 
7.0 
do 
9.2 
9.0 
2.6 
121 
419 
do 
5.0 
9.4 
20.0 
2.6 
178 
425 
do 
3.5 
do 
6.2 
8.4 
2.5 
101 
424 
do 
7.5 
Very scattering 
.5 
3.1 
2,6 
46 
410 
do 
6.5 
Depleted 
.3 
1.3 
1.3 
22 
416 
do 
7.0 
.0 
.3 
1.3 
15 
SPINDLE ROCK. 
This bed follows the line of a shoal at right angles to, the shores. It 
consists principally of a dense growth, with insignificant areas of very 
scattering oysters and depleted bottom at its inner end. Its area 
and condition at the time of the survey were as follows: 
Oyster Growth on Spindle Rock. 
Character of growth. 
Area. 
Oysters 
per acre. 
Estimated 
total con- 
tent of 
oysters. 
Dense 
Acres. 
14 
3 
2 
Bushels. 
140 
27 
12 
Bushels. 
1,960 
81 
24 
Very scattering 
Depleted 
Total 
19 
2,065 
The dense area bears a growth of between 119 and 179 bushels per 
acre, and is capable of producing about 21 bushels of oysters per day's 
tonging; the area of very scattering growth will yield barely 5 bushels 
and the depleted bottom about 2 bushels. The area of dense growth 
bears a good supply of shells, that of very scattering growth hardly 
enough to insure reseeding except under the best conditions, while 
the depleted bottom is deficient. 
