OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 65 
Content of Market Oysters, Public Ground No. 1* Warwick County, Below 
Deep Creek. 
Name of rock. 
Dense. 
Scatter- 
ing. 
Very scat- 
tering. 
Depleted. 
Total. 
Browns Shoal 
Bushels. 
12,444 
912 
27,090 
8,745 
2,576 
5,588 
Bushels. 
2,376 
Bushels. 
1,053 
480 
4,662 
5,100 
10, 125 
360 
Bushels. 
904 
Bushels. 
16,777 
1,392 
37, 164 
24,890 
18,493 
6,572 
■Gun 
Kettle Hole 
5,412 
8,378 
4, 140 
Thomas Point 
2,667 
1,652 
624 
Blunt Point 
White Shoal 
Total 
57,355 
20,306 
21,780 
5,847 
105,288 
The total content is nearly equal to that of the two grounds first 
described, but it will be observed that it is differently distributed, 
the dense areas bearing about twice the quantity of marketable 
oysters, the scattering about half as many, the very scattering about 
one-third more, and the depleted about three-fourths the quantity. 
With the exception of the depleted bottom, the average growth per 
acre is in each case somewhat greater than upon the grounds on the 
opposite side of the James and in the Nansemond l iver. 
As will be understood from what has gone before, this distribution 
of the total content is to the distinct advantage of the oysterman, as 
a larger proportion of the oysters may be removed before work on 
the beds becomes unremunerative. The estimated available content 
of the beds embraced within this part of the public grounds — that is, 
the probable maximum yield during the present season — is shown 
in the following table: 
Available Content of Market Oysters, Public Ground No. 1 Warwick 
County, Below Deep Creek. 
Name of rock. 
Dense. 
Scatter- 
ing. 
Very scat- 
tering. 
Total. ' 
Browns Shoal 
Bushels. 
9,800 
600 
18,900 
6,000 
2,000 
4,000 
Bushels. 
1,200 
Bushels. 
250 
Bushels. 
11,250 
600 
22, 400 
10,700 
6,000 
4,000 
Gun 
Kettle Hole 
2,700 
4,200 
2,000 
800 
500 
2,000 
Thomas Point 
Blunt Point 
White Shoal 
Total 
41,300 
10, 100 
3,550 
54,950 
Practically four-fifths of the available oysters are found on the 
areas charted as bearing a dense growth, and about two-thirds of the 
remainder are on the areas of scattering growth. The bottoms 
covered by oysters in very scattering growths are slightly more pro- 
ductive than the average of the grounds previously described, but 
there are comparatively few spots on which a tonger could make a 
minimum livelihood. It is estimated that on the dense areas as a 
whole nearly three-fourths of the total content, on the scattering areas 
