OYSTER BEDS OE JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 79 
total estimated catch, to about 500,000 bushels as a maximum which 
could be taken with profit. 
As was the case with the market-oyster beds, the areas described 
as bearing dense and scattering growths may be dismissed from further 
discussion as being at present productive. The areas bearing a very 
scattering growth are debatable, with seed oysters selling at 30 cents 
per bushel, but would be undoubtedly entirely neglected by the 
tongers were the price to fall to 20 cents. Their estimated yield at 
the former price is about $7.50 per acre, and from the entire area of 
842 acres the total product during the present season would not ex- 
ceed in value $6,500, even if the tongers were willing to work for an 
average of about $1 per day, exclusive of the time lost through bad 
weather. 
The future of these areas of very scattering growth is difficult 
to forecast. When, as in the area under discussion, there is not 
and from the nature of the case should not be any application of 
the cull law, there is no young growth which can be pointed to as 
coming forward to replace the larger oysters removed. Young 
and old alike are taken and the only oysters left are the residuum 
which it is unprofitable to take. In other words, the annual increment 
is taken or may be taken in the months immediately following its 
deposit. The health and perpetuity of the beds depend upon the 
quantity of clean shells exposed on the bottom ready for the strike 
which each season may produce. Over the very scattering bottoms 
of this part of James River there is a fair quantity of shells and under 
the proper conditions these areas may become more productive. 
The depleted bottoms, as a whole, have neither present nor pro- 
spective value under natural conditions, though the bottom is generally 
of such character that if it were feasible to rent it for purposes of 
oyster culture it could be made highly productive. Much of it is 
so situated, however, that it is debatable whether, for reasons of 
administration, it would be advisable to alienate it from the public 
grounds. An inspection of the charts will show that, excepting along 
the shores, these bottoms are generally in the midst of productive 
areas. Concerning the great area of barren bottoms the same state- 
ment holds true in part, a considerable proportion of it lying in the 
channels and deeper holes between the beds or in other situations 
which would make it difficult to delimit it from the public grounds 
in a manner to facilitate the policing of the public rocks and prevent 
abuses which experience shows would undoubtedly be attempted. 
There are, however, certain areas in considerable blocks which 
could be set apart for purposes of oyster culture without materially 
reducing the area of the natural rocks included in the public grounds. 
These places can be determined by an inspection of the chart. 
68427°— 11 15 
