\4 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 
Clement bays and included between Heron and Blackistone 
Islands and the adjacent mainland. The boundary line be- 
tween the Sound and the Potomac River, as established by 
the Commission for the purposes of delineating the oyster 
bars and showing the barren bottoms over which the State 
of Maryland has exclusive jurisdiction under the Haman 
Oyster Culture Law, is as follows: Beginning at Higgins 
Point and running in a straight line to C. & G. S. triangulation 
station ‘‘Heron’’; following the shore line from said triangu- 
lation station to the most westerly point on Heron Tsland; 
then in a straight line to the most easterly point on Black 
istone Island; following the shore line to the most westerly 
point on Blackistone Island; and then in a straight line to 
Colton Point on the mainland. , 
The total area covered by the Sound as thus defined is 
nearly 1,900 acres, and of this area 1,102 acres have been in- 
cluded within the boundaries of six natural oyster bars.) | 
The survey of the oyster grounds in the Sound was earried 
on during the oystering season and all the bottoms over which 
tongmen were observed by the engineers to work, were con- 
ceded to be natural oyster bar without examination, the posi- 
tions of the boats in which the tongmen were at work being 
located by the engineers and plotted as examination stations 
on the boat sheets. | 
On December 9th and 10th the water in the Sound had é 
density of 1.0126-1.0138. c 
The observations made on the tide at Colton’s Wharf from 
December 9th to 15th showed a maximum range for this 
period of 2.0 feet and a mean range of 1.8 feet. _ 
The bottoms not included within the limits of natural ba "S 
aggregates an area of 776 acres but the greater part of it is 
located in the channels in deep water where the bottom is 
composed of very soft mud and is therefore not valuable for 
oyster culture without considerable preparation. A sm all 
area of barren bottom situated just below Newtown Neck is 
adapted for growing oysters. 
BRETONS BAY. 
(Shown on Chart of Natural Oyster Bars, No. 25.) a 
Bretons Bay is not different in its physical features fro m2 
the rivers which are tributary to the Chesapeake and 
zt 
1See table on page 63. A 
