OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 
73 
for detailed data. The following table summarizes the extent and 
character of the bottom included within the Baylor lines: 
Summarized Statement op Market Oyster Areas on Public Grounds. 
Name of ground. 
Dense. 
Scatter- 
ing. 
Very scat- 
tering. 
Depleted. 
Barren. 
Total . 
J. cres. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
Nansemond No. 2 
Isle of Wight No. 6 
} 256 
646 
514 
1-, 640 
4, 106. 8 
7,162.8 
Nansemond No. 3 
0 
0 
0 
22 
33.9 
55.9 
Isle of Wight No. 2 
2(?) 
4 
3 
24 
16.8 
49.8 
Isle of Wight No. 3 
Isle of Wight No. 4 
Isle of Wight No. 5 
0 
0 
0 
2 
5.1 
7.1 
Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep 
Creek) 
468 
297 
489 
538 
3,723.0 
5,515.0 
Total 
726 
947 
1,006 
2,226 
7,885.6 
12,790.6 
Per cent 
5.7 
7.4 
7.9 
17.4 
61.6 
100.0 
It is estimated that the bottoms embraced by the several grounds, 
classified in accordance with their relative productiveness, have a 
total content of market oysters as follows: 
Summarized Content op Market Oysters on Public Grounds. 
Name of ground. 
Dense. 
Scatter- 
ing. 
Very scat- 
tering. 
Depleted. 
Total. 
Nansemond No. 2 
Bushels. 
}28, 468 
Bushels. 
39,087 
Bushels. 
17,855 
Bushels. 
21,052 
330 
132 
Bushels. 
106,462 
330 
533 
Isle of Wight No. 6. 
Nansemond No. 3 
Isle of Wight No. 2 
200 
132 
69 
Isle of Wight No. 3 . . . 
Isle of Wight No. 4 
Isle of Wight No. 5 
22 
5, 847 
22 
105,288 
Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep Creek) 
Total market oysters 
Average per acre 
57,355 
20,306 
21,780 
86,023 
118 
40.3 
59.525 
63 
28.0 
39,704 
39 
18.7 
27,383 
12 
13.0 
212,635 
Per cent of total 
100 
This table is more or less misleading, as the real factor involved is 
the quantity of oysters which can be profitably removed from the 
beds. It must be obvious that the total quantity lying on the bottom 
can not be regarded as commercially available, for when the density 
of growth is reduced below a more or less definite minimum the value 
of the average catch will fall below a minimum living wage and work 
will cease. The minimum average quantity per unit of bottom which 
will suffice to support commercial operations will depend upon the 
price of oysters and the depth of water. In this report the price is 
placed at 45 cents per bushel, and although it will vary somewhat on 
the different beds and at different times, it is not practicable to make 
distinctions. The price adopted is based on the testimony of a num- 
ber of oystermen as to their returns in recent years. The depth of 
water is a highly variable factor, and as it is of prime importance in 
