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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR
BUREAU OF FISHERIES

GEORGE M. BOWERS, Commissioner

CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE
OYSTER BEDS’ OF JAMES
RIVER, VIRGINIA ”

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1910

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- CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE OYSTER BEDS OF
JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA

By H. F. Moore
Assistant, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries

Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 729

Division of Mollveles
| onal Library

a
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PREFACE.

On February 3, 1909, the Bureau of Fisheries received from Hon.
Claude A. Swanson, governor of Virginia, a communication inclosing
the following resolution of the Commissioners of Fisheries of the
State: :

Resolved, That the governor be requested to enlist the services of the United States
Bureau of Fisheries in determining and defining the fertile and the barren areas in
James River, marking and platting same, provided it can be done without expendi-
ture by the State.

At the urgent solicitation of Governor Swanson, and upon the con-
viction that the work would prove of value as a guide for contem-
plated legislation by the State in respect to the future administration
of the public oyster grounds, the request for the survey was acceded
to, the steamer Fish Hawk and civilian assistants were detailed for
the work, and Dr. H. F. Moore, assistant in the Bureau of Fisheries,
was directed to assume. charge.

The erection of signals was begun early in July and completed by
August 7. The actual examination of the oyster beds commenced
on August 9 and extended, with only such interruptions as were due
to the weather, to September 14, the survey thus covering the period
just prior to the opening of the oyster season, when the beds were in
their optimum condition. Under the terms of the resolution quoted
above, the Bureau has not felt justified in offering advice as to the
future treatment of the beds, and the following report is therefore
confined to statements of fact and a short discussion of their several
obvious avenues of application.

GrorGE M. BoweErs,
Commassivoner.

UniTEep States BureAv or FISHERIES,

Washington, D. C., December 1, 1909.

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Page.
| MI Mrveys. 0 ee ec ees eee PSEA SOAS Pete 2 7
SNE fetter. tie present survey. .-1.2.2)-.<-22-- 62+ +++ 2-22 ee tee nero 9
ERE eS a gh ta I ie a pata en wo 13
Market oyster area—
oo. 21008 oo bulges eee e 2 eae aah aie arco Genes Sr or acie 14
METI E OOS. ak Ce eA. tele lL et ae hae Se a 15
ERE pt tyre Ls Ae aM ae | lel oss reli ps MAILER rem wr 17
welds SVG PEE a RO eS OS SRP ORRE rR i are ght ey 18
Meme eRG ees nek cae. cial Late eye beim = = Se oe aoe 19
Mm See Sone ts ee ei tenis eee Mee eae es a slnegee
Merck ane adjacent small beds... 2...) 2.4 224.22... bs ok 21
| SIGS 00?) See ee AL Be pal io a 22
CY SUE DA La cS REEL ALU ele Ree Ge een a 23
OTL Rey ae A eho oie, Ged at ia ere Pe a ab ie ahve ee ow a os 25
Haewine Point... .\.. - . sana ete gt, (0 3, OS a aT) RES he Re a 26
meen ishime Pomt and Ballards Marsh..--.....2:....-..--..---- 27
ee UCM Me Set ete ee ene AN re taf oe ea ees Oe we be se 28
ree ees A eet, eee aie Le UA wee 29
eT eee a eek ot De PS eS he ta ac a ES 30
IE OI We pert he a Set ee Oe ice ae eS ar ia et 31
Os AR BRA SNE RRA ee Ree te ty a oie meh Ae NO rR ee ae 33
EMINEM ie Nn rs ers See eee, ee i sot wt koe Ss 33
(SCTE Nia 7 ee he ARES 04 SS 35
OL CST iS ie Sie) ce Ce nate ee et 37
0 ULE oh GUNG ER SMS eae eee et ae ee ne ee Sa a 38
Seed oyster area—
AE ETT ap SSIS ASIII lle 2A fu) gt Een pega ed 0 A eet la ya 39
Re mer No nee et Ga” ie wits were os lai IN Gain eee 4]
Pree Seman ae EUR umes 2 oy CE ee. Solu oe eng 42
PEE oer ee eaeh aes coal Oh PRAM NO ek ae On Sane blue ae 43
eae ee tits cai Ut ithe, eae eats MGs Sudan. Yue a ie lr wail oe 45
DRL ea ie ey lee SN Mu ela lal ons so ahah ce adda 46
rere NE ASR ae ks eee Ret aee wes Caes yhs w aS Sina & win Date Se wie wih a cee 47
OE CSET es PS in al de ect Md Pal ag My gf a 48
EMCEE eae ale ee eee cur NL ON eats PiparkrGM «os Mma, ce eee S 50
chu oo BAe OS BEG ve pias SEE os Bee oo et Ce fh a 51
Bae nt tare can R ee) ALR ths. Ae Mad SR eis bel eal atch iiss w w'n,n 9, <i 51
PE OUST ee ae oO Reena, oy Coa Pb rr 53
MM eR RMD a 2 5 La detrei ee aCe NG ucall Sale au % sha, wa ows ae 54
Beds between Rock Wharf Shoals and Spindle Rock................. 54
ONT Ms ae ade Chet rete a NUR VOTO SU Be BOR ee see dba Miwk ehnwuad 55
Sa NC TRITON her Cae ie cratic why Vind Ae Lk d <Ate wide bw 0c oe ew Cais 56

6

Public grounds.....

CONTENTS.

No. 2 Nansemond County and eo 6 Isle of Wight County.-..-........-. ae
No. 1 Warwick County below Deep Creek.............---..----.-..-----
Minor public grounds. -... 5.222. 22-2 S23..252 2. 32-22
No. 1 Warwick County above Deep Creek..-.......--..--=---225 5250 re
No. 1 Isle of Wight County.............--2.5.:--.-332.

aMMNaTy. co Soe ee

Market oyster area... .... 22. 22.0. 2.222 See ae
Seed oyster area... ....---2.2-2 20 5222-225 cone 2
Conclusion... ..-----...-0. 225 252.28 ee

Description of charts

es

ATE. for

CONDITION AND EXTENT OF THE OYSTER BEDS OF
JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA...

By H. F. Moors,
Assistant, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.

PREVIOUS SURVEYS.

Prior to the investigations made by the Bureau of Fisheries in
July, August, and September, 1909, two surveys of the James River
oyster beds had been made, neither of which professed to delineate
the rocks accurately or to furnish detailed information concerning
their productiveness and condition. The first of these surveys was
a reconnoissance made in 1878 by Lieut. (then Master) Francis
Winslow, U.S. Navy, in command of the Coast and Geodetic Survey
schooner Palinurus. The second was the survey of the public
grounds by Mr. J. B. Baylor, assistant, Coast and Geodetic Survey,
under the authority of the State, in 1892 and preceding years.

As Winslow himself states, his “examination of these beds was a
very hurried one, and the delineation must be regarded as merely
approximate, being the result of a hasty reconnoissance.” The
chart published with the report delineates merely the general out-
lines of the oyster-bearing areas, without attempting to show the
smaller individual rocks or the density of growth, and the text is of
very general character. Comparing the chart with the results of
the recent survey, however, it is evident that Lieutenant Winslow’s
brief investigation must have shown with considerable accuracy the
general distribution of oysters in the James and Nansemond rivers

at that time. The differences between the general results of the two

surveys are such as could be readily produced by the lapse of time
and the vicissitudes through which the beds have passed under the
operation of natural and human agencies. | Some areas have become
depleted through the intensive fishing they have sustained, or from
the effects of freshets and other physical factors, while on the other
hand some appear to have had their boundaries extended or have
become merged with adjacent beds through the operations of the
tongers.

7

8 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The Baylor survey was of an entirely different character from
that conducted by Winslow. It was in no sense an examination of
the oyster beds themselves, but primarily and avowedly a delimitation
of boundaries which included the recognized or reputed oyster-bear-
ing bottom, as pointed out by local commissioners or representa-
tives of each oyster-producing county. It is the writer’s understand-
ing that the county commissioners were, under the state law ordering
the survey, the final arbiters with whom rested the decision whether
or not a given area should be included within the boundaries of the
public grounds. So far as can be learned no examinations whatever
were made on the beds, the commissioners using their judgment and
local knowledge in selecting the corners and the engineers with their
theodolites cutting in the points indicated from stations on the shore.

Whether or not beds were omitted from the confines of the public.
grounds so located can not now be satisfactorily determined, owing
to the development of the planting industry, outside of the Baylor
lines, on all or most of the available bottom. It is evident, however,
that in the region under discussion no very extensive rocks were dis-
regarded, and a comparison of the results of the recent survey with
that of 1892 shows that the Baylor lines, considered as a broad
scheme of delimitation, conform closely with the general distribution
of the rocks. At several places, notably on Gun and Kettle Hole
rocks, parts of the natural beds undoubtedly fell outside of the lines,
but the writer hazards the suggestion that this may not have been
through inadvertence but because those parts of the rocks may have
been already taken up as private holdings.

It has been claimed, and Mr. Baylor himself has so stated in
official communications to the State, that a very considerable area
of barren bottom, amounting to many thousand acres, was included
within the public grounds. That this should be so, under the sys-
tem adopted by the local commissioners and under the desire to
assure the inclusion of all naturally productive bottom, was inevi-
table. Moreover, the boundaries of the beds are irregular curves,
while the including surveyed boundaries must be straight lines, for
purposes of administration and policing as long and unbroken as
possible. To have excluded the greater part of this barren bottom -
would have necessitated a careful location of the natural rocks and
the breaking up of the public grounds into a considerable number
of small or moderate areas instead of segregating them into a few
large ones.

To what extent the claim that great areas of barren bottom are
included in the public grounds is justified will appear from the accom-
panying charts and in the following descriptions and discussions.

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 4
METHODS OF THE PRESENT SURVEY.

To furnish authoritative and definite information as to the actual
extent and condition of the natural rocks and the character of the
bottoms embraced within the boundaries of the public beds, it was
necessary to depart widely from the methods of the previous surveys.

It was decided to confine the investigation wholly to the public
beds, passing their boundaries only far enough to give assurance
that the entire area had been covered. Nothing was to be gained
_ by an examination of the excluded areas, as it is now almost impos-
sible to determine whether natural rocks were omitted from the
grounds laid out in 1892, and it is too late to correct such omissions
if they could be determined. For legal purposes, all that is not
avowedly public ground is barren bottom, and if held under leasehold
from the State can not be alienated from the possession of the lessees
as long as the law has been complied with.

The methods followed have been essentially those pursued in for-
mer surveys conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries, with the changes
and improvements dictated by recent experience and the local
conditions. |

The Coast and Geodetic Survey furnished projections on which
were platted the triangulation points used in former surveys by that
bureau. Several of these points, including the lght-houses, were
“‘recovered,”’ and from them the signals, usually tripods, erected where
necessary, were cut in and platted by means of the sextant and
3-arm protractor. This method, while lacking the great precision
attained by means of the best theodolites and the nice computations
employed by the Coast Survey in its work, insures an accuracy more
than sufficient for the purposes of an oyster survey.

The oyster beds were discovered by soundings with a lead line,
but principally by means of a length of chain dragged over the bottom
at the end of a copper wire running from the sounding boat. The
wire was wound on a reel and its unwound length was adjusted to
the depth of water and the speed of the launch, so that the chain was
always on the bottom. Whenever the chain touched a shell or an
oyster the shock or vibration was transmitted up the wire to the hand
of a man whose sole duty it was to give heed to such signals and
report them to the recorder.

The launches from which the soundings were made were run at a
speed of between 3 and 4 miles per hour, usually on ranges ashore
to insure the rectitude of the lines. At intervals of three min-
utes—in some cases two minutes—the position of the boat was
determined by two simultaneous sextant observations of the angles
between a set of three signals, the middle one of which was common
to the two angles, the position being immediately platted on the
bout sheet. At regular intervals of twenty seconds, as measured by

10 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER,, VIRGINIA.

a clock under the observation of the recorder, the leadsman made a
sounding and reported to the recorder the depth of water and the
character of the bottom, immediately after which the man at the
wire reported the character of the chain indications since the last
sounding—that is, whether they showed barren bottom or dense,
scattering, or very scattering growths of oysters.

With the boat running at 3 miles per hour the soundings were
between 80 and 90 feet apart and, as the speed of the boat was uni-
form, the location of each was determinable within a yard or two.
by dividing the platted distance between the positions determined
by the sextant by the number of soundings. The chain, of course,
gave a continuous indication of the character of the bottom, but the
record was made at the regular twenty-second intervals observed in
sounding.

The chain, while indicating the absence or the relative abundance
of objects on the bottom, gives no information as to whether they
are shells or oysters, nor, if the latter, their size and condition. ‘To
obtain this data it was necessary to supplement the observations
already described by others more definite in respect to the desired
particulars. Whenever in the opinion of the officer in charge of the
sounding boat such information was required, a numbered buoy was
dropped, the time and number being entered in the sounding book.
Another launch, following the sounding boat, anchored alongside
the buoy, and a quantity of the oysters and shells were tonged up,
separated by sizes, and counted.

In former surveys made by the writer, in order to arrive at an
estimate of the density of the oyster growth a definite area, usually
5 yards, was staked off by means of steel-shod pikes and everything was
removed from the bottom and counted. This method is accurate,
but slow and difficult in deep water, and, as it was desirable to make
a large number of observations, the system developed in the Maryland
survey was adopted. This consists essentially in making a known
number of ‘“‘erabs” with the oyster tongs, exercising care to clean”
the bottom of oysters as thoroughly as possible at each grab. Ina
given depth of water and using the same boat and tongs an oysterman
will cover practically the same area of the bottom at each grab, but,
other factors remaining the same, the area of the grab will decrease
with an-increase in the depth.

Careful measurements were made and tabulated showing the area
per grab covered by the tonger employed on the work at each foot of
depth of water and for each pair of tongs and boat used. With this
data, and knowing the number of “‘grabs,” the number of oysters
of each size per square yard of bottom was readily obtainable by
simple calculation. The following example will illustrate the data
obtained and the form of the record:

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 11

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR.

BUREAU OF FISHERIES.

Field record of examinations of oyster beds.

General locality: James River.
Local name of oyster ground: Between Rock wharf and Spindle rock.

Date: August 28, 1909. Time: 9.25 a. m.

Angle: F. 140. Buoy No.: 23.

Depth: 7 feet. : Bottom: Hard.

Condition of water: Medium clear.

renee eee eee tee, Demimperature: .22 252. og ba-wes Sse eieee ss

(USS 5 Oe Ee Siage.Of tide? <2. ..c.. cee eh eek

Tongman: Lawrence, in flatboat.

No. grabs made: 8. Tongs: 14 feet.

Total area covered: 34 square yards . . ee REE Ss Set ar ee Se Pee
—lin.: 27. lin.—X in.: 69.

No. oysters taken:{ x in.—4in.: 10. | Ain: 8.

Quantity shells: 4 bushel.
Spat per square yard: 7.7.
Result: ;Culls per square yard: 79.7.
Counts per square yard: 3.7.

X in.=cull limit prescribed by law.

This furnishes an exact statement of the condition of the bed at a
spot which can be platted on the chart with error in position of not
more than a few yards. From the data obtained a close estimate
may be formed of the bushels of oysters and shells per acre in the
vicinity of the examination and, by multiplying the observations,
for the bed as a whole. In the course of the survey 590 observations
were made at various places, principally on the natural rocks, but
some on the barren bottoms also.

In former surveys by the Bureau the relative density of the oyster
growth has been considered solely from the standpoint of the total
quantity of oysters. That method is satisfactory where the depth
is fairly uniform throughout the region examined, but was not con-
sidered accurate enough for the purposes of the present report.

With a given quantity of oysters per square yard or acre, a bed
lying in shoal water is more valuable commercially than one in deep
water, owing to the fact that the labor of the tonger is more efficient
inthe former. As has been pointed out, the area covered by a “ grab”
decreases with an increase in depth, and, moreover, the deeper the
water the greater is the labor involved in making the “grab” and
the smaller is the number of grabs which can be made per hour or
per day. With 14-foot tongs used from a canoe, such as is employed

12 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

on the James River, an oysterman can cover twice as much bottom
per grab in 4 feet as he can in 8 feet, and about two and one-half
times as much as he can using 20-foot tongs in 16 feet. Using the
tongs stated, the average tonger observed in Maryland, and the data
will hold in Virginia, will make about 2.7 grabs per minute in 4 feet,
2.6 in 8 feet, and 1.8 in 16 feet of water. In other words, if he can
cover 1 square yard of the bottom in a given time in 16 feet, he can
cover 1.7 yards in 8 feet, and 3.3 yards in 4 feet of water.

It is obvious that if a tonger in a given time is to obtain the same
quantity of oysters in each of these depths, the oyster growth must lie
on the bottom with a density inversely to the areas stated above.
The value of a bed, the price per bushel of the oysters being the same,
depends on the quantity which a man can take in a given time, and
it therefore happens that a bed in deep water may be valueless com-
mercially, while another rock, with the same density of growth but
covered by shoaler water, may be tonged with profit.

Based on these principles, and taking into consideration the number.
of oysters per bushel on the different beds as determined by actual
counts, tables were prepared showing the number of oysters per
square yard for each foot of depth necessary to yield to the tonger
1 bushel of oysters per day of tonging. From these data the beds
were divided into areas, according to the number of bushels of
oysters which they were capable of yielding per day to the tonger,
based on nine hours of actual tonging and disregarding the time
occupied in culling. The bottom was divided into 5 categories:
Barren, on which there were neither shells nor oysters; depleted, on
which the tonger could take less than 3 bushels of market oysters or
4 bushels of seed, according to location; very scattering growth, on
which between 3 and 5 bushels of oysters or 4 and 8 bushels of seed
could be taken; scattering growth, on which the limits were 5 and 8
bushels of market oysters or 8 and 12 bushels of seed; and areas of
dense growth, on which upward of 8 bushels of tare oysters or 12
bushels of seed could be taken per day.

During the survey 10,440 soundings were taken, and the oa .
the boat was iete neal determined at 1,369 places. The chain
was dragged for 226 miles, giving continuous fadioatieus of the char-
acter of the bottom, which were plotted on the chart at 10,440 places.
The density of oyster growth was determined by the 590 biological
observations already referred to, and the extent and boundaries
of the areas as charted were fixed by a combination of these observa-
tions and the 10,440 records of the continuous chain readings. Dur-
ing the work the writer was in charge of the sounding boat and in
constant touch with all operations. The biological observations
were all under the immediate charge of Mr. T. E. B. Pope, whose

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 13

experience in such work is such as insured their accuracy both as

to the area covered by the tonger and the quantity of oysters

taken. The oysters brought in by the biological party were all

examined by the author, who has also personally made all of. the
many calculations required and directly supervised the laying off

of the areas on the charts. The basis for the determination of the
character of the beds was decided on in advance, but the work of
the survey was so planned that it was impossible for any member
of the party to form an opinion as to the conditions found until
after the field work was completed, and any involuntary prejudice
was thus eliminated as far as possible. The author himself could
form but a vague idea of the general results until the charts were
completed and the report almost written.

In the following pages the subject is gradually developed from a
detailed description of the several parts of the individual natural
rocks to a broad consideration of the market oyster and seed areas
as a whole, and in every case there is given the principal data on
which the several statements are based.

OYSTER ROCKS.

The term “oyster rock,’’ as used in Virginia and employed in this
report, is synonymous with natural oyster bed and is to be distin-
guished from the term ‘‘ public ground,”’ which is used to designate
the areas legally embraced within surveyed lines and set apart for
the use of the public. The public grounds were intended to embrace
all of the oyster rocks, and usually each includes a number of the
latter within its confines. |

An oyster rock is usually a more or less definite area of bottom,
limited by the extent of actual oyster growth. Originally, the bound-
aries were rather definitely marked and the rocks were separated from
one another by barren areas, but the operations of oystering have in
many cases strewn oysters and shells over the surrounding bottom,
so that in cases the original limits have become obscured and adjacent
rocks merged.

On the accompanying chart much of the bottom indicated as
depleted really represents the areas which have been thus covered
with scattered oysters and shells, and the term employed indicates
that oysters and shells are very scarce rather than that they have been
removed, though the latter is the fact in many cases. The so-called
‘depleted ” areas are those on which oysters grow in quantities much
below those which would make it commercially profitable to tong
for them.

The boundaries of the rocks, as shown by the red inclosing lines
on the charts and as considered in the text, were defined by the

4. OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

results of the chain indications, the methods of obtaining which
have been before explained. All areas in which shells or oysters
were encountered are regarded as rocks, but their character, so far
as productiveness is concerned, was determined by tonging and
counting the yield in the manner heretofore described. The de-
pleted areas, except where it is shown that they contain a reasonably
heavy growth of young, may be regarded as worthless from the
viewpoint of the tonger; the areas of very scattering growth are of
doubtful value except where a heavy growth of young oysters indi-
cates potential improvement, while the areas of scattering and dense
erowth can be regarded as really productive natural rocks. The
barren bottom, which is shown on the chart as an unshaded area

outside of the red lines, is that on which neither oysters nor shells |

were found. A few small unshaded areas inclosed by red lines indi-
cate beds the exact nature of which was not accurately determined.

An attempt is made in this report to designate the rocks by the
names employed by the oystermen, so far as these could be ascer-
tained. In several cases, as for instance ‘‘ Fishing Point Rocks”’
and ‘‘Marshy Island Rock,’ names have been coined to serve the
purposes of reference and designation. The exact extent of Point
of Shoals Rock was not definitely ascertained, and as shown on the
chart it may not accord with the usage of the oystermen. There
was also some doubt about the location of Kettle Hole and Thomas
Point Rocks, but, as the names used in the text are clearly shown
on the charts, there can be no confusion in the references. In a
number of cases where the several beds were more or less continuous
with one another arbitrary boundaries have been adopted, but, as
these usually pass through depleted areas and as in a later discus-
sion the rocks are considered as a whole in their grouping in the
public beds, the necessity for this treatment causes no loss in the
final accuracy or exactitude.

In the following pages the rocks are considered in detail.

MARKET OYSTER AREA.
HOLLANDS ROCK.

This was intended to be included by the Baylor survey in Public —
Ground No.3, Nansemond County, though it is stated that a mistake _
was made by which it was omitted. The area, 22 acres, which is
described under this name included the only bottom within the public
ground which gave any indication of being an oyster bed, though the
examination showed it to be depleted. It is completely surrounded
by planted beds.

The results of the examination were as follows:

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 15

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF HOLLANDS Rock.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity of

; Mean square yard. oysters per acre.
pe Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth q 2 : Ll os
nes MMM AOU | MOL Wa" | OL Markel OVSUCIS. dla moan Eis GSI
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush. Bush.
4] Aug. 9,1909 110) | Depleted. 2222 S24. 0 0.4 1.8 3 29 32
30 | Aug. 11,1909 Oar learns CO SAS eR 0 0 0 0 0 0

NANSEMOND RIDGE ROCK.

This is the principal and only productive bed in Nansemond
River. It lies mainly on and about a shoal extending through the
middle of the river from Cedar Point almost to the middle of James
River, opposite Newport News. At its northern end it is connected,
by an unproductive, practically barren area, with three smaller rocks
hereafter described. Its area, density of oyster growth, and con-
tents are as follows:

OYSTER GROWTH ON NANSEMOND RIDGE Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated

content
Character of growth of market oysters. Area. Gimnankce

Seed. Market. | oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
148 93 ai

DGS. «2s Senne oc SAG op ete ea a ee 85 5

BR ee tl Saas cSt wg wei a wiaraidix sect Seeics ce eeices deeh eve 446 133 60 26, 760

WOry SOIIGIOE 5 Sac gone ces See oes ae a es ee 294 34 37 10, 878

Pre. FCC) i Obs also. ae pe SER a Giniels tad B'S Le) 782 35 11 8, 602
iC Tipe oe ey cet ye gas Sh Ba ee hS oe eg ce Sc CUE Eee ees Gee anne 54,145

The market oysters on this bed are large, averaging at the time
of the survey a few over 300 per bushel. They are said to attain
a good condition, particularly late in the season, and are used mainly
by shucking houses. The small oysters ran about 750 per bushel.

The broadest, largest, and most productive part of the bed stretches
northward from opposite Pig Point on the west side of the channel.
It is estimated that this portion has an area of about 1,156 acres, of
which 69 acres bear a dense growth of market oysters, 386 acres a
scattering growth, 201 acres a very scattering growth, and 500 acres
are depleted. The latter does not include the barren bottom embraced
between the edges of the bed and the lines of the Baylor survey. It
is further estimated that on the dense bottom a man tonging exclu-
sively could take in a day about 10 bushels of market oysters, on the
scattering area about 6 bushels, on the very scattering part about 3}
bushels, while on the depleted area he could not take an average of
over 1 bushel. These estimates are for the beginning of the season,

20201—10——2

16 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

and any considerable tonging of the beds would soon materially reduce
the average catch per day.

In the dense and scattering parts of this portion of the bed, especially
near the crest of the ridge, there is a growth of small oysters so dense
that an average of upward of 12 bushels could be tonged per day,
and these areas can undoubtedly be regarded as both presently and
prospectively productive. There is also a dense growth of young
oysters on the inner parts of the depleted area opposite Nansemond
River Light. On the areas of very scattering growth the small oysters
are in even smaller quantity than the market oysters, but in places
there are clean shells in sufficient quantity to indicate that under
proper conditions a good set might occur and the bottom become
fairly productive.

Above a line drawn between Pig Point and Barrel Point the bed
may be divided into two parts, one a tail-hke continuation of the
main bed running along the eastern edge of the channel and the other
a detached portion lying on a shoal west of the channel, north of Lar-
kins Rock. The former has 126 acres of depleted bottom and two
small patches, one of scattering growth covering about 22 acres and
the other of about 41 acres on which the oysters are very scattering.
The detached area covers about 260 acres, of which 15 are dense, 39
scattering, 51 very scattering, and 155 depleted. On the areas of
dense and scattering growths of market oysters there is a heavy
growth of culls, but the scattering and depleted areas are generally
impoverished of young.

On the two areas just described as lying above a line between Pig
and Barrel points it is estimated that there are 15 acres of dense growth
on which a man could tong an average of about 8 barrels of market
oysters per day, 61 acres on which he could average about 5 bushels,
92 acres of very scattering growth where he could take about 4 bushels
per day, and 281 acres of depleted bottom which will not yield 1
bushel per day. On the depleted area there are few young oysters
and practically no shells. The barren bottom lying within this part
of the Baylor survey, on which oysters do not now grow and appar-
ently never have grown in marketable quantities, nearly equals all
of the foregoing combined, covering about 430 acres. The barren
and depleted bottom together aggregate about 711 acres, while all of
the bottom which is capable of yielding even as little as 3 bushels per
day, exclusive of the time consumed in culling, covers about 168 acres.
In other words, at least 80 per cent of the area is at present commer-
cially worthless.

The observations, in addition to the sounding and ehain investi-
gations, on which the foregoing is based, are as follows:

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 4?

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF NANSEMOND RIDGE Rocks.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

ion’ Mean uare yard. r :
Pestion Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth saHate yare fore Per Bete
ber. amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.

1} Aug. 9,1909 TSFOU DENS... seas 252 6.0 Br kyl. eae 72 132 204
549 | Sept. 13,1909 GuoW rises! ClO eR ee Meee aes 4.7 27.7 4.7 209 76 285
582 | Sept. 14,1909 On leacee OM): cae SER 3.9 21.2 4,4 163 71 234
15] Aug. 10, 1909 6.0) Seattenime. .-.-2-2- 7 13. 4 2.7 98 43 141
Vell eae One sees IRS le eee Gore wa teaw eee .2 .0 4.0 1 64 65
33 | Aug. Be 1909 HONS eae: GOR ea? Cassa .6 12.4 4.6 85 74 159
SP LAD) ana. o SH ae LOE a one aN 4.8 13.3 3.6 111 58 169
Bee ys a ih Pee LOWS GOR ae eae le -2 .6 4.5 5 [2 ed
550 | Sept. 13,1909 GH eo Gower! Seta oe ees 2.3 11.6 2.3 90 37 127
576 | Sept. 14, 1909 Hownle ence Gomes Sie 1.8 9.7 3.1 75 50 125
Si ae Goseers- SHOT aes GOe ene! -Beeeae 45.0 26. 6 3.9 466 63 529
ice Ors sete: MIR OM ets GOs ee Saline 4.0 16.3 4.0 132 64 196
Th os an One ae GHOR Ee Cope auaenee ogo 27.3 Se 212 56 268
580 |_.... GO cSt ok Mey We 83 GOr sao 5.3 25.6 4.2 201 68 269
So A eae do. 2... Sa eee Ci elie te VOR Pe 3.4 15:7 4.9 124 79 203
7 | Aug. 9,1909 10.0 | Very scattering. --- 2.9 9.3 1.8 79 29 108
21 | Aug. 10,1909 2)5(0) Ue ede AGE CaS aR se .4 2.1 2.7 16 43 59
26 | Aug. 11,1909 B58) 218 Oa MAL Choe 1.6 10.9 2.8 81 45 126
35 | Aug.. 12) 1909 OMA Ml sna e COM pias eee 9 3.8 2.2 31 35 66
Ss eee Ores: LOSOM Bose GLO OR ies eee a2, .4 2.3 4 37 41
2 Coe MOeE eee OMS |e On Un yearns .8 2.4 Shi) 21 50 71
542 | Sept. 13,1909 GOs eee CO ees ee .0 -8 1.4 5 23 25
2} Aug. 9,1909 12.0 | Depleted.....-.-...- .0 4 9 0 15 15
Ta ee 6 Soe COE ee dee COs eee ehe eee 3.5 20.0 a) 153 15 168
Bem OO wee ae BOs: ChE SE EO SBE ass 8.4 23.9 -6 210 10 220
11} Aug. a 1909 SHON ee On? Sh ase ek 1.8 Bag) 55 98 8 106
Wai” JAC ae een iOpen 2 GO ee eee 2.1 4.5 9 43 14 57
Pots s do BES oc (ET eee COM a Smee our -0 0 aR) 0 5 5
i (eae Ol Re aeee Ua laa GOs ae eee .0 0 -4 0 6 6
25 | Aug. 11,1909 NONOW ase Gon puss so se3 .0 -0 .0 0 0 0
36 | Aug. 12’ 1909 NOEs ele GON eee: 5 1.8 1.3 8 21 29
BBste saci Gonesee.. (0) LOM eA Sei sehen aid -9 1.3 10 21 31
BOWS Ss: 2 fe [pene TOON 3.2.5 MO aS ea see a -4 wal 1.2 7 19 26
FAN ee 0 Co ee LON OH| esc» GOpe ors haces oh 3) 1.9 27 31 58
547 Sept. 18, 1909 TARDE ees Gone ase .2 Hil Una 6 18 24
DASH Ee ae On .s)o.c:. . Ge Dil ate ra 0) A Reed es .0 .0 2 0 3 3
3 : were 4. (se ee COea re Lae 1.3 2.9 5 27 8 35
574 | Sept. 14,1909 oak eee MO ee Se .0 -0 | -0 0 0 0
OB ls ssl Om NG. ch 9: Oniseaae GOA a eeare .0 .0 .0 0 0 0
DBI nie <<) GO amas AsO eases GOs cess see 2.6 10.0 ial 82 18 100
O84 hs. 3 Oey ta ar OS aie e GOSS 2 eet eee .0 .0 .0 0 0 0
BST ees: Oe reibis ae LO sl teers GOW Wisk tei ee .0 .0 .0 0 0 0

LARKINS ROCK.

This is a small bed in Nansemond River at the extreme southwest
corner of Public Ground No. 2. As developed by the survey it has
an area of about 39 acres and a depth varying from 44 to 8 feet at
mean-low water. It is stated that the product of this bed has beenin
demand by shucking houses, the size and quality being generally
good and the condition fat, especially early in spring. The market
oysters found by the survey averaged between 300 and 350 to the
bushel and the small oysters about 750 per bushel. —

The bed at present bears market oysters at the average density of
about 5 bushels per acre, though in spots the production is as high as
18 bushels. The young growth has an average density of about 10
bushels and a maximum of 31 bushels per acre.

_At the present: time this bed must be regarded as depleted, as at
none of the spots examined could a man tong more than 2 bushels of
oysters per day, and the average yield, taking the bed as a whole,

18 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

would be hardly more than one-half bushel per day. The young
erowth is sparse and the shells few. The bed bears the aspect of hay-
ing been carried off bodily for planting purposes, a depredation to
which its location makes it susceptible. The results of detailed ex-
aminations are as follows:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF LARKINS ROCK.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

. Mean rd. :
a Date ofex- | depth | Character of growth i oa ca de
= amination. | of wa- | of market oysters. )|=——..,. 71 =
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush Bush.
20 | Aug. 10,1909 8.5 | Depleted.......... 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0
27 | Aug. 11,1909 TR be date aes 0 0 0 0 0 0
POeYs bau Soe doz eee: ogy are O22 s2secces -0 3.5 sal 23 2 25
544 | Sept. 13, 1909 Gran Sseu doe ese oee Se -0 -0 =O 0 0 0
O45 sees donseees UNO e ose dOe. 2 ee 57. Ps7 | i at 31 18 49
546152252 GO: 3248. Grace = 6 CoE es See 0 -6 -6 4 10 14

DRUM SHOAL ROCK.

This is a small bed located at the northwest corner of Public Ground
No. 2 in Nansemond County. Its area, density of oyster growth,
and estimated contents are as follows:

OYSTER GROWTH ON Drum SHOAL Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated

. content of
Character of growth of market oysters. Area. Tierket

Seed. Market. | oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
SCARING. %e.. c/a couse i ORAS eee eee sell eer eee 19 92 50

950

Wery SCAGIEIINE. oS 00s. 222 loca foae bo ace ee ee See eee 14 61 39 546
Depletedie- =) ose oc ceeleuane dese Roe pac see eee eee eae 95 62 29 2,755
Dota cssct cys. s ok see Shs Set oe ee PR ee a ee 128 |. «4» - ion] ee 4,251

This bed was doubtless originally restricted to the area of the
shoal which is now covered by the scattering and very scattering
growth, but oysters and shells have become scattered over the sur-
rounding battom and it is now connected, by means of a depleted
area, with Nansemond Ridge Rock on the south and Newport News
Rock on the west.

The scattering growth les in a depth of from 6 to 8 feet at mean
low water and the market oysters grow in such quantity that a
tonger of average ability can take about 5 bushels per day. The
very scattering growth is at the eastern side of the shoal and has
oysters in sufficient numbers to yield about 34 bushels per day.
The density of growth shown for the depleted area in the table pro-
duced above is in excess of the actual conditions, as the examina-

7
ib N
y

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 19

tions on which it was based were taken in close proximity to the edge
of the shoal, while the more distant bottom is more denuded. The

growth of young on the productive part of the rock is fair, being

sufficient to yield about 9 bushels per day on the scattered area and
about 6 bushels on.the very scattered area and about the edges of
the shoal.

Following is the record of observations on this bed:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Drum SHOAL ROCK.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Mean square yard. ters per acre.

Station! ate ofex- | depth | Character of growth

num- | amination. | of wa: | of market oysters.
ber. ae

Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet Bush. | Bush Bush
ae Sept. 14, 1909 810) Scattering ei... a 2.6 11.6 3.1 92 50
tiye(6)) jes Se do. 9.0 | Very scattering.... 1.5 7.9 2.4 61 39 100
44) Aug. 22, 1909 | 10.5 Depleted «.:-:-:. + sil 6.1 1.9 44 31 75
Me OOO shai)... = ‘SAGA Me ENN oo Jeet oe ne 9 12.0 eid 84 27 111

NEWPORT NEWS ROCK.

This lies in the overlapping portions of Public Grounds No. 2,
Nansemond County, and No. 6, Isle of Wight County, north of
Nansemond Ridge, and between Drum Shoal on the east and Cruiser
Rock on the west. Its estimated area, density of growth, and
contents are as follows:

OysTER GRowTH ON Newport News Rock.
)

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of

market

Seed. Market. oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
4 93 108 432

SONU MPs oie eos moa Wi sitja Bis ciate awe dalgclwcGne'a ©

ELLE DEE eer ai. trate erate Simciaie wticlecisccwlee nul ee ey ateiea sie 27 75 63 1,701

aery Bue RM eres crore cre Micra Mane ne sche SILOM US RCC oe a t 12 83 35 420

ERNE Es ME Re) oP wc) Scio Shaye! Vailas tas’ mya e o'eara'se Gas bole wa © 129 34 27 3, 483
WORE cic Se SRR a NE a UT tee RA a a toe ee SVAN ie Secrets yr Rt 2 6,036

The rock in reality consists of several shoal spots separated by
areas of depleted bottom in deeper water. The dense area is a small
spot lying by itself in about 8 feet of water at low tide, and it bears
market oysters in sufficient quantity to yield to the tonger about
9 bushels per day, and the young growth is in nearly the same
quantity. The scattered and very scattered growth lies on Cruiser
Shoal proper, the former being sufficiently productive to yield about
6 bushels and the latter about 3 bushels per day. On both of these

areas there is a fair growth of young, sufficient to yield about 6

bushels per day.

20 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

At the eastern edge of the rock, as defined on the chart, there is a
dense growth, not shown, which lies just outside of the Baylor line,
and running south from this is a growth of young oysters on the
so-called depleted bottom sufficient to yield about 4 bushels per day.
The depleted bottom on the whole will yield: about 2 bushels of
market oysters per day and about the same quantity of young.

The following are the results of examinations on this rock:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF NEwport News Rock.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

: Mean square yard. ters per acre.
Station | Date ofex- | depth | Character of growth : 2 P ,
ee amination. | of wa- | of market oysters. eT PG as a
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
52 | Aug. 13,1909 12.0 emsey 2 ee ue 0.7 13.6 6.7 93 108 201
GSE wee don sess 9.0 | Seattering. .......- Al 9.8 4.7 71 76 147
Huy ES Soe doe 7 4es MNOS a. GOS eyehe ee ee 1.8 10. 2 3. 1 78 50 128
On| Sere 2 do 325.4 10.0 | Very scattering. --. 4:1 ALG 2D 83 35 118
23 |} Aug. 11,1909 9.5 | Depleted.......... 3.1 5.1 1.6 53 26 79
46 | Aug. 12,1909 Sab alsoecs CO Saree ees ae 4.9 1e8 36 30
54 | Aug. 13,1909 LOSO ME aes COR. a eee ipl eal 6 14 26 40

CRUISER SHOAL ROCK.

This rock lies on and about the shoal that gives it its name, mainly
in Public Ground No. 6, Warwick County, but partly in the area
common to that ground and No. 2, Nansemond County. Its area
and condition are shown in the following table:

OYSTER GROWTH ON CRUISER SHOAL Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated

ee
Character of growth of market oysters. Area. TRarket

Seed. | Market. | oysters.

cae he a Bushe

ls. | Bushels.
1B 15) 0 SST ees Tea Ral EO © cy A Aa ce Re Oy Meaty J BN Fag eh Pe ef 7 40 156 4,212
(SAG iied Va ges A ay Rr eh Re nea mR Bae gL Tay SiN lV uc ams 19 47 53 1,007
WEDY SCAELOTIN Us oud tate, Nak oes eee ae apc tee ier me ey ene 26 51 28 728
TU oe oh inet ier scsis soph e eats & lets AC (gee ee NE 32 66 9 288
ATP ore ratio ste tic lolosi. eh act RACE RDC tS IE rane Ee ee 104 3). 238. 5.) eee 6, 235

The dense and scattered areas follow the line of a very shallow
ridge which forms the backbone of the shoal, the former being capa-
ble of yielding from 10 to 20 bushels of oysters per day and the
latter about 5. The area of very scattering growth lies on each side
of the more prolific areas and is capable of yielding about 3 bushels
of market oysters per day’s tonging. The depleted area will yield
an average of not over 1 bushel of market oysters per day, and the
parts more distant from the ridge are practically bare. Close to the
ridge, even on some of the bottom depleted of market oysters, the

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 21

erowth of young is good enough to yield an average of about 15
bushels per day to the tonger; but on the very scattering and
depleted areas further removed from the ridge the young growth is
sparse. |

The following table shows the results of the examinations made
on this bed:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF CRUISER SHOAL ROCK.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Mean square yard. ters per acre.
poor Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth q y 2
ber amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.

ver Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
58 | Aug. 13,1909 10. 162 il

€

Oso) | Dense ac. ome. 4.0 21.0 7.3 17 279

589 | Sept. 14,1909 | 8.5]...-.. COME CAN Mae ae 1.5 17.0 12.1 120 195 315

51 | Aug. 12,1909 9%0" | Scattering. 2-2 52: .3 7.0 3.3 53 100

seer do.....-.| 11.0] Very scattering. . a 4 2.0 4 32 36

57 | Aug. 13,1909 TED eget GOR Se eee 1.8 13.4 1.6 99 25 124

47 | Aug. 12, 1909 9.0 | Depleted.....-.--- -5 4.5 a7 32 11 43
59 | Aug. 13,1909 IRS O ease GLOBE eres ets e 0 .0 .0 A

590 Peer 14, 1909 GrD) yo 24 (60) ga aye ee 5.3 20. 2 9 166 15 181

FLAT ROCK AND ADJACENT SMALL BEDS.

Flat Rock is a small bed bearing a dense growth of market oysters
lying in the southeast corner of Public Ground No. 6, Warwick County.
The examination of this rock was not aeragincs as owing to an
error in platting in the field certain positions supposed to be on the
bed proved to be on adjacent planted beds. The single examination,
in connection with traversing lines of chain readings, indicates a
growth over the entire area which will yield to the tonger an average
of about 9 bushels of market oysters perday. There were practically
no small oysters or shells, and there was some reason to believe that
the place had been pleated though it was fully 200 yards inside of the
Baylor lines.

North of Flat Rock is a snail depleted area, covering about 7 acres,
on which there are about 26 bushels of alee oysters and 16 bushels
of young oysters per acre, and on which it is computed that a tonger
could take not over 2 bushels of oysters per day.

West of Cruiser Rock is another unnamed bed of very scattering
oysters. Its area is about 5 acres, with an average of 42 bushels of
market oysters and 55 bushels of seed oysters per acre, and it is esti-
mated that a tonger could take about 34 bushels of oysters per day.

Northwest of Flat Rock, at intervals of about 400 yards, are two
small beds where the water does not shoal, on which no deter-
minations were made except with the chain. The indications are of
very scattering growths. The areas are about 5 and 2 acres, respec-
tively. The data relating to the several beds examined are as follows:

22 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF FLAT Rock AND SMALL BEDS BETWEEN NANSEMOND
RIDGE AND FISHING POINT.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

; Mean square yard. ters per acre.
ae Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth : : at an
ber. &amination. | of wa- | of market oysters. |}——————_ | |
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush Bush Bush
31 | Aug. 11,1909 1055" | Densex js esac 0.2 0.2 6.7
48 | Aug. 12,1909 10.0 | Very scattering... 1.8 6.7 2.6 55 42 97
0 2.4 1.6 16 26 42

32 | Aug. 11,1909 | 10.5 | Depleted..........
!

HIGH SHOAL ROCK.

High Shoal Rock is conspicuous from its position, near the middle
of James River, surrounding a shoal of sand and broken shells bare
at practically all times. The highest part of the shoal is near the
channel, from which it extends shoreward toward Fishing Point.
The bed, including the depleted parts, is quadrangular in shape,
with its more productive areas extending at right angles to the shores
along its major diameter. Its extent and density of growth are as
follows:

OysTER GRowTH ON HicH SHoat Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of
market

Seed. Market. | oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters. . Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
4 134 90

DONSGo. 35 = Sade ss on ee ck inn sa S eee cca we coe eet fen einer 2 2,1

Scattering. s. 4jc% sees eets hee cE ToS ee eee eee eee 13 127 48 624
Veryseattering 2. ola cota cece mOeeee eee Pee Se eee eae 24 58 25 600
Depleted. co is dee Hotels ees Sys CE er ee eee seta as 95 8 84 807

The dense area extends along practically the entire length of the
shoal, as a narrow strip on both sides but especially to the eastward
of the highest ridge. The market oysters are somewhat smaller
than those in water a little deeper, but on the bed as a whole they
were found to average about 400 to the bushel. It is estimated that
on this area a tonger could take about 10 bushels of oysters per day.

The area of scattering growth forms a strip on the southern side of
the bed along the edge of a deep swash channel which separates it
from one of the neighboring Fishing Point Rocks. Market oysters
are produced in sufficient abundance to yield the tonger about 64
bushels per day. The very scattering area lies to the eastward of the
dense area and north of the scattering, and produces oysters suffi-
cient to furnish the tonger about 3 to 34 bushels per day.

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. We

The depleted area, which constitutes the major portion of the bed
as delineated on the chart, is principally on the western or upstream
side, though a strip averaging about 100 yards in width extends
around the outer end of the shoal and along its entire eastern side.
This area will nowhere yield to the tonger more than about 24
bushels of oysters per day, and the average yield of all places exam-

-ined would not be over 1 bushel.

The growth of young oysters on the areas charted as dense and
scattering and on the very scattering part closer to the ridge is, pro-
lific enough to yield a tonger from 8 to 25 bushels per day, the average
of all places examined being about 17 bushels. Clean shells were
abundant on the three productive areas and in the depleted area
close to the ridge.

The data on which the foregoing statements are based is as follows:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF HiaH SHOAL Rock.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

: Mean square yard. ters per acre.
Station | Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth pm we
sso amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.
ter, Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush Bush. | Bush
68 | Aug. 13,1909 TOU MD ONSB\\. vee see ane 3.6 10.9 7.8 94 94 188
1) |e eee COnes. (6 peeee ORs URE Ree Se 10.0 17.0 10.3 175 125 300
473 | Sept. 7,1909 DLO) [eisai GOSSELERG PELE 3.2 12. 4 2.6 101 32 132
474 |..... GOs ic .52- OFWs Seee. Clo Le SSeSuere 3.2 22.5 8.4 167 102 269
67 | Aug. 13,1909 6.0 | Seattering......... 3.4 26. 4 4.1 194 50 244
478 | Sept. 8,1909 OKO) Neeson GORE Se eae 2.9 6.5 3.9 61 47 108
ATG W\e5,6 Gomsie i. 2 8.0 | Very acaalanas oe a0 .3 2.9 2 35 37
BUT Navini =.= Gore ae. Ba/O) iiaierats OO ras w)arapa le crete. 7.6 OR 1.3 115 16 131
63 | Aug. 13,1909 14.5 Depleted okie eon .0 .0 0 0 0 0
| eee (0) ae 12s OW ee eyars GO ee ote ol! maa 0 .2 1.8 1 22 23
69 |..... MOS GOW taster GO eee oan .0 .0 .0 0 0 0
[five Oar hess (5 |S0See LO. een Se Ae .4 2.2 1.8 17 22 39
470 | Sept. 7,1909 ACO eiers ie GOe. teen aes 2.4 1.8 .2 27 2 29
ATi aise « (Ol) Sea eae OnO Beets Close on aye ital 1.4 Were 16 20 36
Alia Ue... Clo ae aes (3}505)) flies C6 (oor Spe Sm .0 1.0 ULEATE 6 20 26
479 | Sept. 8,1909 (GeMsoaee (CORE ae Sora ne 30) 5 Atv) 1 0 1
480!) 203... GO SH ei. QROM |fetaterss= (6 Co Ses Ara, lke .0 6s} a0 8 0 8
(to) Dl aes aes LO mgees Sie Te Uelaacne 6 OS ae eee aa 0) a0 .0 0 0 0
- |

TROUT SHOAL ROCK.

This bed occupies the southeastern part of Naseway Shoal. In
its depleted area it is continuous with Dog Shoal Rock, which occu-
pies the upper part of the same shoal, but is separated from the adja-
cent Fishing Point and High Shoal Rocks by swash channels in which
there is an abrupt deepening of the water. The depth ranges from
low-water mark to 10 or 11 feet, the greater depths being found 3 in a
pocket of deep water which Lahenia far into Naseway shoal from the
westward.

24 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The extent and productiveness of the bed are shown in the following
table:

OysTER GROWTH ON TROUT SHOAL Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of
market

Seed. | Market. | oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Heatteringe. 225 Wiles SSSR pine e acts ece cee tee ee eee 25 165 44 1,100
Very: SCALTErIM ES: Se acs a5 eae ine ee ee ees 14 118 30 420
Depleted 25: =. 2 tse ns See ge faeces So ees pee ee eee 90 21 8 720

otal 025 J. SP ee ee ee 190! 1/2. 2 | ae | 2,240

There is no dense growth within the meaning of the definition
adopted in this report—that is, bottom on which 8 or more bushels
of market oysters may be tonged by a man working 9 hours. There
are two areas of scattering growth which lie as strips along the line
of a shoal largely exposed at low water. These areas are sufficiently
productive to yield from 5 to 10 bushels of market oysters per day
to the tonger, the average being about 7 bushels.

The only other productive bottom is a very scattering area occu-
pying the central and eastern portion of the rock, from the ridge to
the deep water lying between this shoal and High Shoal. On this
area a tonger can average a little over 3 bushels of oysters per day.
Depleted areas lie on each side of the shoal, that on the western side
being more extensive and continuous with the depleted area of Dog
Shoal rock. On these areas a tonger could take hardly a bushel of
market oysters per day, although there are spots a little more pro-
ductive. On the scattering and very scattering areas of market
oysters the young growth is prolific, on the former being sufficient
to yield to the tonger an average of about 26 bushels per day and on
the latter about 16 bushels. On both of these areas there is an
abundance of clean shells suitable for taking a set of spat, but the
depleted areas have comparatively few shells and young oysters.

The following observations were made on this rock:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF TROUT SHOAL Rock.

ee Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
: , 2 TS per acre.
slooecen Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth ae eer :
ber amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
| Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
76 | Aug. 13,1909 6.5 | Scattering...-:....- rai 32. 3 4.0 260 48 - 308
105 | Aug. 14, 1909 200 [bruce 6 Ls ape eile Be a 1.0 16.1 2.4 111 29 140
482 | Sept. 8, 1909 4, Bb ete oz hye 4.7 29.1 4.9 220 59 279
488 |..... <a a fa Gu toes GO. scene see 4.2 21.6 3.4 168 41 209
75 | Aug. 13,1909 6.0 | Very scattering. - -- 4.3 18.3 2.0 147 24 171
106 | Aug. 14, 1909 SO ec cere vos Yaga ey Seager Sige 8 25. 6 1.8 171 22 193
10 yea ea Gono sen. LOOK e342 - 0c Se Dee .4 18.7 3.3 124 40 164
1 ees 2 eee ee BiB acces TR ae ae 0 4.8 2.8 31 34 65
72 | Aug. 13,1909 11.6 | Depleted... 52-7 .4 2.1 Lf 16, 21 37
483 | Sept. 8,1909 | 11.01]..... BG tas oat. rere: we 2.3 .3 19 4 23
a ee 1s Da a Adsl Ree GB Sous ee 1.6 6.1 6 50 7 57
= 207 al eee 0 (3 ap ae ers | 6.5 | Bace GOtu eo eee we -0 .0 | .0 0 0 0

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 25
DOG SHOAL ROCK.

This bed occupies the northwestern or upstream part of Naseway
Shoal. The rocks are in reality two, separated by the tongue of
deeper water which makes into Naseway Shoal from the west and
extends well toward the ridge of Trout Shoal.

The larger rock is hook shaped and contains two areas of dense
growth and a long strip of very scattering oysters, both following
the line of a shell ridge bare in parts at low water. The smaller area
is a U-shaped ridge of scattering oysters lying between the deeper
water just mentioned and the swash channel, which separates it from
the adjacent Fishing Point rock.

The following table shows the area, density of erowth, and esti-
mated oyster content of the rock:

OysTER GRowTH ON Doa SHOAL Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of
market

Seed. Market. oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
16 1 1

IDRC Reo = Sue, Acisilo piceecse RIS AES RIGS an TE ieee et led ee aa eR 55 04 1, 664
Sse ear HE NUE ETT D e e c eyufejeha elle « wissielels 13 153 39 507
NSIS SUES STTTUT No at Se aa gS 35 22 27 945
TDveren tetra! 55.) Sas slicyc |e A a an en eng 118 41 12 1, 416

TGR 2.) She) id MIR oR SE Ts Oo NS 2) 4) papier es ee 4, 532

The dense areas produce market oysters in sufficient quantity to
yield the tonger an average of about 12 bushels per day, the scattering
area will yield about 6 bushels, and the very scattering about 3
bushels. On the depleted area the yield would be at no place more
than about 2 or 24 bushels of marketable stock, and the average at
all places examined was about 1 bushel.

The growth of young oysters on this rock is prolific, the density on
the dense and scattering areas of market oysters being sufficient to
yield the tonger an average of about 23 bushels per day. On the
area of very scattering growth the yield should be about 3 bushels of
young per day and on the depleted area about 4 bushels. The

average of the latter is brought up by the very dense growth of

young found in places close to the exposed ridge, where the quantity
of market oysters was negligible. Over all of the area shown on the
chart as depleted, excepting close to the productive areas, both clean
shells and young were practically absent. The market oysters on
this rock, like those on Trout Shoal and High Shoal, are compara-
tively small, averaging a little in excess of 400 per bushel.

The data on which the foregoing description is based are as fol-
lows:

26 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF DoaG@ SHOAL Rock.

| | Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

2 | Mean
po Date of ex- | depth Character of growth Seare yaee ters Bere
= amination. | of wa- | of market oysters. oe
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.

79 | Aug. 13,1909 (4) Denser ce. fees oe 10.2 30.3 9.1 263 110 373
103 | Aug. 14,1909 He ee dong aces! 7 ST 6.0 160 73 233
rc og Malle ae. BoD face doe ee 4.2 S13 3.0 165 36 201
491 | Sept. 8,1909 fae Vy he G0s.62) ae 7.4 | 21.3 16.0 187 194 381
AQZ i are GQsncn ee Gr inesce dG.22:5, 83225008 -0| 0) 9.0 0 109 109
102 | Aug. 14,1909 4.5 | Scattering ...-...-- tea) eb See 2.4 106 29 135
465 | Sept. 3,1909 G0 Fee Gg? =. hee ae Orally pala. 4.1 201 49 250
78 | Aug. 13,1909 4.0 | Very scattering--- 2.4 | 3.2 1.0 36 12 48
486 | Sept. 8,1909 S.0u5 GG ee ae cee S05) 4.5 Ded 29 33 62
A Geel Hage see MT AE SMES ee <0] ) 42.07)” 9 328 13 36 49
A904 dou seaa: ThOM eee GOz 28. SS .0 | .0 y Fail 0 25 25
A496 {oes dowk xisccs 655 55-= GGOise 4). < 55 =o .6 3.0 2.4 23 29 an
77 | Aug. 13,1909 Wo | Depleted=..2-=-2.5 4.1 LEG 1.6 98 19 117
oe aaa ne a, Oe dia. 06.6. ame 2 6.4| 421| 1.31 302 16 318
2 Oe do.= 6 i ee dose 34 .0 28 2 28 30
101 | Aug. 14,1909 1OS0 | Sees “Ceres mae tae .0 = a | 2 8 10
485 | Sept. 8,1909 cH Boy eee Gores a-ee wae oe .0 Xe: ae Z 28 30
ABT eS 2 do-s-3425 6.5 ules... GOs. ee eeseecs =0 .0 .0 0 0 0
BGI ate re donee: 8.5 | aoe MO et eae eee 0 .0 ike?) 0 PAL 21
AGG ee Gort se eee OMe ee C6 (rs a ae See he .0 33 .0 2 2
BHO sce doe Oey |e Gort tee. ee .0 3 .0 2 0 2
So ae a ee ie OS aS NS :0 10 0 0 0 0

FISHING POINT ROCKS.

These are two beds of considerable extent lying between High
Shoal and Naseway Shoal and Fishing Point. The names by which
they are known to the oystermen were not learned. One of these
beds, embracing scattered and very scattered areas, lies between
High Shoal and the Baylor line, almost surrounded by deeper water;
the other, which includes dense, scattered, and depleted areas, lies
along the Baylor line inside of Naseway Shoal, from which it is sepa-
rated by a channel carrying from 8 to 10 feet at low water.

The statistics of the rocks are as follows:

OYSTER GROWTH ON FISHING Point Rocks.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of

market

Market. | oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters.

Mens. - 20sec CHAS Th 4c Se re Se ee nee ee ce “
Scattering. . Sano '> yeahs ais So awa aa Blea oe Bea eae 82 6,314
Weryscattering.. W's $2252 24 Fee ee ee ees 44 2,068
Denlbtede. 2 fF. Meese cn oe SR an re a ee eee ee 19 1,710
fis): | ee Rin anes Meneses NER ie eye 15, 447

It is estimated that on the dense area a tonger could take an average
of 10 or 11 bushels of market oysters per day, and on the scattering
area about 7 bushels. On the very scattering area the water is rather
deep, the beds in this vicinity ranging from about 12 to 22 feet at low
water, and although the density of growth is fair as compared with
other beds described, this reduces the probable yield to the tonger to
an average of between 3 and 4 bushels per day. On the depleted

a Se Tinie * See anaes =p

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 27

area the probable average yield is estimated at between 1} and 2
bushels per day of tonging. On the area of scattering growth on the

bed inside of High Shoal young growth is almost absent, giving the

bottom the appearance of having been planted. On the very scat-
tering area in the same bed the quantity of young is sufficient to
yield about 6 bushels per day per tonger.

On the dense and scattering areas of the other bed there is a dense
growth of young oysters, sufficient to yield on the former about 18
bushels and on the latter about 13 bushels per day. On the depleted
bottom as a whole it would probably be impossible to take more
than 3 bushels of young per day, though there are spots where the
yield might be double that amount.

The following results were obtained from examinations:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF FisHING Point Rocks.

Neri Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-
- Ss ard. ters per acre.
Station Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth Sree are eae

Pree Amin anOne: ||.OL wa=:|) OL market OYSters..|—-..-, > = ee
ver Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush
466 | Sept. 3, 1909 SAOn Densevec peek es: 3.8 27.4 8.5 203 103 306
ABTA ss (0) Seer BOK Io aes Gomi naa eas 1.2 24.7 11.2 168 135 303
62 | Aug. 138, 1909 14.0 | Scattering......... .0 3 6.7 2 81 83
468 | Sept. 3, 1909 GAO ieee GORE as natu 6.2 39.7 6.1 298 74 372
469 |..... Glo eases ot) eee GOe ee eee es 2.5 18.3 Wao 135 91 226
66 | Aug. 18, 1909 13.0] Very scattering. ... 4.0 6.8 3.6 70 44 114
Beeb. ee ae 8.5 | Depieted....2..-.-... 2.6 6.9 2.0 62 24 86
AtEey s Gomera. TOROW ectae GOS pease Bact -0 1.3 aT 8 8 16
99 | Aug. 14.1909 ORON | Geers (Oto ee See ae .3 Wao 2.4 49 29 78
100 |....- doz ese... SHON. et GOR. hoes sea: AG} -8° 1.2 4 14 18

ROCKS BETWEEN FISHING POINT AND BALLARDS MARSH ROCKS.

In this region there are two small rocks for which no names were
obtained. One of these lies close to the Baylor line and is encroached
on by planted areas. It consists of a dense area inshore, the oysters
becoming very scattering farther out, surrounded by a fringe of de-
pleted bottom. The other bed is a small patch of very scattering
growth about 400 yards farther out, in the direction of Dog Shoal
Rock.

The following table exhibits the extent and condition of these

beds:

OysTER GROWTH ON Rocks BETWEEN FISHING PoINT AND BALLARDS MaArsu Rocks.

Oysters per acre. | Rstimated

Character of growth of market oysters. UT Oe ag se content
of market

Seed. Market. oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. Bushels.

EOD eo aio MPR as errs ae A huh st nah on bro's im hud sai bate ri Gare sesatcno antes 5 183 268 1,340
eM PENS ws dh ga Peace gcd <4 cud ns Ws 20d Nm aeie wan. ¢ 0s 8 1 31 248
RE CURIE teed WAL ke ds get OU eee din Stu bias Ua oe vin in Maen ean 18 0 0 0

1 Sey UNIT SES ae 1 RO PRR MATS 1, 588

28 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The dense area varies considerably in productiveness, one spot
near what appeared to be the center of the original bed producing
a quantity of oysters sufficient to yield 50 bushels per day to the
tonger, whilé in another place not more than 9 bushels coula be
taken.

On the very scattering area of the larger bed barely 3 bushels per
day could be taken, but on the small isolated spot the growth was
sufficient to yield about 4 bushels per day. The depleted area is
practically bare of oysters of all sizes, and the quantity of shells is
negligible. On the small strip in the dense bottom where the market
oysters were most abundant there is a very dense growth of young,
but the rest of the bed is deficient in this respect.

The following table gives the results of the several examinations of
the beds:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF BEDS BETWEEN FISHING POINT AND BALLARDS MARSH

Rocks.
- i : 2
Laren Oysters cought per Estimated quantity oys-
7 \ea | = t :
eauee Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth) Oe eer ee
ee amination. of wa- | of market oysters. |————___———____>— |» =
a Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
| Feet Bush. Bush. | Bush.
93 | Aug. 14,1909 ido] Dense ces eee ss 0.0 0.0 7.0 0 85 85
Obie eee do. fee | We oslbes ss GO... hee 0 56.4 Sin 366 451 817
O8 s Se3 OLS ee 7.0 | Very scattering... 3 -0 al! 2 37 39
464 | Sept. 3, 1909 reat | [espertee GG! 2 shee ee .0 -0 2.0 0 25 25
96 | Aug. 14, 1909 $7 5:1 Depleted === =: .0 .0 .0 0 0 0
Ey aj (ieee le dos. S62 Seb. | eos Se eee 0 .0 .0 0 0 0
463 | Sept. 3, 1909 | re il eee GOtes2e eee 0 .0 .0 0 0 0

BALLARDS MARSH ROCK.

This is the bed called by Winslow ‘‘Bally Smash,” probably an un-
conscious attempt to render a provincial pronunciation phonetically-
It is the westernmost bed of Public Ground No. 6, Isle of Wight County.
It follows the line of a shoal which sets offshore from Ballards Marsh.

Its extent and condition are epitomized in the following table:

OyYsTER GROWTH ON BALLARDS MarsH Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated -
content of

Character of growth of market oysters. | Area. market

Seed. | Market. | Oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
4 152 31 24

RISES oc out cee iss ola, ope ee eased eo Le ee 1
WEDV BreL MIE so cel hte OS Et a ee ee ea 33 191 24 792
PIPPMOUEI eee IE ass es koe Reise e's ule DeRleuematae coe a | 142 45 7 894

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 29

The scattering area is a small spot near the inner end of the shoal,
where the quantity of market oysters is sufficient to yield to the
tonger between 7 and 8 bushels per day. The very scattering growth
is found on each side of this and beyond it for a distance of about
two-thirds the length of the shoal, bearing a growth yielding about
34 bushels of oysters per day’s work. On both sides of the very
scattering area and beyond it along the line of the shoal is a de-
pleted bottom on which, as a whole, less than 1 bushel of oysters
can be taken per day, the edges of the area being practically barren.

Along both sides of the shoal, even on the so-called depleted
bottom which surrounds it at its outer end, is a heavy growth of
young and many shells, which will yield on the average about 35
bushels of culls and spat per day. The market oysters on this bed
will average about 400 to the bushel and the culls or seed oysters
about 750.

DETAILS oF EXAMINATION OF BALLARDS Marsu Rock.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

, Mean square yard. ters per acre.
Station) Date ofex- | depth | Character of growth re riek Lae es

cr AMANO OL Ware | OlemManket OVSUCES.- | =a0; ae os I ee ee
ter. | Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush Bush. | Bush

86 | Aug. 14,1909 5/0) |) Scaubering 2-5-2 2. 13.7 9.7 2.6 31
Somes GO eer iss 6.0 | Very scattering ---- 3.2 372 2a 42 25 67
462 | Sept. 3,1909 Olle. ee O za isie ae ia 6.6 21.7 2.0 184 25 209
514 | Sept. 9,1909 Ona ROO ue cease eis 10.8 42.3 1.8 346 22 368
87 | Aug. 14,1909 6.0 | Depleted ..-......-. aS 2.3 1.4 17 17 34
Se ee Gone 2. WeOi3 | 3-2 3 GOS a Gnas .0 .0 a0 0 0 0
BO) i soe GOR sa 2: QAO eee GO ssaepiteeeie 0 0 SY 0 21 21
SON |sice/2: BO 5/2525 iQ) ee aes (6 Ka Basi tere 0 0 0 0 0 0
(ily ase GOperas. OM eee GO Rene Fan eacee 0 48 1.8 2 22 24
461 | Sept. 3,1909 (BUM BS eee Oe eae estes 4.7 27.7 1.3 211 16 227

504 | Sept. 9,1909 HO onase GOmssee enone 0 .0 .0 0 0
GUE eee Oba sce SONG ec GON ee ee lc ese as 22. 5 4 183 5 188
DOOM oo. Owe reat 3 Ay Eyl lake Seals CLO ee le 7.4 21.0 Be) 185 6 191
50 | Samer Ope ae ee ANON cele Se GOPe See oee 10.3 22.4 2 213 2 215
BIS Rene ONS A 0 hh ORO Ween (Cae tetera 0 .0 -2 0 2 2
Dl Pees (0/0, yal ee NOR ooaee GOe aa 20 =(0) 9 0 11 11
PIGH Eee oe LON sees a Gr Oneisss COM tae ee 0 .0 sil 0 8 8
BG Neer 22 Gos-ne GrOne Ss Goes 2 zgcleoeineate 0 .0 .2 0 2 2
yt eee Goceee:.2 AOD eee dorisncieGeeese .0 .0 .5 0 6 6
DLO oe wis WOM. 4543 AUS ae ee GO ree ize tats 0 3 1.4 2 17 19
DZO ni we st Goiseee ps GRa we doe sete 0 .0 .0 0 0 0
UN eleaeis Cony ssc DEOMI ao GO Fear eh oe a all 0) 0 0 0 0

CREEK CHANNEL ROCK.

This is a small bed about 2 acres in extent, covering a shoal
marked by a buoy of the Light-House Establishment. It has the
indications of having been a dense bed, but at the present time it is
depleted, and a tonger could take on it an average of hardly a bushel
of oysters per day, and the young growth is still more sparse. It is
surrounded by private beds. It constitutes Public Ground No. 5,
Isle of Wight County.

30 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The following observations were made on this bed:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF CREEK CHANNEL SHOAL ROCK.

a Oysters canen per Estimated quantity oys-
ona Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth scotia | 8 tens PENSE.
nce amination. | of wa- | of market oysters. |——————__ > |
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bushels.| Bushels. |Buskels.
383 | Aug. 26,1909 1320) 2Depletede a. -e--e se 0.0 0.0 1.4 0 19 19
S84 es dO-2ees-- GlOn| see dovesu itesteeee ~ 0.0 ilu 2 if 3 10

AARON SHOAL ROCK.

This is the only bed in Public Ground No. 2, Isle of Wight County.
It is almost or quite surrounded by private beds, the boundary stakes
of which formed a forest which made it difficult to tell, without spend-
ing on the bed more time than its importance warranted, what was
planted ground and what was not.

The following statistics exhibit its present condition:

OYSTER GROWTH ON AARON SHOAL ROCK.

Oysters per acre. | Rstimated
SEE eoeen

Character of growth of market oysters. Area. aed

Seed. Market. | oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
? 129 100 200

DIGTISG cee stele oe ae aie ake Sate Sele eee ae tone arate c Pie eee 2

DGCAGLETING er Lara mat Some Sey eRe ke cee es ROA Se hk ee ne 4 135 33 132
WEY SCA UTCIIIG =< cccie fe iia ape Meee oe tree tren Eh Li ora ccm acter ete 3 0 23 69
Menloted see. fects sce es cctseern = ee ee ae er. he eee caper 24 | 112 5 120

The dense area forms a very narrow strip along the northern edge
close to and among the stakes. Its area could not be very definitely
determined without wasteful expenditure of time, but is probably
about 2 acres. About 10 bushels of oysters per day could be taken by
the tonger.

On the scattering growth it is estimated that about 44 bushels, and
on the very scattering about 3 bushels, per day could be taken. The
depleted area is for the most part bare. There is a good growth of
young on the dense and scattered areas and at two spots on the de-
pleted bottom.

The following examinations were made.

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 31

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF AARON SHOAL ROCK

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

Station Mean square yard. ters per acre.

Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth
amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.

ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
392 | Aug. 26,1909 Seal MOCNSC gee. ae.8 & vee 0.0 6.0 9.7 39 134 173
BIO As. = 3 Omer eel gee ste ChO Nena Spies ie oa 28. 0 4.7 219 65 284
ofet! ll epeaieet MO ers a sesh OLDE] SCAtLCMM 2.) 2 1.6 19.2 2. 4 135 33 168
400 |..... OP Sen. 6.0 | Very scattering... .0 .0 1s 7 0 23 23
BOOM as 7 MOr res. 5204)) Depleted!) = 03.2-..- 6.7 | —-24.2 iets 201 18 219
cite. Sears doers. 2: BO ease CO sre eee aa 5.0 10. 3 13 90 4 94
Se eae GO S24. >: Tips xe eee MO seers Reet cise -0 .0 .0 0 0
O19} al eee GOs sa sos: OHOnle sass (ca pons Fras Pane oper D8) These ={9) 156 0 156

BROWNS SHOAL ROCKS.

Included under this name are a number of small rocks, separated
by depleted and barren bottom lying at the extreme lower end of
public ground No. 1, Warwick County, just above Newport News.
The productive portions lie on Browns Shoal and a number of other
shoal spots in the vicinity. The extent and present condition of the
rocks as a whole are shown in the following table:

OysTER GROWTH ON Browns SHOAL Rocks.

j Oysters per acre. | Estimated

content of
Character of growth of market oysters. Area. aaarieet

Seed. Market. | oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Lash ee A BOT ASAE tS ne PS eR ear NR an aoa 68 126 183 12, 444
Scattering.......... ‘yc pac Rages ae ea ES Dm il 44 142 54 2) 376
epee namin oon 0) 2 Bey eb Sa) - Scien owe Balas 4 Ac ohio ee oe 27 88 39 1,053
errreeet ie Fic Se ee 226 5 4 904

PME ete Ceuta ere th habeas 8 Bee ite ease ei eee 16,777

The dense area is found in seven patches, of which the largest,
covering about 25 acres, is on a shoal west of Browns Shoal sur-
rounding a watchhouse or covered pierhead. The areas as a whole
are quite productive of market oysters, and it is estimated that an
industrious tonger working nine hours per day could take between
10 and 40 bushels of oysters, the average at all places examined
being about 15 bushels.

The areas of scattering growth are three in number, lying on tne
ends of Browns Shoal proper and a small shoal west of it, inshore of
the watchhouse above alluded to. They carry a depth of between
about 4 or 5 and 12 feet at low water, and their productiveness is
such that a tonger could take an average of between 5 and 6 bushels
of market oysters per day.

The areas of very scattering growth are a number of small patches
nearly all lying between the more prolific areas and the edges of the
bed. They are nearly all covered by about 10 feet of water at low
tide, and bear oysters in sufficient quantity to yield to the tonger

between 3 and 4 bushels per day.
20201—10——3

32

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The depleted bottom constitutes nearly two-thirds of the total
area of the beds as charted. At no place does it promise to yield
during the present season more than 24 bushels per day, and the
major part of it is practically barren.

The growth of young oysters is very good on the shallower parts
of the beds, especially on those portions yielding a scattering growth
of market stock, where a tonger could take an average of about 15
bushels per day. On the dense areas as a whole the young growth is
less abundant, the estimated average yield being about 11 bushels
per day, the heaviest growth being on two small shoals between the
inner end of Browns Shoal and the shipyard at Newport News.

On all of the productive areas there is an abundance of shells
suitable for catching a.set of spat, but the depleted areas are prac- —
tically bare and give no promise of recuperation under any natural

conditions.

The following exhibits the results of examinations:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Browns SHOAL ROCKS.

Oysters caught per
square yard.

Mean

ge tg Date of exami-| depth | Character of growth
aoe nation. of of market oysters.

water.

Feet.
112 | Aug. 16,1909 G25s| SNES. Ses te
bP eee GOw oe cere LE ASM A OSes asm
ee Ee 10 S45 St Sue eee GOS OE ee eek eee
ZB sae eo MOS seae Sc Ouease = GOs. ce tee Ae
139 | Aug. 17,1909 ro ee a ech ane CO SHEP ES PAE
fs Poe Moose). oe HI. | eee GOs 52 See SiS et.
14D es Oem se 1 eis ee ee 6 ts VANE Ss ae ear
TAA |e. Golais se LON al eres ae WOE o22 eo coe
ik Gi eae MO sacs LR el ee GOs Pa
Ua ees 2 Oars UE a eee lee ee ee
450 | Sept. 1, 1909 L020 fete Gore cea: 25255
459 | Sept. 3,1909 ISG aes 2 ro Loe eee See
460 |..... it Meee ne $0: Slee : GNGe. <bes sae -
524 | Sept. 10, 1909 alee ELC Senet oe eer
115 | Aug. 16, 1909 9.0 | Scattering.....-...
SY poe Goes e tees (CEU eres OE ee ee
aN Sn oe Se Goeth 2 O20) |p eee QELS 32 sche Fe.
M20" See COS. Cate | oO eee ro Lape ae eee
136 Aug. 17,1909 O50 eee GOsi2 hs Res Sae
ig ee ee Joss es. EEX Ul pate Gots seer cena
143) jens 2 dove. es 1b eke | see dovsi sire
451 gir 1, 1909 Gy ae ae QOe ds acorn
Ae |e SOO mud PLS0s|oesee GOs ot gee ee
rr ae ae Tee Oe ae eg Tie «
117 | Aug. 1, 1909 5.0 | Very scattering. ...
125) |. ee eo eke 1030: Weeee GOs fs te ee
135 | Aug. i 1909 130% | ees Joh. 2 BSc a. 9
140 ase. oes = TOO Wie WOsd a cee
457 | Sept. ” 3" 1909 LU OS soe GOoy Se Seen ke
S5Ri. ee RO. 5. se. 1OTa ees COt cose pace
523 | Sept. 10, 1909 | 10.0453.~3 Q02.. Tae
113 | Aug. 16,1909 12.6°| Depleted. 2. <..22:
ibe ya Cc Ae eee 1G oe GOs. Aree st: ae
Ubi) fy see GO. cue: 1250 Tes See GOs ce eee
i OO Pe eae Giese DP AD Otis 61 0 eeauenige Rene Bla”
137 eee 1d, 1900 | 12.0 |... 25 QO. aces
449 | Sept. 1,1909 | 18.0 ]..... Gah GaCACE ee
454 | aS 63 een gy rae Rae GOoe a a oe
455 |. ...- GOlP = ce 1c? FR Hy ee G6: GA eee
ABE win cies GOS acs ope 0 0) ee GOs: vise weno ee
522 | Sept. 10,1909 ve > Ue eee i (Bt Bea. Bete Rad 8
567 | Sept. 14,1909 | 20.5 ]..... yf aap a oy ha A

Spat. | |
4.7] 31.9] 12.0
20.|° 2665) Ag
1.3] 21.6) 9.6
0 | SO es
1.6] 6.4] 32.0
2.0); 12) “as
7.2) 15.6] 12.8
1.5] 180] 10.5
15] 1.0] 14.5
-O| 9.2] 244
5.2] 37.8] 4.4
5.0| 21.2] 10.8
2.1) 16.2] 20.8
01) S06). > ae
-3[ 27] 6.3
6] 21.2] 4.0
-9| 128} 2.3
4.5| 11.8) 2.5
3.6] 25.6} 4.4
2.0) 31.0] 4.0
0} 28] 64
12.3] 340] 3.0
7.3| 20.4|° 5.8
2.9} Set) ee
2] 12.9[ 2.2
Uae hae
2.0) 60| 3.2
Oo) RS)" 72s
8.2) 262) 25
2.9) 96]. 38
2.0 12.5 | 2.0
O:]:y Seal) uae
.0 0; .0
.0 3 .0
.0 .0 -0
.0 -0 0
.0 -0 .0
Sh ee ee
.0 .0 .0
.0 .0 0
.0 .0 .0
.0 .0 .0

Culls. | Counts.

Estimated quantity oys-

Seed.

oMeelaeyeseSe Resor wa vonh rouse es

—"
ocooooncoonw

ters per acre.
Market. | Total.
Bush. Bush.
165 403
109 269
133 282
101 171
443 495
133 219
177 325
145 272
200 281
337 397
. 61 341
149 319
287 406
124 150
87 275
55 196
32 121
34 134
61 251
55 269
88 106
41 342
80 260
64 162
30 115
45 71
44 96
39 96
35 258
52 133
28 122
28 65
0 0
0 2
0 0
0 0
0 0
19 34
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0

a

2 A ETS PS TIO

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 33
GUN ROCK.

This is a small bed lying on a shoal spot west of the preceding.
Its extent and estimated density of growth and contents are as
follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON GUN Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of

market

Seed. Market. | oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. ;
91

STS ea eee = as oi foe 21 Oa wok cea sa Byala rn jee nmp role r@ielbtdrave Gis 198 152

SE SCR TRENIDG es Se Ae Reena nee at a ne ee = ag 16 62 30 480

EDIE on oi So tea ae ees eo et ee eae a 4 0 0 0
ie EN tc A oe hee pen ic en ase athe 26 Uy FEES ae eee eee 1,392

The dense area forms a narrow tongue running along the inner or
shoreward end of the ridge or backbone of the shoal, and it produces
market oysters in sufficient quantity to yield the tonger about 9
bushels per day. There is no scattering growth, but the outer half
of the length of the bed as far as the Baylor line produces a very
scattering growth sufficient to yield about 3 bushels per day.

Along the higher parts of the ridge, on both the dense and very
scattering bottoms, there is a prolific growth of young oysters, suffi-
cient to furnish the tonger from 12 to 14 bushels per day. The edges
of the very scattering area produce but few young oysters, and the
depleted. bottom is practically bare of both oysters and clean shells,

its position being indicated solely by the presence of shells more or

less deeply buried in the mud.
The following observations were made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF GUN ROCK.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

‘ Mean d. te acre.
Bration Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth Froude ners Der sore
ber. amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush. | Bush.
134 | Aug. La ee TGRONIEDENSs <i... .cne «= 2.0 28. 5 11.0 198 152 350
MAT aw 0 ne io 5 | Very aati gas 8 17.4 1.8 118 25 143
Ls ak | BAD See eG oe ace ephd we 0 1.0 2.5 6 34 40
1S do 12. 5 Denieted aerate sient 0 -0 -0 0 0 0

KETTLE HOLE ROCK.

IT am not certain of the name of this bed, as in the field some confu-
sion arose as to whether this or the next was Thomas Point Rock.
In designating it as above I have been guided by Winslow’s nomen-
clature. This bed is the largest and most important in this part of

34 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

the river. It lies on the north side of a shallow ridge, extending
thence shoreward toward Watts Creek as far as the Baylor line.
Its extent and present general condition are as follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON KetTLE HoLe Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated

ars 7 a
Character of growth of market oysters. Area. ict

Seed. | Market. | oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
as SLY 105

LD (vals SIS FORE Se eR SS SE oie hd Saks oe 258 F
See eb RS RS Se nS Se = 66 207 82 5,412
NVR VusSG oi LOMO os ee, Shares ees ar eae egg 111 180 42 4, 662
Mepleted ss. ser apiece Se ene a ee ane ener er nee i 0 0 0
Potals o5o seco acts hy Se gota SR Skt Soon SS 446 |.....5<- 5.) 37, 164
,

The principal area of dense growth starts from the ridge and ex-
tends as a broad belt as far as the Baylor line inshore. The public
ground includes but a portion of the shoal, possibly because the
southern part was taken up as private ground prior to the Baylor
survey. The productive bottom probably extends across the ridge,
but as it is not included in the public grounds and is staked as a pri-
vate holding it was not examined. The growth of market oysters on
the public ground is rather uniform and is sufficient to provide the
tonger with from 8 to 13 bushels per day, the average being about
9or10. Near the middle of the inner part of the dense area is a small
spot where market oysters are deficient in quantity, but the growth
of young is so prolific that it has not been thought advisable to differ-
entiate it on the chart. There is also a small area of dense growth on
a shallow spot east of the main area.

The scattering growth on Kettle Hole Rock forms a fringe along the
western border of the dense area, with a broad tongue thrust into the
latter near its middle. The growth of market oysters is sufficient to
yield to the tonger an average of about 6 bushels per day.

The areas of very scattering growth form a border on the eastern
and inshore edges of the dense growth, and it is estimated that about
3 or 34 bushels of oysters could be tonged per day on the areas taken
in their entirety. |

The depleted bottom is insignificant and bare of everything except |
a few buried shells.

There is a heavy growth of young oysters over practically the entire —
extent of this bed. On the dense areas they are estimated to be pres- —
ent in sufficient quantities.to yield to the tonger about 28 bushels per
day as an average at the beginning of the season, while on the scatter-
ing and very scattering areas the yield would probably average about —
16 or 17 bushels. Undoubtedly the entire bed can be regarded as

‘

i healed

Syren -_ Pe erg tudor Viet ee

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 35

presently and prospectively productive. The following data were
obtained from the examinations made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF KETTLE HOLE Rock.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

; Mean square yard. ters per acre.
Station! pate ofex- | depth | Character of growth q y P
ce AMiNnaAion.. | OL wa- | ofmarket oysters. |=; , o>
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
133 | Aug. 17,1909 1000) Dense ese cecnce es <t 8.5 47.5 10.0 364 138 502
1550 |) -..-\. USERS AS AOs}e 252 Ore Ste Ue ot 5.0 62.0 7.5 436 104 540
156 {2-2 Cl i ae PS dle ae ee OO, Se 1.5 29.9 7.8 204 108 312
157 jus. i fee WSs eee GG. Fas Ste SARE 0 32.0 8.0 208 111 319
HBOi ote GOE= sone OEDAIE 25 re OSes 1S sia ae .0 44.6 Sif 290 10 300
360 | Aug. 26,1909 | 11.5 ]....-. GOEe 2255 - Bea. 5.0 27.5 UST 211 161 372
30 la See GO eee TG eeaee 00 ee yer 2k 18.5 7.6 134 105 239
O20 |B oes Owes. 1OPOE ee Us GOPSA es. ees ce 8.1 54.6 9.6 408 133 541
Borla OMe aera: Sel eee Oo ciate at are eee 6.5 47.2 6.1 349 84 433
aloU See GOses 2. (iota iSaetine GOr tec aeebe 7.6 46.7 7.9 353 109 462
3(0 es eee Cho ae eee SOs eee GOSGS ees 9.6 72.4 6.5 533 90 623
158 | Aug. 17,1909 12554] Scattering. .32. 5.0 34. 6 5.5 257 76 333
163 | Aug. 18, 1909 Ie Us| Bete GO eee ak Sf 50.0 6.9 334 95 429
359 | Aug. 26, 1909 (DOs eae WOM Satta eee. 9 3.8 5.4 31 75 106
151 | Aug. 17,1909 11.0 | Very scattering... -0 16.0 4.0 104 55 159
Gy eee One of) ISAO ae ece (Cho ARS ee ee .4 43.3 2.1 284 29 313
Ue Seeee GO= es <5 =. 1 Cal eee irae SRI sat 13.3 3.0 95 41 136
by Oa Soc, < ES Dales sas GOR eee oe eee 2 24.0 3.3 169 46 215
369 | Aug. 26, 1909 bile) || Ses GOn erase 2 os 7.9 30.0 2.9 246 40 286
164 | Aug. 18,1909 14.0 | Depleted .......-.-- .0 .0 .0 0 0 0
165.0. =, Oko eee 1G2O%| 5-3 GLO Cases irre .0 .0 .0 0 0 0

THOMAS POINT ROCK.

As explained in the discussion of the preceding bed, there may be
some question as to the name of this one, which lies between what
has been called Kettle Hole Rock and Blunt Point Rock. It is
entirely separated from the former by a swash channel carrying
from 12 to 21 feet of water, but is connected with Blunt Point Rock
by a narrow ridge of depleted bottom. The bed lies on and about
two shoals which extend from the edge of the channel lying north
of White Shoal Light. Its extent and condition are as follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON THOMAS Point Rock.

Oysters per acre. |Bstimated
content of

Character of growth of market oysters. Area. niaicet

Seed. Market. | oysters.

; Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.| Bushels.
NEE Ft oe oye. 8). Sale wen, Oh Aw tals worden oebinwe mae cle 76 168 115 8,745
Oe OVO NS AE aR oS Ee eee en ene ae ee ae 118 170 71 8,378
MEER TRIO oh ate oat tatie ves tly cele cock whee Mixdawanibwncy 100 103 51 5, 100
EI era Cy tO iY. Nik Win a wale dmnle'swbanas anscdle & 127 80 21 2, 667
‘AR gE] SOS lee Se TS) A De BE OE Se ee ee fe re Oe Nee Raho the ate le ih 24, 890

The dense growth of market oysters is in three patches, all lying on
or close to the shoaler parts of the bed in water ranging from 5 to 8
feet at low tide. The growth is sufficiently prolific to yield to the
tonger about 10 bushels of marketable oysters per day.

36 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The area covered by scattering marketable oysters stretches from
the western side of the longer shoal across some intervening deeper
water to two small shoals to the westward. Over the whole area the
density of growth is such that about 6 bushels of oysters may be
taken per day. iy

The very scattered growth is in three areas fringing the denser
parts of the bed. Its productiveness varies between areas which
will yield 24 and those which will yield 44 bushels per day, the gen-
eral average at all places examined being about 34 bushels.

The best of the depleted bottom, which is in the areas lying on the
edge of the deep-water channel, will yield about 24 bushels per day,
while the inshore area and that lying in the midst of the scattering
growth will not yield an average of over 1 bushel.

The young growth is in good quantity, though not so abundant as
on Kettle Hole Rock. On the dense and scattering areas it is suffi-
cient to yield an average of about 15 bushels per day. On the very
scattering area near the inshore end of the eastern edge of the rock it
is in about the same abundance, but elsewhere it will yield not more
than 44 bushels per day’s tonging. On the best of the depleted bot-
tom, along the edge of the deep-water channel, it is estimated that
about 10 or 11 bushels per day could be taken by the tonger, but on
other parts of the depleted area young oysters are practically absent.

The oysters on this bed, as on all others on this shore of the river,
are of fair size, the marketable stock averaging about 350 per bushel
and the young approximately 750.

The following observations were made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF THOMAS PoINT Rock.

sie Oysters nuns per Estimated quantity oys-
: square yard. ters per acre.
Rene Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth q : a

~ | amination. | of wa- | of market oysters.

ber ter
‘ Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. | Bush. | Bush.
127 | Aug. 17,1909 12:6: ) Densens sce pe tacees 0.8 2.1 11.2 19 154 173
(te ee a GO one se EGY eee GOr sks... 22 oe 9.6 33.0 8.9 277 123 400
366 | Aug. 26,1909 a ee AGSS ee ees 3.9 33.1 10.3 241 142 383
if (si ae O.e ad ee 1 eae apace ee 13.4 13.8 5.8 | 177 80 257
Sf ed base 00... 2.) SS eee ee 5.8 13.6 5.5 | 126 76 202
128 | Aug. 17,1909 14.5 | Seattering........- 2.0 21.2 6.0 | 151 83 234
ile. es Gov sires s| Zee eee Gta. 28 2.5 24.0 4.5 172 62 234
peaee do... 4 1 Ry Pe eh ee Oe 1.5 9.5 5.5 71 76 147
i Dk eae dose. cee 9} Flee AGS -Cree acces 5.5 24.0 5.5 192 76 268
160 | Aug. 18,1909 SyOnive-n "iG ee Aen 3.0 31.1 5.7 221 79 300
RGR ee 3 Hei ee 0:03 eee Tee eee ees 2.9} 27.7 | 5.1 199 70 269
368 | Aug. 26,1909 8 She tee Goss eos 10.0 28. 6 | 1.8 251 25 276
ee ieee BOs bst.'s x Wo ae eS 5 (CNR gl eee 2.3 13,2 todd 101 98 199
162 | Aug. 18,1909 13.0 | Very scattering. ... 1.2 13.5 2.4 | 97 33 130
AUD Ane. G00. ue]. i bepeieees C052 io. ocean 2.7 45.9 5.5 316 76 392
371 | Aug. 26,1909 qADriecc DC Repeats Stee, ua 0 4.5 3.3 46 75
Ae pee oe ee R7sO1 | s2e2 dosti epee .0 6.8 3.6 44 50 94
cf dag Na Meee 9.5 =. oc), >) ade dec GO. :, 2a. ee .0 4.5 3.8 29 52 81
168 | Aug. 18,1909 9.5 | Depleted... .<t2ac2 1.3 18.5 1.8 129 25 154
Ls ¢ be ER One cees LBD. |. noes (O22 eels ene AY f 24.6 2.7 177 37 214
373 | Aug. 26,1909 ce ieee Cb. sr tis) wee .0 1.2 9 8 12 20
yf RS MGs. o.<]* lor O Woes GQG5"2 2 500 see <o 1.0 or 8 10 18
}

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. at

BLUNT POINT ROCK.

This is the uppermost bed in that part of Public Ground No. 1, War-
wick County, in which the cull law is enforced. All beds above this,
excepting the small one in Warwick River, are within the area which
is set apart for seed production. This rock is rather attenuated in
most of its parts, being in the shape of an irregular ring surrounding
a deeper barren area, with a long tail running along the Baylor line
in the direction of Deep Creek. The highly productive area is very
limited and the very scattering growth constitutes more than half
of the total area. The extent and general condition of the bed at the.
time of the survey are shown in the following table:

OYSTER GROWTH ON BuiuntT Point Rock.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated

ie content of

Character of growth of market oysters. Area. watek

Seed. Market. oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
WOMB, | on secre Se Ee Smee et 16 171 161 2,576
atenia co tritt pene mene ers yh edice bode paeneoeeees 69 193 60 4,140
USO y SURE TOE. eh a Se eae ee ee ce 225 105 45 10, 125
aD a a ee ac acs dete chee genes 118 42 14 1,652
Ton i eee Eas Beet lel iy ogee ATMS | 18, 493

The bottom covered with a dense growth occurs on two small
patches on small shoals, on which about 15 bushels of market oysters
could be taken in a day.

There are three areas of scattering growth, of about equal produc-
tiveness so far as market oysters are concerned. One of these is at
the extreme end of the rock off Deep Creek, which is in close proximity
to planted beds and bears some indications of being itself planted
ground. ‘These areas as a whole will yield, it is estimated, an average
of about 6 bushels per day.

The very scattering growth consists of a narrow zone almost en-
circling the included barren area above alluded to and a prolonga- —
tion northward toward Deep Creek. The examinations made on
it indicate a probable yield of about 34 bushels per day of continuous
tonging.

The depleted area skirts the preceding for a good part of its length,
and in addition forms a projection on the western part of the bed and
a small isolated patch on a shoal just beyond it. Its content of
oysters is such that it could furnish the tonger with hardly more than
a bushel per day.

The young growth is in good quantity on the dense and scattering
areas of oysters, excepting that nearest Deep Creek, where it is prac-
tically absent. With the exception noted, the tonger should be able
to gather about 15 bushels per day. On the narrow annular part of

38 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

the beds the production of young oysters is good on the very scatter-
ing and depleted areas, which in their other parts are deficient in
immature growth.

The following data furnish the basis for the foregoing:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF BuuNnT Point Rock.

wee Oysters cougth per Estimated quantity oys-
: rd. A
opts Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth ees os Pee

ber amination. | of wa- | of market.oysters.. |——=——, 5

Wes Spat. | Culls. Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.

Feet Bush. | Bush. | Bush.

252 | Aug. 21,1909 9.55) (DensO2, cae anise 7.9 17.5 7.5 1 103 268

2030s See Gox2tsk.. ADs el et Se dos? 25s ees 3.1 24.5 15.9 178 219 397

180 | Aug. 18, 1909 12.5 | Seattering .....--.- 1.5 33.9 5.3 230 73 303

1 eee doe. ta Gros eoe OSS ee ote .0 8 3.5 48 53

254 | Aug. 21,1909 Ope Sees CONS wae i eee .3 22.9 4.2 151 58 209

173 | Aug. 18, 1909 16.0 | Very scattering .... 9 5.0 4.6 38 63 101

IW eae dopeaaae 10/ Sel. coed Bina ae 2.6 42.3 305 292 48 340

i hy 6s ial aa Woke HOP o ses ec QO 2acan acces 5} 27.1 2.9 184 40 224

17s been PO hc peewee tage EO Oe: GORE oe eee 2.0 afl 3.7 59 51 110

18S Hoes Of soe Oho nates d022.- eee .0 4.0 2.0 26 28 54

380 | Aug. 26, 1909 a ay ee ea cc krses Zar Pinal Arlee 1.0 3.1 4.1 27 57 84

Sela] oo don ese LSS see Ded Cestxe® che 3 16.0 ook 106 29 135

174 ; Aug. 18,1909 1650;, Depleted..22. s2--:2 1.9 35. 2 2.6 241 36 277

eg Gel eee On. 28S 1S ca eater GO Bera ene a .0 .0 .0 0 0 0

Taye eee * dos ssa) 1623: jeceus 0 0S JEpewe nS cope aba .0 3.6 9 23 z 30

tS ae dos cta8 a yg eee doe See .0 1) .0 0 0 0

169} oe Os ean 8.5 too. Os Hore Sie 1.3 12.1 1.3 87 18 105

190 | Aug. 19,1909 Os ae: ao aN Re .0 50 1.3 0 18 18

251 | Aug. 21,1909 1s og (eae “ea Reena Nee 8 2.9 1.3 24 18 42

378 | Aug. 26, 1909 Dao Se oe La edpates ie eS .0 .0 1.8 0 25 25

BY CU See a ls NES et i Eee ete dOseeee oes eee .0 .0 .0 0 0 0

WHITE SHOAL ROCKS.

These are two rocks in very shallow water, with slightly greater
depths between and deep channels surrounding. The westernmost
lies about a bare shell bank and the easternmost is nearly awash at
low water.

The following exhibits their extent and condition at the beginning
of the oyster season of 1909-10.

OYSTER GROWTH ON WHITE SHOAL ROCKS.

Oysters per acre. | Estimated
content of

market

Seed Market. | oysters.

Character of growth of market oysters. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

MRGTIS Bi ee a ER re ae eee NS Ei te ees re 44 312 127 5, 588
Mery scattering <2: 26.2 A A Ae ee eee 10 108 36 360
10 {2} 0) (21 0 EC eae apna ao aan ae SONNETS eae EN Siri baleen oo RC PN te 52 53 12 624

Ly Kaye ee a ee CR mene hal aire cgi ae Ray HOG 1}: de wins ppc eo ee 6, 572

The dense areas produce a good quantity of marketable oysters
and at the beginning of the present season should be capable of yield-
ing about 12 bushels of oysters per full day of tonging. There are
no areas of scattered growth within the definition of this report, but at

are eae agers

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 39

each end of the western rock there is a small patch of very scattering

growth capable of yielding an average of 3} bushels of marketable
oysters per day.

‘The area charted as depleted bears very few marketable oysters.

The young growth on the dense areas is very prolific, being in
sufficient quantity to afford a daily return to the tonger of about 35
bushels. On the scattering bottom about 10 bushels per day could
be taken, while on the depleted bottom as a whole the average would
hardly exceed 4 bushels, although two or three times that many
could be taken in places.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION oF WHITE SHOAL Rocks.

Oysters caught per Estimated quantity oys-

i Mean square yard. ters per acre.
ee Date of ex- | depth | Character of growth a y P
they amination. | of wa- | of market oysters. |————~———_ >
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Seed. | Market. | Total.
Feet. Bush. Bush Bush

ao Aug. a 1909 Ob MIONSO osc -alecen sae TEA 92.3 6.5 650. 90 0
SAGO) -i-'-1.,5.. BEDI ee eOLOl. evar. cca 3.8 10. 4 9.2 92 127 219
4s Sept, 1, 1909 ORO ee Oy re ae ily 63.3 (al 487 98 585
EER ICLOL roy cte ae. HOS On ence k rere eee dale le. yao 17.9 268 247 515
445 Dae ao ae MSHOF| ces CXC ee oe Loe2 26.9 8.3 274 115 389
AN (tell eae CL Oli: 3 oc Die eee a 4 Ome ean ease 10.0 28. 4 teal 250 98 348
556 | Sept. 4 1909 2 0a fa halo apes CO tac utes 6.1 26. 2 11.6 210 160 370
oe to eee eee ANOBi gee. COOC es teasnonee ot alder 29.3 B. 265 79 344.
DOS te “i Srstes oie 7.5 | Very Laan se 2.0 8.7 3.0 70 41 111
BO2s|\2 2-58 ae LOMB M SSAC Ons. -)arc ns a2 2.6 19. 7 2.3 145 32 177
Doe) |e. -< « (Co yaa ep 9.0 Depleted 6 fst Wa 7a 186} -3 10 4 14
1 ae OR atin Mace RAO Mei hun alee ee 1.0 6.3 1.0 47 14 61
(3}8)- ol ae MLO feteee a: Geto enero do a ENN ete a «3 -0 .0 2 0 2
51515) ese CLO Sete 3 Le Bn tite Oto eae fic 1.9 11.0 1.9 84 26 110
DOOM = oer (010) ieee NOR cise COs see Sere. 4.6 21.0 1.8 166 25 191
(ot A eee Ole erase ai US esas 2 GOP a sae sens .3 ats} “3 4 4 8

SEED OYSTER AREA.

JAIL ISLAND ROCK.

Yor this and all of the following rocks the standard of density of
erowth is different from that adopted in the preceding descriptions.
The cull law, so far as it relates to the size of oysters, does not apply,
and oysters of whatever size may be taken. The entire content of
the bed, both young and old, is therefore taken into consideration,
and as the average price of seed oysters is about two-thirds of that
of the market oysters froni the James River, a larger quantity has
to be taken to furnish a living wage. In all of the following desecrip-
tions a bed is regarded as dense when 12 or more bushels may be
taken by a tonger in a day’s work, as scattering when it will yield
between 8 and 12 bushels, very scattering when it yields between 4
and 8, and depleted if less than 4 bushels can be tonged per day.
As the market oysters sell for 45 cents and the seed oysters for but
30 cents per bushel, the financial return is essentially equal.

Jail Island Rock, which extends alongshore west of the mouth of
Warwick River, is continuous at its offshore edge with Wreck Shoal

40 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

Rock, the boundary between them as adopted in this report being
purely arbitrary.

The extent and general condition of the bed at the time of the
survey was as follows:

OYSTER GROWTH ON JAIL ISLAND ROCK.

‘Estimated
content
of oysters.

Oysters

Character of growth. Area. per acre.

Devise ss woe 2! ee aes ees Stew hie a mr ee 32, 461
Scattering .....2 5252.56 FeO pi Ak ae Se a ee ne ee ee 198 109 21,582
Very scattering. .~ 2025.4 0202 a ee a ee eee ee 14 28 392
Depleted. «oon 2. ie Rare ee als ee eine ee ee oars Sena ee 508 8 4,064

Potala $2224. 8h Uh ke eR ee eee ee pn ee ee eee Be 947 Joo. .8 oe 58, 499

The principal area of dense growth runs from the inner edge of
Wreck Shoal Rock in a gradually narrowing belt to a tongue extend-
ing to within 200 or 300 yards of shore between Jail Island and the
mouth of Warwick River. The depth of water gradually decreases
from about 9 feet to 2 or 3 feet at low water, near Jail Island. There
is also a small area of dense growth lying on an isolated patch in
about 10 or 11 feet of water off the mouth of Warwick River, which,
being just on the cull line, is arbitrarily included in the Jail Island
bed for the purposes of this report. The dense bottom as a whole
will afford the tonger an average catch per day of about 17 bushels
of oysters of all sizes.

The area of scattering growth lies in a single body north and west
of the preceding in from 6 to 11 feet of water. The growth on the
whole is rather heavier in the deeper water, and as an average should
yield approximately 9 bushels per day.

The very scattering growth is in a small patch immediately east
of Jail Island, where the yield to the tonger should be about 5 bushels
per day.

The depleted bottom forms a broad zone on the inshore side and
a narrow strip on the eastern edge of the bed. There is also a de-
pleted area adjoining the small, isolated, dense patch before described,
and a small patch lying between that and the main bed. In most
places the so-called ‘‘depleted bottom” is practically bare. There is
but a moderate supply of shells on the dense area and on the scatter-
ing area close to it, but elsewhere the bed is deficient in this respect.

It is stated that the inshore portions of the bed, on the depleted
bottom along the Baylor line, produce fine single oysters, which in
calm weather are picked up one by one and bring a high price in the
markets. The survey did not disclose any quantity of such oysters.

el spr as

_— pee

lac ie

sgl, AAD

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 41

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF JAIL ISLAND Rock.

Oysters caught per E
Station! pate otex- | depth ue Aaa
ate of ex- ep
a amination. | of wa- Ey SEI eel a a ma Ti “Te al ON ereee Bek
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| °°
Feet. Bushels.

184 | Aug. 18,1909 LOK MD ENSC We wee oo. emcee ease eee 1.3 49.0 4.6 306
198 } Aug. 19,1909 (al) ae Oh0) aie 2 Scie tae IGA oo ia acne te ws 12.1 2.5 97
i Oe Retnce® (Oy Olen ae GUO PRE RaS eco Roane aN ET 0 8.5 6.9 138
740 OOS Aeecee AiOn hoses CO ee ete ao een Ie ae Rn RUSE Soe 1.5 8.8 4.2 110
404 | Aug. 27,1909 4.0 |....- GU) PaO Sek van Ar crate es a 1.3 3.3 2.8 62
207 | Aug. 19,1909 TOCOR I Scatveninie ys. Mie. we See 4.6 8.2 4h 88
7AN UN ee Chee ae yale COR AB per aaceeet eae 5.4 16.7 2.5 140
741i ee (0) ee ee CS, Nee (S10) 3s GARE UES OE OE Eee ae 0 2.7 6. 2 99
A07MeAue. 27,1909 | = 4.0) Very scattering................... iba 1.9 9 28
183 | Aug. 18,1909 TROND Opole ted: epee yee eed aise ea) st dhs et .0 .0 .0 0
ABD ES: 4: Clo Aree 117710) an GLO eh See ehe space etn Na nt re a 4 1.7 1.3 32
192 | Aug. 19,1909 CO ree fee CLO ee isrey NOS oe rat Sea Pd a us Leal 0 .0 Stl 8
74) Oe ot Ae TG Sous CLO eet cated oh ars ae eterna -0 0 .0 0
EQN ae GOR 3 ate ej eeeyae LO (aotearoa Sede 0 .3 an} 6
401 | Aug. 27,1909 bp Sieseue Oz Feet y tect ato) cote Nay ge: a ai .0 7
403 |...-. Ons: ANOl oy2 COM Bae ee se 0) .0 .0 0

WRECK SHOAL ROCK.

This is a large, important, and productive bed extending from the
preceding to the edge of deep water. For the purposes of this report,
it is regarded as including the oyster growth on and about Wreck
Shoal proper and the small shoal to the westward of its outer end.
Excepting where it adjoins Jail Island bed, its boundaries are rather
sharply defined by a sudden shoaling of the water. This is especially
pronounced at the southern edge of the bed, where the bottom very
abruptly rises from about 150 feet to within 6 feet of the surface.
North of the smaller shoal the bed is prolonged into a narrow belt
occupying a slightly shoaling ridge connected with a corner of Mul-
berry Swash Rock. The depth at low water varies from less than 5
feet on the shoals to 12 or 15 feet at the edges. On one small area
projecting as a tongue from the southeast side the water reaches a
maximum depth of 30 feet.

Wreck Shoal Rock is practically everywhere highly productive
and no part of it falls below the standard here regarded as consti-
tuting denseness of growth. Accepting the arbitrary inner boundary
here adopted, it has an area of about 506 acres. The oyster growth
at the places examined ranges from 178 to 497 bushels per acre, the
average being about 316. The heaviest growth is as a rule found on
the shoaler places, which facilitates the removal of the product.
This materially raises the average daily yield to the tonger, which
ranges in different places from 12 bushels to 51 bushels, with a gen-
eral average for the entire bed of over 29 bushels.

The bottom is well covered with clean shells and the bed can be
regarded as being in a healthy and promising condition. In a few
places there is a fair growth of large oysters and on the bed as ¢

49 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

whole the young growth over 1 inch in length is numerically more
than double that under 1 inch. |

The following table exhibits the data obtained from the several
examinations made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF WRECK SHOAL ROCK.

Oysters caught per -

: Mean Estimated
Station square yard. L
Date of ex- | depth uantit
her, | amination. | of wa- CERES LS EN ae oe ae
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts. sie
. Feet. , Bushels.

1938.4 Ane519; 19094) $19: On Densense ate ee 0.0|: 16.74) pine 195
AGAR Tee doers Q8OR seer GOs oe ee eee Mi 30.3 -0 191
1QSN Pee GOs se cree SAO ese GOs SOE 5 Ra een ah ee 2.5 24. 6 3.8 178
1965/22 dos 3334 QUuOR IEE Eris GO a oe ee ee 23.7 34. 6 .4 301
LI) ee ae Go- sees ae) eee GOr ee ete cee eer ent eee 17.9 69. 2 5.0 497
PADRE Se doe ets T2508 seeee GOES wher) AG arte a ere 18.3 28. 6 1.4 254
ZOD Mee os dossiers TOME See GO sao eS Ae Bh ee some eae 21.8 44.6 3.6 379
2037 | oo 2ee do's ate IBN ewan c (c Ko een te emery A een wea ne ee artnet 9.5 57.7 -0 343
2043s dorprteaess 1OROF Pe2e= GO. so See et eer erence 26. 7 46.9 .3 379
PADS IE eee dos sete TAO cracets G0: er See re eee 43. 0 45.0 .4 456
206 sese = Goes UH eonl eeee 0 (Ceres SU tet a io 15.8 18.9 4.2 222
2095 ieee dope 14, Bere soe C6 LO perbenge Sie eat aaa an mentary eS 12.7 31.8 2.3 252
428 | Aug. 31,1909 PSO Wee ae GO eae ee ee eee 3.6 30.0 Zeb, 200
A208 2 aes Goeeee a: Gabe ae se 50.10 aR Mes teen Fei eres gee a ere aN 38. 1 41.2 8 413
430 |....- GO2ear se SON || Ses = GOl 2 oe a eee Dihewk 60.0 1.2 460
ASA eee CLO B E ae HOVOuIeeoee GO: Se ee ae eer 9.5 30.9 .4 210

DRY SHOALS ROCKS.

These are 5 small rocks lying west of the preceding on and about
shoals which ebb nearly or quite bare. They are in general isolated
and surrounded by deep water, though two of them are connected by
narrow ridges of depleted bottom with Swash Rock and Mulberry
Swash Rock, respectively.

Their present condition and extent are shown in the following
table:

OYSTER GROWTH ON Dry SHOALS ROCKS. .

Estimated
Oysters | total con-

Character of growth. Area. per acre. tent of

oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Dense so s2 3 oe ee WS eS er a Se ee 12 244 , 766
Seabterin ey. ons sees i ek A Cee Ft ony na Re ge 18 124 2,232
Very Scattering? <7 6 sca £5 Bae es Rhee SS Se eee Seer ee 9 85 765
Depleted eaicosi6 ook sce ee ee ee ee ee 21 20 420

Four of these rocks are composed wholly or in major part of bot-
tom bearing a dense growth of oysters, while the fifth, the smallest,
bears a scattering growth exclusively... The dense growth in its daily
yield to the tonger varies, with the locality, between 13 and 59 bushels,
the average density over the entire area being sufficient to permit a

2 eae AEE ED

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 43

daily catch of about 30 bushels per man. The average depth of
water is about 5 to 7 feet at low tide.

The scattering growth is found in two places, one an isolated rock
of small size and the other at the extremity of a larger bed where
the productive bottom runs off to deeper water. There is not much
difference in the density of the growth on the two places, and it is
estimated that on the two a tonger could take an average of about
10 bushels of oysters per day.

The very scattering bottom lies in two small patches at opposite ends
of the longest bed of the group, and the growth is so sparse as barely
to remove the areas from the category of depleted bottom. The
depleted areas are three in number, one in the deeper water at the
tip of a rock and the others on the two connecting ridges mentioned
earlier in this description. About the same numerical proportion
exists between the culls and spat as on the preceding bed, and at
one place on the dense area there is a good growth of marketable
oysters averaging between 400 and 450 per bushel. There is a fair
or good deposit of shells throughout the dense and scattering areas
and on the apical area of very scattering growth, but elsewhere the
rocks are deficient in this respect.

DeTaiIts oF EXAMINATION OF Dry SHOALS ROCKS.

Oysters caught per
eo aceren | Loe “square yard,» | Estimated
iam amination. | of wa- ee oysters per
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts. aa
Feet. Bushels.
340 sae a 1909 WO PD CNSO em ccasericct eins seere he oc et 16.4 26.4 0.0 _ 218
patel. 2. dO....... CS eee COA eee oe eee zi 30.0 4.2 258
342 |...-- a So ee aR Oye ease 0 ae Se Ca areas ane an 21.9 38.5 2.3 343
BATS. Ot Meet: Oh |e io . a adie ne eae iSontD ay Se Eee Se 5.1 20.9 2.0 154
B48 oo... 3 Ae ciciys MOOR Fee GOs ar ey eae ume. te 10.6 36. 6 10 247
Bafa 32 6 (ae eC} | Ase 0 (0h aS Siete i ee hea Sa ae ee 20.3 57.7 0 398
Daley as, - sa wins 3 Deion | orenie CO Se SO ON eae es Re am 13.3 14.0 1.3 153
dees. Goer. oe. Oro) ees a CO Ars eee etre Pane Seton, Pea oF 15.3 .3 130
438 | Aug. oy 1909 (Ph a a (0 CU YaPerek Mt op eee meee te Ny 94 Ree aR 15.7 21.3 ay 195
OU eee AO lars s jaro SOs oes CO ba a eu en eee ont. his UL 43.0 12.3 408
440 |..... 4 yaa to xO oa. e CC SES pte Paee ore ee per ge ae ee a 15. 4 23.6 4 203
343 | Aug. 25,1909 WAS OMIM SCAULCLIMGS\ faitree coe oo ctels oc lateiniclas = 3.1 11.4 4.0 117
442 | Aug. 31,1909 ROA eee (SOTA AER UR nae Salty ee tag 5.8 19.3 3 131
337 | Aug. 25,1909 TTOne Vieryy scattering (3954. ccbe acc eee 8 2.5 2.9 48
344 |..... GOR 2 ide’ SAR SIRS CCN ae shoe ik kee ok tt te 6.1 11.2 3.1 121
437 | Aug. 31,1909 14.0 Depleted ieee args nee pag tae Si BB 0 1.8 9 19
Lae (“Ve egies A eee (0 K0)8 San nee ese caesar, Xt 0 1.4 1.4 22

POINT OF SHOALS ROCK,

This name is here given to a large area of varying productiveness
lying between the preceding, Long Shoal and Point of Shoals Light-
house, but it is possible that the name as used by the oystermen may

not strictly accord with this usage. Scattered over the area are a

number of small shoals ebbing nearly or quite bare, but the average
depth is in general between 6 and 8 feet. Excepting at its northern
edge, where an imaginary line separates it from Long Shoal Rock,

44 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

the bed is everywhere bounded by the deep water of the ship chan-
nel or a swash channel which separates it from Dry Shoals and
Swash Rocks. Where it faces the ship channel there is for most
of the distance a border of barren bottom lying between the bed
proper and deep water.

The condition and extent of the bed at the time of the survey was
as follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON Pornt oF SHOALS Rock.

Oysters | Total con-
Character of growth. Area. per tent of

acre. oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. meg
DONSC 2:5 osc Se oss Fe Seas Coes a5 See ae Se ee ere ee Oe ee ee 254 200 0, 800
Seattering : s22.00¢ od: cae lae Sew SEER Re Ga Ee eae een ae 155 93 i 415
Very. scattering ls. Jecxs. oh cos ce een tae cee. Soe eee eo eee . 239 42 10, 038

Depleted: 2cts 5-2 3sShb es ese eee eae See eee a eer See 142 15 2,130

The dense areas are three, one near the eastern end of the bed,
another adjoining the corresponding area of Long Shoal Rock, and
the third an isolated spot on a shoal in the swash channel. The
densest growths occur as a rule on the shoaler spots, especially at the
eastern end of the bed, from the isolated area above alluded to to the
ship channel. In this area the average growth is about 275 bushels
of oysters to the acre—considering the depths, sufficient to yield
about 38 bushels per day’s tonging—while the average of the whole
area of dense growth would not exceed 25 bushels per day.

There are four scattering areas, one of which, near the eastern
apex of the bed, is insignificant. On these as a whole a tonger
should average, at the beginning of the season, about 10 bushels per
day.

The very scattering growth is distributed in three areas, of which
one adjoins the dense growth on the isolated patch in the swash
channel. They are barely prolific enough to raise them above the
assumed limit of depletion.

The depleted area is in five patches or borders along the free
boundary of the bed. They are entirely negligible in their pro-
ductiveness.

On the dense sah scattering areas the proportion of very small |

to small oysters is higher than on the beds previously described, and
there are several places on each where the growth of oysters above 3
inches long is fair.

On the dense areas the deposit of shells is abundant, on the areas —

of scattering growth it is ample, while the areas with a very scattering
growth and the depleted bottoms are decidedly deficient. In general
the latter two areas are of no present and little prospective value.

ee eee Sate

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 45

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF POINT OF SHOALS ROCK.

Oysters caught per

b Mean d Estimated
Station square yard. L
Date ofex- | depth quantity
ee. amination. | of wa- Character of growth. oysters per
[25 Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| 2°:
|
Feet. Bushels.
321 | Aug. 25,1909 DORON CDOT SCM cis Sars aceap eremie pe is bu acces 8.7 10.5 0.3 101
Se Gol eae GOP e eee. - ON ees CLO Pes eine 5 os ose one 11.9 10.3 .3 116
Bee... (3S fe OF) ata Gots hee a Ue eee Cet 9.3 7.0 162
BION en 2 22 ‘oe heh eee GOlsessieseees ce ee oat tee Wate 23. 3 4.3 253
$34 |e 5:- dows see. S208 eee Om eee ee ee eee a ee 8.7 33. 4 1.3 229
2t0) lee oe GON aet =). ANOi ie ccee CO=se hes ete tee: seater 33. 9 34. 8 .3 353
BpOnieoe.* (Oko eerie 10, OMe aed GOseeS es ae euaCe shee: kite 4.3 16.0 oa 165
311 | Aug. 24,1909 de Dell SCAGUCEING cerca ye ere aoe eine 8.0 6.3 ae 81
319 | Aug. 25,1909 eI lee GOmse rete oscrcr aac aaeeae Sve 5.7 4.3 76
3335) eens Gowen! 28 (eal Bone CORES siae Sep ccy ets wee ied 6. 2 13.3 4 104
Bose beens Gor Are 2s SOOM eekes CLO ee einen etre crate copes ota eat 8 a0) 5.8 92
sisich | eee GMOes sues SO Pee ON cae 2 liar Venema om oe 2.0 6.3 6.7 114
308 | Aug. 24,1909 MeDe EN CLYaSCALbCRIM Ss oc aes teoeioee = oe .0 1.0 5. 6 65
BOE 22. MOE Acts EOL eee Os eG. Oe oe ease 52s om as .0 3 5
320 | Aug. 25,1909 (AK) ese CLO 2 Seen ere or nas SNS at 2.8! ls 1 34
Stare Sean GO. ss SE Oh peace GOP aaa ee eciae ieee e ome 1.3 Pe Ut 2a, 50
527 | Sept. 11, 1909 CAO N Seats GOs sae’ seme aa oa see eee 0 4.0 2.9 54
309 | Aug. 24,1909 F/B) DYE) 0 eh XG hes ee ais Ae re ee .0 .0 .0 0
326 | Aug. 25,1909 rt Tl ee GLa Seri he Secret pape a ay a .0 .0 ial 12
Sars) eae Onc ns OS Giadase GO eee sete ne eee eae iley a Jr eZ 38
BOD) |aece MOpr ers; THOR REE Ad Ossas at Sut sete toe fa Sete sere .0 0 .0 0
531 | Sept. 11,1909 WsOP i Sercie GOs Sosa eee aan e eos .0 2.4 Hel 24

SWASH ROCK.

This bed lies inshore of the preceding, nearly surrounded by swash
channels. It is connected by narrow isthmuses with Long Shoal and
Dry Shoal Rocks and adjoins V Rock to the westward. It consists
of a dense area surrounding two shoals ebbing bare, and two depleted
areas which connect it with adjoining beds.

Its condition and extent in August, 1909, was as follows:

OYSTER GROWTH ON SwasH Rock.

is Estimated

ysters | total con-

Character of growth. Area. per acre. inter
oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.

TUR oo ot ce ae a a ee ee ee ee ee ee 146 293 42,778
NUS ORSTUEGL. « caoeje cid SSCS ASE ck eS: Seis SEA a AL a REGEN SO § EeUn tras aR peg 115 15 1,725
CUNT Hah 25 eS, ata a ot ae as LU Se Ae a 7.10 gh Le ade Sa 44,503

The dense area as a whole is prolific in its product, but the middle
part of the bed, between the shoal spots, is less densely covered than
the surrounding area. It is estimated that at the beginning of the
season a tonger could take an average of about 39 bushels of oysters
per day. The covering of clean shells is sufficient to guarantee a good
strike under favorable conditions. The depleted bottom is practically
bare of oysters and shells and is at present and potentially worthless
under natural conditions.

46 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The following examinations were made during the survey:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF SwasH Rock.

/ ; Oysters caught per
| | ;
Station Date of ex- doth “ — poser
num- pamon P Character of growth. q y
hae. amination. | of wa- oysters per
| | ig es Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| 2¢Te
| Feet. | Bushels.
324 | Aug. 25, 1909 | 5:0) Densess.: 22525 - Bee ee ee 29.2 41.4 0.0 360
5 Sy Ree SES os @, ih Cae [i ene Sea A 12.3 17.3 7.0 226
228 | Aug. 20,1909 2 0 | Denied eee eee) See ee ey 0 .0 .0 0
323 mee 25, —_ 9.6 di. Ou 2s ean arena eee ° a < 27

MULBERRY SWASH ROCK.

This is a long narrow bed lying between Swash and V rocks on the
outside and the so-called Marshy Island Rock on the shoreward side.
At its southeastern end it is connected by narrow strips of indifferent
productiveness with Wreck Shoal and Dry Shoal rocks, and its off-
shore boundary is the edge of the deep swash channel running toward
Mulberry Point.

It consists essentially of bottom carrying a dense growth, inter- —
rupted at two places by areas of inferior productiveness. Its con-
dition and extent in the latter part of August, 1909, are shown
in the following table:

Oyster GROWTH ON MULBERRY SwasH Rock.

Estimated

Oysters | total con-

per acre. | tent of oys-
ters.

Character of growth. | Area.
:

Dense Se ee ee ee ee : 422 127, 444
SSR aa ns as SSS SS oa Sa So Sa BSE ee ee 34 106 3, 604
Rony Senkecrantt sso fe (eo Ba ob US ea ae ete aera eee eee 20 130 2, 600
Se aa ae aay ot one pee Set lad Sega ehee See ee Ree eee | 29 43 1,247

aba ae AC ee ek ee ee 505 | Se 134, 895

The dense area bears a growth varying from 161 to 570 bushels {
per acre, and the depths vary from 8 to upward of 20 feet. The i
heavier growth is as a rule in the shoaler water, though this rule is not ;
without exceptions. It is estimated that a tonger could take an
average of about 23 bushels per day at the beginning of the season.
The scattered area is limited in extent and bears a growth of be-
tween 88 and 117 bushels per acre, in a depth of between 13 and 15
feet, and it is estimated that it will yield about 8 bushels per day.
The area of very scattering growth connects this bed with Wreck
Shoal Rock, and although, as shown by the foregoing table, the
growth is heavier than on the preceding area, it lies in between 18
and 20 feet of water and will therefore be less productive to the tonger,
its estimated initial yield being about 7 bushels per day. The de-
pleted area is in several small patches.

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 47

There is an abundant supply of shells on the dense area, a quantity
of doubtful sufficiency on the bottoms bearing scattering and very
scattering growths, and a deficiency on the depleted bottom.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF MULBERRY SWASH ROCK..

Oysters caught per

: Mean d Estimated
Station square yard. Me
Date ofex- | depth quantity
a amination. } of is Character of growth. aaa i a Co LOM sbers mer
so Spat. | Culls. Counts.) 2¢Te-
Feet. Bushels.

213 | Aug. 19,1909 EESOM SENSO anaes teeta s oe ews a Mees 7.8 13.3 7.4 187
219 | Aug. 20,1909 AGO! 5.282 OSE e i berss ee eee ak ene BER 48.8 42.1 Sac 498
742 DE ele Choe 5 See Hee eco es Cee Sree rete meee ee caret His 13.9 11.6 2.9 161
PeBilese ce ome sce a eer igl| nee ClO Ae es fas oe Be LOE! 20.5 23.7 8.7 319
(a a WOeRR chs 12ers. Oly SSS eras aes Ses eee 3.2 20.3 9.6 259
°8\0)0 eee GoLite TP SORI Eas. 2 GOs SR a ee ea ee ee eed. 4 16.1 16.5 .6 173
2G ee Gere acts TONE: 5 (6 Gig 2k leet aa oe A ean | 26. 5 31.9 2c 322
331 | Aug. 25,1909 | 16.5 ]..... Ce RS Ree Been ty cee 16.8 | 30.0 6.8 312
cS. 10 peel Bie cae LP gl eee BLP roe cect ee es fees 23.8 80.0 4.2 570
346 |... -- GOeeises. LOR ee 2 OS, eR alate te neal Seek 8 gs eed 28.9 34.0 42 324
432 | Aug. 31, 1909 liso: ese dotacts ses 5 ia a a ree a a De (i 172 23 200
SS eee GOK i215 1320. neGatverimes 5th: * Sec eee sat 10.9 33 88
Zoi oe Co eae Seams IB SORE sae GO mapetehs eines Sige eis le onioers 5.8 10.7 2.7 113
MSGuh. ONE ie 4 aaa 14505) eook CONES ae Sah re eee coe so 3.6 17.3 1.0 alike
345 | Aug. 25, 1909 1840) | -Veny: Scattering. ~ 22.22 es eso. 5.4 16. 4 1.8 130
434 | Aug. 31,1909 Ov eWemleteds =25 ys keke: eS ee ee 0 4.1 1.8 43

MARSHY ISLAND ROCK.

This lies between Mulberry Swash Rock and the inshore boundary
of the public ground, principally in the ‘‘addition’”’ which was made
a part of the ground subsequent to the Baylor survey. The name

~ here employed is coined for the purpose of this report, as the name by

which this area of oyster bottom is known to the oystermen, if it has a
distinctive name, was not ascertained by the survey. The outer or
offshore boundary of the bed is defined more or less sharply by a
channel, carrying a maximum of from 21 to 27 feet of water, between
this and Mulberry Swash Rock.

The condition and extent of this bed about the middle of August,
1909, was as follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON MARSHY ISLAND Rock.

e Estimated

ysters | total con-

Character of growth. < Area. per acre. dent of
oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.

EE a ee a eo eee Se ee 197 231 45, 507
ae ORE ar gE, eee Ucel@a acide vu twnccuamacdénas dene 322 129 41, 538
PRINT ee ER Ci et en ee 235 85 19,975
I. cet an ee nce en 1uu Wisk op an bey wun mane ar coumactas 387 18 6, 966

Es rence tk a) de te Nee sels ee ees 113, 986

The dense areas lie in three isolated patches which exhibit no mate-
rial shoaling over the surrounding bottom, except where they touch
the channel which bounds the bed offshore. The depth of water on

20201 —10——4

48 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

the several areas ranges between 6 and 16 feet, and the density of
erowth between 142 and 410 bushels per acre. It is estimated that
the bottoms are capable of producing an initial yield of about 18
bushels per day.

The scattering area occupies a general central position in the bed
surrounding one of the dense spots. The depth varies from 10 feet
inshore to about 22 feet at the edge of the channel, and the quantity
of oysters varies between 92 and 186 bushels per acre. The estimated
daily yield to the tonger is about 10 bushels.

The bottom covered by a very scattering growth forms a zone
encircling the inner edge of the preceding. It lies in a depth varying”
from 7 to 16 feet, and, although the examinations were not as numerous
as they should wo been, they indicate that the growth is sufficient
to yield an average of between 6 and 7 bushels per day.

The depleted bottom lies in a belt on the inside edge of the bed.
It is practically bare of oysters and shells.

Shells are found in fair quantities on the dense bottom and on the
outer parts of the-scattering growth, but are deficient on the inshore
parts of the latter, on most of the area of very scattering growth, and _
on the depleted area. |

The following observations were made: \

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF MarsHy ISLAND Rock.

Oysters caught per : |
Station | Date of ex depth Square penta
ber. | amination. | of wa- ENaTaeLEn Of ET OWE —____________——| oysters per
ir. Spat. | Culls. |Counts. asia
Feet. Bushels.
217 | Aug. 19,1909 13507} “Densere. a20s eee c ceo eee eee 5.4 12.7 4.6 142
225 | Aug. 20,1909 LP a | eee GO. ck 232 eee Cee eee eee 6.2 23. 1.9 L709
727 eee do. Pe eee dg 2 eee 10.4| 54.3 8.3 410
239 Nos 2oe "| ag (eOtlee eee GOle ees see ee ee ee See Tie 11.5 9.6 2s
227A eee do... 13/07): Scattering..*2 eee ee eee eee 6.7 9.6 .8 92 ©
7 Ee Gove: L420 |) 22. 2005. 4a eS eee ee 8.1 9.2 1.2 102
TANT ES. ee Ss ee eee GO! a OS. DE a ee ora: 8.8 Vo 136
32, do... i, aa ae ee whet: Sie SA es ee 10.9 23.6 9 186
Pes Ne sae Wass cou se G0 jesse 1dOsh ce Ee Ee ee eee 43 12.1 2.8 129
73 er es. ses. 9.0 | Very eateries Cost Nee ee 1.2 5.8 4.2 81
72 eee Ores. 1GOu ees GOe 2 ee ee eee 4.5 15.9 -5 109
218 | Aug. 19,1909 12:\09) Depleteds.. 5202 ee ee eee -0 8 1.3 18

LONG SHOAL ROCK.

This triangular bed flanks a shoal, ebbing bare in many places,
which extends eastwardly from Point of Shoals light-house for a
distance of upward of 14 miles. As understood in this report, its
boundary is an imaginary line running from Point of Shoals light
toward Jail Island at an average distance of about 300 to 400 yards
from the crest of the shoal, as far as the swash channel opening toward
the northwest, along the edge of this channel to its mouth, and thence
to the starting point. The main body of the rock, therefore, li
north of the crest of the bar. Its condition and extent about the
beginning of September, 1909, were as follows:

|
hie
:
.
i
i
‘e
te

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

OysTER GROWTH ON Lona SHOAL Rock.

49

5 -| Estimated
ysters | total con-
Character of growth. Area. per acre. Pitot
oysters.
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.
TLVEINS Gs, 0 « = comic olen iat See ie le aa ga Ne ee Pa a Aegan 331 241 195
EOE os Goth gee er Ma Oe oe rnRe Cb eee aes pes ae ie at Oe 10 64 640
eames MEU omen eters fae ne ero ee aaa tata S Sais Sere em ia ae ersieiv pret aisi= 84 60 5, 040
MR EIST of Sto Sea lacs PE ages ol wins sn pinineis ase shes siete ae eae a 79 16 1, 264
UD GtHBIL 2.2 c) 5 eer RPI Re oes al SCN SN ie Me a DOA Nees ae one 86,715

A dense growth of small oysters, with a good proportion of larger

ones in a few spots, covers the major part of the bed. At various

places the total growth varies between 148 and 364 bushels per acre,
and it is estimated that at the beginning of the season a tonger could
take about 28 bushels per day.

The scattering growth is comprised in one small spot about 100 to
200 yards from the light-house, where about 9 bushels per day may be
taken. |

The very scattering growth lies in two small patches along the
western border of the bed and a larger area southof theridge is con-
tinuous with similar bottom on Point of Shoals Rock. It is capable of
yielding between 6 and 7 bushels per day. The depleted area lies
south of the outer half of the ridge, with a small patch on the swash
channel. It is practically bare of oysters and shells.

The areas bearing oysters in dense and scattering growth are cov-

ered with a supply of shells amply sufficient to serve the purposes of

cultch. The small patches of very scattering growth are also fairly
covered, but the large area south of the ridge and the depleted area
adjoining are deficient.

The following observations were made:

Detaits oF EXAMINATION OF LonNG SHOAL Rock.

Oysters caught per 24
Station | pate of ex bias square yard. pers iy
ber, | amination. | of wa- PEARCE GHECON TH: aot ies oysters per
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| 2fe
Feet. Bushels.

295 | Aug. 24,1909 SOc DOnsenen ces occ t eek es see 25. 8 29. 7 2.3 308
BOGE i «=< Cis ac, coat 10.01 2. OMe ore Senne A he ink 20. 4 25. 4 4 237
208 |....- LON s eae INS Ble, oie COLE cases SOR 5S er 11.9 13. 4 9.6 232
209 |.:..- (oko eee GiB Pee ace COLO pt, HUGS Maas Manne Selle ik ee ers ek rete Bee oe Lite ke 2.5 230
210.0 oe DOU ss ci. Gite eae CLO ew te oe teil. ee 19. 2 10.0 12.5 283
610) (ee ofc De aR FS Te OMleen.< (0 (0) Se aay Se eae 2 20.3 7.3 =i 148
ails tale ae WOR at ea C0 US epee (ke Sth OR SER ET Se oP ae 19. 7 25. 8 -0 232
2 EL ae OCS. GOR Cee ee ee ere BS 40. 7 30. 7 -0 3864
322 | Aug. 25, 1909 bP AU0 | ee eee CON Caer hee eS A aN ai!) 4.6 13. 1 164
§29 | Sept. 11,1909 BiONlnsese GO Fess. ee SES et LR Ne 19. 7 21. 4 .0 210
TAL. AE Oo Vo ae aa PST MCAULORO eee ban ee an 1 Rpt | 6.6 2.3 64
297 | Aug. 24,1909 DUO") Very scatterings 2. .J.7...03. <.. 6.1 4.5 1.9 74
PRL assaige CGn ct ois 2 OO | om ayed ‘10 eRe SOPRA 4 J OE pl 3.3 4.2 72
538 | Sept. 11,1909 APOh ee MOU es os Veneer eee 3.9 a2 .0 36
307 | Aug. 24,1909 CHAE Dood Lay oTs La, SEN ey Siegen she gm mee 1.4 l.1 2.5 39
§28 | Sept. 11,1909 Cel ae GOS fad. Sea Sestie ee Sees: <0 i 5 11
534 |..... (Sy eS (a ee Ca SOS eae a MA 1.3 3.4 3 27
OD! idan 0.x Once. TAQv iss .s COPA Peat CON ee ives cewc we une .0 .5 .3 6
DBOES oc - « Oana CN rec CL SINE of SEAT FONT oA SM a ae 5 «2 6

ig is (Co Pe oe COO TLR eRe 0 Co se eR Se aR ne 5 5 se 7

50 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.
V ROCK.

This bed takes it name from the shape of a bare shoal near its
southwestern edge. It is inshore of the preceding rock and sri oe
Swash Rock to the southeast.

The area and character of growth on the bed are epitomized in the

following table:

OyYsTER GROWTH ON V Rock.

Character of growth. Area, | Oysters | total con-

Dense: 20. 24 2c oe Se = Soe ea CR Sele See Se ee 240 227 54, 480
Very scattering. 2. 2s 2S555 eee cae ee ee ee ee ee eee 73 84 6, 132
Depleted 2 2s 26.22 2 ne Se ME tee ee eae See eee ee 73 15 1,095

DO tad Soke ae re Se ee 386" | SoS ane 61, 707

The dense area occupies the middle belt of the bed and carries a
growth of between 144 and 344 bushels per acre, the average estimated
yield per day to the tonger being about 21 bushels.

The very scattering growth lies along the northwestern edge of the
bed and on a comparatively shallow ridge along the swash channel
near its mouth. It bears oysters in a quantity to yield about 7
bushels per acre.

The depleted area adjoins similar bottom on Swash Rock and is
practically bare of both oysters and shells. The supply of shells on
the rest of the bed is ample to secure their reseeding under proper
conditions.

The data for the bed are as follows:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF V Rock.

Oysters caught per

: Mean Estimated
Station square yard. Y
Date of ex- | depth quanti
ae amination. | of wa- eae os 2a eas I ab
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.) 9T@-
Feet. Bushels.
oe Aug. 20, 1909 CSOD Onse see ok sea ie oa ese en eee 31.8 16.5 Ly. 265
7535 eee dg ss:222 2S Soop. GOL chee o 28sec yet sto eeee *: 10.8 45.7 .4 293
78; Cel eee do. Iso ceo 28 NO oc persion Ae aaa es Cee 20. 6 19.4 .0 204
268 | Aug. 23, 1909 1 Dt es MO: Sock Ses & 2c. eee 4.4 15.2 9.6 203
303 | Aug. 24, 1909 Ciel eee GG: 62.7505 ao sgn eee insta ace ae 21.7 10.4 -8 173
304 |. ...- do. Wethites oc €O. Soe go4s. 20 age eee 18.3 10.0 -0 144
i 5, Re Rice. GG: 32-5 cous jas sepa ses ee 47.7 19.7 -0 344
306 |..... To ae on eae GG: . 02 52055 13.9 14.6 4.8 197
i ie ee ae | it ee 0, .. 25 52-5 cae cere ee ee 22.5 18.7 -8 219
302 |..... gOS 2. 9:5: | “Very scattering. 222: ee oe 2.5 7.9 2.9 84
S15c1- ee hc ee eae 10.0 | Depleted - <.. « f5-b enone 42 1.3 4 2.1 31
SIG }e'. ae Le pep ales Se SOLOS nee GOs... Ree eee -0 -0 -0 0

per acre.| tentof |,

RFR Cars

Oe as SRR ie

ew
Kg

a _ 2 s 2 Sot el

| OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. ok

MOORES ROCK.

The bed known to the oystermen by this name lies on a shoal

F surrounded by deep water about halfway between Point of Shoals

Light-House and Mulberry Point. It consists principally of bottom

‘ bearing a dense growth, with a scattering fringe along the southern

half of its western ee Its general extent and condition are as

follows: ,
OysTER GROWTH ON Moores Rock.

Estimated
Oysters | total con-
per acre. tent of
oysters.”

Character of growth. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.
7 265

:)

“SPATE. 2 Sa) See He GAR nee ee ae ee ee ee me 6 168 1,008

Liao ee pee tes Meee cea ok, Bs BS Ie ene 10,813

On the dense area the oysters, as developed by the survey, range

between 134 and 351 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that the

bottom as a whole will produce about 28 bushels of oysters per day
of tonging.

The area of scattering growth Fees in the deeper water close to the
adjoining barren bottom, and its estimated yield to the tonger is
about 8 bushels per day. The deposit of shells is good over the
entire area of the bed.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Moores Rock.

Oysters caught per 2
Station Date of ex depth uaa pe rag
eg amination. | of wa- Character of growth. Sapo aE POV SterS per

or. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| T°:

Feet. Bushels.
241 | Aug. 20,1909 GRP IMIENSO Ra) c tia ccacia/atblolciacin. caedeeciacisies 33. 4 35. 4 0.0 351
265 | Aug. 23,1909 TORS. 2 GO FERS os eek bclaiwieweaeeees 19.6 19.2 2.5 225
266i... Ossie ace Orb c=. COi ia. Sa scigicdn Favela enieen 28.3 33. 4 303 350
7A Gl ees do. BRO |e ce <i CD eran oe ae nae wa ae 13.3 13.0 .0 134
242 | Aug. 20, 1909 | 20.5 CALUOLIT a oe ete nia tae wen tek Gimcin 10. 4 1235 .0 168

HORSEHEAD ROCK.

This bed covers several shoals along the edge of deep water south
of Mulberry Point, and for the purpose of this report is considered to
include a small patch close to the Baylor line to the eastward. The
apex of the bed is detached, but the remainder is continuous, though
of varying productiveness. East of this rock and north of Marshy
Island Rock the survey found small patches of oysters close to the
Baylor line, adjoining or included in various planted beds. This re-
gion is shown on the charts, included within red lines but without
shading.

52 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The general distribution of oysters on Horsehead Rock is as
follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON HoORSEHEAD Rock.

Estimated

Oysters | total con-
per acre. tent of .
oysters.

Character of growth. Area.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.

WensO.. Vasc de tee cede ee 2k PSE Es Se Se eae ate a 33 223 7, 359
Scattering... cu. cod eee oe Se seek PRES Te ee oe ee ees eee 192 104 19, 968
Very scattering. Joi ato 22s) SOs a cece a em oe eee aaa rei te inte oan eae 139 112 15, 568
Depleted. ..22 sete eus 3 sees Soke eee cae eee eee eae oe a eee 16 0 0

Motil. \ so 06ers a 800 epee ee ee oe ee ee aoe eee at 380 |... ae 42, 895

The areas of dense growth are on the terminal isolated shoal and
in two small patches on the main part of the bed. The growth
varies between 178 and 283 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that
the area as a whole will yield an average of 20 bushels per day to the
tonger at the beginning of the season.

On the areas of scattering oysters the density of growth is between
47 and 170 bushels per acre, and it is estimated that they are capable
of yielding, at the beginning of the season, an average of about 7
bushels per day per tonger.

On the bottom which is rated as carrying a very scattering growth
the average per acre is slightly higher than on the preceding, but as
the water is deeper it is less productive in its return per day of labor
expended on it.

The depleted bottom les inshore, close to Mulberry Point, and is
practically, in many cases absolutely, bare of oysters and almost as
deficient in shells. On all other areas the deposit of shells is good
or fair.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF HoORSEHEAD Rock.

Oysters caught per
rs Mean joes vant Estimated
Station | Date ofex- | depth quantity
HUM |S andantionl Ok wa: Character of growth. oysters per
ber. ;
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts.| Fe
Feet. Bushels.
256 | Aug. 23,1909 14° 0: | Dense-ne occ 5S eer eee ee ene 19.3 35. 4 0.4 283
ZOU on oe 6.0 ere ae eft sl Wee GO as ee elk ee ae ee 16.5 22.7 .3 203
DS ales 5 0) eens L605 eee 76 (0 RS oer, MAN PA RAE NS 6.5 29. 6 4.1 227
263 i... dovss.. 5 - Oil oneee GOV SoS sck ce a ee See Ree 9.1 24. 5 .6 178
oe eon on FOS es 1825 «| SCAbTEMIN Ge 5 ene ee oe eee . C Ps a a. ; ie
DON Veas ts OUbssk- 2 OSOure Rs Gs BL. ee Lee See ; : 4

7,0 S| ae Pe dos en TD iste eae GeO S se, Pek ee A es nee 5. 4 15.1 10 110
DORI. cs ODE sso 25t FAs Goth. See ee ee 8.1 5.9 .3 74
rat ee MGs ch aos 12a0' koe C6 Co ROE Mates Re UTC A. A fc A Rem “Are toa 12-5 4 104
273 | Aug. 24,1909 4 eee Gov hee Ee eRe 24 5.6 1 47
260 | Aug. 23,1909 16:0: | Veny scattering: oa. 2-20) see eae 4.5 16.3 ~o 112
274 | Aug. 24,1909 6:0 | Denleted. 2223 Fess. eee ee .0 .0 .3 Jd
DBO. a= oe oa ea eae ae ae eee CO. ocigcaiined S Pee ae eae .0 we .0 1
2/2) Nal ie See 31s ae BONeAL Se do i eS. eee ae .0 .0 .0 0
202 Nc ae GOsc5Fec0 AS ils aares GO ow Rocke oe cee ee ee .0 .0 .0 0
ZO" Wat ds GG Feeeee DaOn| sees G0: cb Re eee ee .0 .0 .0 0
yy doce. 4. WOul oe hee GO.6 e802 OS SE Sees bey ees x40) .0 .0 0

=

PS EEE LS * Seu

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 53
DEEPWATER SHOALS ROCK.

This is considered as including all oyster bottoms within the Bay-
lor lines above Mulberry Point. Its condition and extent are as
follows:

Oyster GrowrH on Deepwater SHoAL Rock.

ae Vehaeaed

: ysters | total con-

Character of growth. Area. per acre.| tent of
oysters.

Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.

DE PUEISE o o sce 2 ee EI RRS act a ee 17 129 2,193
CPS SCRINIGIIAIS 2 See ES ee i ee ee ee 21 57 1,097
TURD @ GL. Loy ao | A ee ee eo | 241 12 2, 892

SIRE OO PON Ss So ak a en Teicin wad STF ee: Se eee 27 NE ee 6, 182

The comparatively small productive area on this bed all lies within
a radius of about 1,000 yards of Deepwater Shoals Light-House,
most of it being in the immediate vicinity of the light. The dense
area is in two small patches on which there is a sufficient growth to
yield an average maximum of about 15 bushels per day of actual
tonging.

The very scattering areas are three in number, all more or less
intimately associated with the preceding. They should yield about
6 bushels per day at the beginning of the season.

The depleted area is practically devoid of oysters. On the areas
of dense and very scattering growth there is a good covering of shells,
and they are also found in ample numbers on the depleted area
within a radius of 1,000 or 1,200 yards of the light, but elsewhere the
bed is practically denuded.

The following examinations were made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF DEEPWATER SHOALS ROOK.

Oysters caught per

: Mean ‘ Estimated
Station square yard. :
._ | Date ofex- | depth quantity
ee amination. | of wa- Character of growth. oysters per
ter. Spat. | Culls. |Counts. aie
Feet. Bushels.

- 269 | Aug. 23,1909 ATION MUDLONSO:. 3 ractrnateie era vines’ /<ianeraie 4.6 12.6 0.3 91
2k) es GOn ese ue DEO ise es Orne wale Sa fic ree ie ee Ne 2.1 12.9 5. 8 138
285 | Aug. 24,1909 SiON raise CLO esa diratete hen Seam erticaintencler argc eet = 1.2 LiG 9 158
272 | Aug. 23,1909 BAO! Veryiscattenne.. 222 255.c0ey ses cok 1.2 138 .0 44
284 | Aug. 24,1909 TOROS ee. DO ateadoukicde cavuwee ceo ecabins .0 .8 4,2 49
286 |..... GOs coe AG) | ease (0 (02 iee Nela ae Pe Ee ta Be Be ee et .0 net 3.3 74
40 eee OO an: rN cers ela ais ae Sete ene los wiercie eeses 9 4.9 3.0 62
271 | Aug. 23,1909 Gan MPIGWICNOd Sv ac ce te ce a acento meicenn ie 2.9 .6 23
282 | Aug. 24,1909 BON | ence MO ara Sa, acid ei teenie ohare cee .0 <2 .0 1
BBE Nee. t ch) eae (ofA Ne eae Ose cis oe nitic las cee Rete 3 1.5 .0 9
BT ihe c (6 hen eae (ick UA ere COwi sae veldwldasiv ace ke cosets ci 2.2 20 15

|
|
{

54 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

ROCK WHARF SHOALS ROCK.

This bed les near the western end of Public Ground No.1, Isle of
Wight County, across the river from the group of seed beds previously
described. It forms two patches surrounding shoals and consists
principally of productive bottom, as shown in the following table:

OYSTER GROWTH ON Rock WHARF SHOALS Rock.

Estimated
Oysters | total con-
per acre.| tent of

Character of growth. Area.
: oysters.

| Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Dense «W322: 52 Fs RSS eS eae oe eee 18 140 2,520
Depleted - 2.2.5. 252. i553. SE Boe: Se ee ee 8 11 88

26 | Ree 2, 608

The dense area should yield an average of about 22 bushels of
oysters per day, and is fairly covered with clean shells. The de-
pleted bottom is practically bare of both oysters and shells.

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF RocK WHARF SHOALS RocK.

| Oysters caught per
Station Date of ex dupth | Squats 2a ene
ae | amination. | of wa- Chazacter af Erowth. —— i... ote
| a | Spat. | Culls. |Counts.) 9¢7e-
| } }
A Sc LE Lana: ao
Bushels.
421 | Aug. 28,1909 | 40) (DGTINe ie ok 2 ck os he 7.3 13.6 2.1 129
BOD tik alee ia hy AS eeer. 2 tere: Series Saeed ee eon 1.4 152
ey eee dG: ae ue 3 | Depleted 2652... ee ees -0 2 9 ll

BEDS BETWEEN ROCK WHARF SHOALS AND SPINDLE ROCK.

These cover the largest area of productive bottom in the ground,
distributed in three patches. Their aggregate area and extent are
as follows:

OysTER GROWTH ON BEeps BETWEEN Rock WHARF SHOALS AND SPINDLE ROcK.

Oysters Total con-

Character of growth. Area. tent of
De Meee oysters. .
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Dense. 252. hee se a oe ee ee eee 45 140 6, 300
Very seatteritip..2. le io. RES a SS ee zs 46 230
Depleted... 20 oo... loo enn ee Sas Se 37 18 666
TOU Fo eee a Seine oo Sn ce dail pad Fe ee ST |. 22iieoaae | 7,196

The dense areas are close to the shoal spots and in various places
bear from 101 to 178 bushels per acre, the average density being
sufficient to yield about 22 bushels per day to the tonger.

.

ee = ee eae
ee

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 eed oysters per day.

The depleted bottom is practically denuded. It bears very few

but the shell deposit on the dense areas is good.

4 shells, and the very scattering bottom is little better in this respect,

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Beps BETWEEN Rock WHARF SHOALS AND SPINDLE

Rock.

Oysters caught per

Fj Mean square yard. Estimated
Station F
Date of ex- | depth quantity
eg amination. | of Hae Character of growth. oysters per
ter. Spat. | Culls. | Counts. oer
eet. Bushels.
409 | Aug. 28,1909 APOM I ABENSON eee tre aces eo eis aE ciel aye 8.6 18. 2 1.0 147
Ea =e ce ' do GIO) |e O Fear oe ro eremies ta. = ss eee eee 17.0 10.0 8 146
ANBUEe he), fie sd. fi UN Rae (0 MES Oe WE RA) OO ee 9.2 9.0 2.6 121
7 ee do. . 55) ol cee (Goyer i og Nate ae, Sli ea 9.4 20.0 2.6 178
425 -<d0.. Ono dias sels GO FoR Some bE ins omer 6.2 8.4 2.5 101
ADA ets do. . diol | WEDY SCAULETING ie fo itee sec cease 55) 3.1 2.6 46
Dales score 0 ae Gia) Waepleteds Leet Law. ose ee i Be 3 1.3 1.3 22.
ALG |= =... GOnac. 2. = eel Olas cree (1G) et ye A eA Scene eae 0 3 ils 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.

¥ Estimated
, ysters | total con-
Character of growth. Area. per acre. font on
oysters.
Acres. | Bushels. | Bushels.
eee ie esl eo ois aa bec cge Se Cade dia Soba ewe cee oe caehebees 140 1, 960
MGM A Selah die ithe dsc ectecd civle wi Pde R ec oa delta wok sown dodmie dds 3 27 81
ee ED a gine lars Oban goannas. 2 aw Ce Re ininwsingls cols DeGuise eka s 2 12 24
THESE, ey Shae Set my Se isa alee ap eae ce te 19

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.

56 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The following examinations were made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF SPINDLE ROCK.

| Oysters caught per

Station Mean | square yard. partes
num | “ateefex: | depths Character of growth = t y
ce amination. | of wa- | ; = oe per

| JES | | Spat. | Culls. |Counts. the

| | Feet. Bushels.
415 | Aug. 28, 1909 6.0.| Dense... 222. tse eee ‘Pi 19.7 3.7 179
ADGA eee oes 4. On \asct's Ose noes et eas ee oe aoe 8.8 14.0 -4 120
ADIOS 2 (MO. 2 seeoe 6:02.52 02. 2253255, oooh ee ee ee 7.4 13.6 dE 119
i i eee do 2a st 4:0): Very seattannp: 22. = os¢.. 7225-55. 13 2.6 Bi 27
412 | nua dp. Se 4.5)| Depleted. 22 33 Bere ee ee 0 9 iz 12

DAYS POINT SHOAL BED.

This follows a shoal but part of which is included in the public
ground. The part included embraces a dense growth capable of
yielding to the tonger about 27 bushels of oysters per day. The
following is the result of the examination made:

DETAILS OF EXAMINATION OF Days Point SHOAL Rock.

Oysters caught per
Sta- | ees 7 ae mel a
tion Date of ept quantity
num- | examination. of Character of growth: SS eee
ber. water. | |" Spat. | Culls. | Counts. per are.
|
|
Feet. | Bushels.
413 | Aug. 28, 1909 45h) DOHSeh st 22. 2 S2 CSS eee | q.2 22.0 pa 166

PUBLIC GROUNDS.

The public oyster grounds of Virginia are those areas of the bot-
toms of tide water which are included within the lines of the Baylor
survey and additions thereto upon which the public is permitted
to take oysters at certain seasons of the year on compliance with cer-
tain conditions, and which are withheld from lease for purposes of
oyster culture under private and exclusive control.

The public grounds were designed to include all of the natural rocks,
though, as has been explained previously, no actual examination
was made for the purpose of really determining the facts. The
boundaries are necessarily straight lines and do not purport to con- —
form to the outlines of the actual rocks, and largely for this reason
they can not fail to include within their confines more or less barren
bottom. The relation which the barren bottoms bear to that which
actually produces oysters has been in more or less acrimonious dis-
pute between the tongers and dredgers on the one hand and the
planters and their partisans on the other, and it was largely to
secure authentic and definite information on this point that the
present survey was undertaken.

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 517

The public grounds are officially designated by numbers and the
name of the county within which they are supposed to lie, and on
the accompanying charts their boundaries, accurately platted from
the charts of the Baylor survey, are indicated by broken black lines.
The boundaries of the natural rocks, as determined by the present
survey, are shown in solid red lines, within which the varying density
of oyster growth is shown by the relative density of the shading.
An inspection of the charts will show that the natural rocks are more
or less scattered, between and about them lying barren bottoms,
shown as unshaded areas, within the boundaries of the Baylor survey.

At various places it was found that certain private grounds, as
indicated by the boundary stakes, encroached more or less on the
public grounds, though from the flimsy character of the marks it was
difficult in many cases to determine the real facts. This apparent
encroachment of private interests on the public domain was observed
at various places in Nansemond River, between Fishing Point and

_ Ballards Marsh, about Creek Channel Shoal and Aaron Shoal rocks,

in the vicinity of Browns Shoal rocks, at the inshore edges of Kettle
Hole and Blunt Point rocks, and at various places between Jail Island
and Mulberry Point.

Whatever may have been the conditions under which this en-
croachment was originally permitted, it was undoubtedly aided by
the latter-day uncertainty as to the Baylor boundaries. Apparently
but little effort has been made to maintain or replace the shore
marks to which the corners of the Baylor survey were referred, and
a number of them appear to be now unavailable for reference. The
- irregularity of the boundaries has also made the maintenance of the
lines more difficult, and the same conditions have made it almost
impossible for the oyster police to prevent the planters from depre-
dating the public beds beyond their staked boundaries.

These reasons have made it important to both ‘‘natural growthers”’
and planters that an examination should be made into the actual
location of the productive areas or those which, though at present
more or less unproductive, may be reasonably expected to recuperate
under proper natural conditions.

To assist to an understanding of the conditions on the public
beds as a whole the following discussion is offered. The several
public beds in the region surveyed are considered with regard to the
relative areas of dense, scattered, very scattered, and depleted
growths, and barren bottom. The first four are measured from the
results of the present survey, while the barren bottom is regarded
as the difference between the sum of these areas and the areas of the
public beds according to Baylor’s computations, the data being ex-
hibited in tabular form for each of the several public grounds. For
each public ground or for each fraction or combination considered
as an entity in the following pages, there are furnished tables and

58 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINTA.
summaries of the estimated total contents of market oysters, as
distributed by rocks and varying densities of growth. These esti-
mates are interesting, but are misleading if regarded as a measure of
productiveness, for a very sparse growth over a large area, as compared
with a dense growth over a small one, will give a great aggregate
which really represents nothing commercially, as the oysters may
be so thinly scattered as to be totally unavailable industrially.

The important point is not how many oysters there may be on
a given bed at a given time, but the quantity of oysters available
under existing local economic conditions, the maximum number
of bushels that can be removed with profit to the tonger.

It is unnecessary to explain to those familiar with the oyster
industry that it is practically impossible to accomplish a complete
denudation of the beds in any one season, but there are cases known

to the writer, though he has no personal knowledge of the kind in-

the region under discussion, in which small rocks have been, in effect,

taken up bodily, oysters, seed, and shells, and transferred to planted

beds. :

Under ordinary circumstances, in localities where the cull laws
can be and are reasonably enforced, not only the seed or young
oysters but a considerable proportion of the market oysters are left
on the beds at the end of the season. Eventually, however, the
oysters become so scattered that the daily yield to the tonger be-

comes less than a minimum daily wage, and while the aggregate —

quantity of marketable oysters left on the beds appears large when
expressed in a total of bushels, as in the tables of total contents, it
will no longer pay to take them. The minimum average density of
erowth to which a bed may be reduced before becoming commer-
cially unproductive depends primarily upon the price of oysters.
The smaller_the market value of a bushel of oysters the greater is
the quantity that must be taken per day to furnish a living wage.
Another factor that is essentially involved is the amount of culling

required, less labor being necessary in handling the oysters when -

they are single or in small clusters than when they are badly clustered

and overgrown with young, from which they must be separated .

before being placed on the market.

The depth of water is also a very important factor in determining ~
the actual density of growth necessary to render a bed commercially —

- productive. As has been explained in describing the methods pur-

sued in the preparation of this report, the deeper the water the —

greater must be the quantity of oysters per square yard or acre
necessary to afford the tonger a given catch per day. Not only do
his tongs of any given length of shaft and head cover a smaller area
on the bottom, but the time and labor of making the ‘‘ grab’’—that is,

putting the tongs on the bottom, scraping up the oysters, and pulling — |
them up—are materially increased. In other words, in deep water —

1
4
ou
&
f
vA
hid
*
ies
+
+

Pts

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 59

not only is the area covered by a “‘grab”’ smaller, but, other things
being equal, fewer ‘‘grabs’’ can be made in an hour than in a smaller
depth.

In the tables shown in this report and on the chart these factors
have all been considered in estimating the relative density of the

beds. In the estimation of the available contents of the rocks

as exhibited in the following tables the same factors have been con-
sidered. It is assumed that, at the price which has recently been
received for market oysters in the region under consideration—
namely, 45 cents per bushel—it would be wholly unprofitable to |
tong on bottoms which would yield less than 3 bushels of culled oysters
per day, exclusive of the time spent in culling, which would ordi-
narily involve part of the time of a second man or boy. In the same
way at the price of seed oysters, namely 30 cents per bushel, it is

~ assumed to be equally unprofitable to tong on bottoms yielding less

than 4 bushels, exclusive of shells.

It can not be argued that this limit is too high, but undoubtedly
it will be claimed by some that it is entirely too low. The objection
would be well founded if it were to apply wholly to areas on which
the initial density of growth was such as to afford the minimum yield
adopted, but it will not lie against the application of the standard to
areas of greater initial productiveness. A dense bed in course of
partial denudation by tonging is not uniformly depleted over its whole
area. The tongers spread themselves more or less promiscuously
over the rocks and take up practically all of the oysters in patches,

_ while other areas are, for the time being, inadvertently left untouched.

Later many of these untouched spots are tonged with profit, until the
worked areas become so great in proportion to those which have been
overlooked that the time spent in searching for the latter makes fur-
ther work unremunerative. At this stage of temporary abandon-
ment the rock consists of a few small patches of productive bottom,
areas which are practically bare of market oysters, and others which
have been worked over but still retain some oysters scattered over
them by the operations of tonging. It is of course impossible, from
the complexity and irregularity of the conditions obtaining on an
oyster bed, to fix a limit of more than reasonable accuracy. In pre-
paring the following tables the present available productiveness of
each area has been considered with regard to the terms of its initial
yield to the tonger and its total estimated contents above that which
would give a return of 3 bushels per day’s work on the market oyster
beds and 4 bushels on the seed beds. The depleted areas and most
of the areas covered by what is called very scattered growth are there-
fore negligible as present factors. A very few areas in the depleted
bottoms and a somewhat greater proportion of the bottoms bearing
a very scattering growth are of potential value as bearing small
oysters and shells which reasonably assure future regeneration.

60 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

These are pointed out in the following discussion of the several
public grounds:

PUBLIC GROUNDS NO. 2 NANSEMOND COUNTY AND NO. 6 ISLE OF
WIGHT COUNTY.

These two grounds overlap, as platted on the state charts, and as
they can not be accurately differentiated in the conflicting area they
may be most conveniently considered together. The former bed
begins at the upper limit of oyster growth in the Nansemond River
off Cedar Point, and becoming continuous with No. 6 near Newport
News Rock, the latter extends along the right side of the James River
to beyond Ballards Marsh Rock. Ground No. 2 is said to contain
3,319.6 acres, and Ground No. 6, 4,148.2 acres, a total of 7,467.8; but
there is an overlap or duplication of about 305 acres, and deducting —
this, the actual total area of the two beds may be assumed to be about
7,162.8 acres. The following is a résumé of the extent of the oyster
bottoms of the several rocks and the barren bottom embraced within
the limits of these grounds:

AREAS OF OysTER GROWTH IN PUBLIC GROUNDS No. 2 NANSEMOND CoUNTY AND
No. 6 IstE or Wieutr County.

Oyster growth.

Name of oyster rock. me
Seatter- | _Very

iw tter- | Depleted.| Total.
: ing.

Bearkins. on. on). co wan nn soe ee hes as eee nasssssensncsens 0 0 0 39 39
INGHISOMNONG TiC won on noon 5 ae Re Bee Sa RNa a 85 446 294 782 1,607
Bram Shoah: Fes. oo Se eee <n no SE a oe ean 0 19 14 95 128
Newport NGWS. .< --% ..5<. .. <2. Tae cee eee ce 4 27 12 129 172
Cruiser Sheet fe 5 5 P ein dt ie eee ee oem 27 19 26 32 104
Between Nansemond Ridge and Fishing Point@....... 50 0 5 7 62
BV Ag) SD OY. eas Poa ie cw ons en 24 13 24 95 156
APSBURG TSEOGe eas Bc ea a an 5 oc On ee ee a 0 25 14 90 129
Biatt SURO i 2 hens aoe on deg Ane pee 16 ll 35 120 182
La BS eR RR Rr i i SEE eM Spgs Sen as de 45 77 47 90 259
Between Fishing Point and Ballards Marsh...........- 5 0 8 18 31
WOMGIUA MENGE. Ir... -. ~~ 5.0 oneas~ acne n eee tree aGaee 0 4 142 179
Total GYster G2OR~. . ooo... nn casa sensncne wnneewe 256 641 512 1,639 3,048
Total barren otto... 2s 16.2 8a ee. ee eee |. anys Sha dare 4,114.8

veloped by this survey, exceeds the area of the oyster rocks and con-
stitutes about 57 per cent of the area of the two public grounds under
discussion. The depleted bottom, which, excepting the places noted
in the detailed descriptions of the several beds, is at present unpro-
ductive and of a character that gives little or no promise of future
regeneration, forms about 23 per cent of the total area included
within the Baylor lines. Assuming that the areas of very scattering

;
{
;

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 61

growth, at present practically worthless so far as actual productive-

ness is concerned, are capable of coming into production at some time

in the future, by virtue of the young growth and clean shells that
they bear, it will be seen that the actual productive oyster rocks
form only about 20 per cent of the area of these two public grounds.

The estimated total marketable contents of the grounds, based
upon the distribution of oysters as indicated by the chain, and the
actual productiveness of the various areas as determined by actual
count and measurement, is exhibited in the following table:

ContTENT oF MARKET OystTeRS, Pusiic Grounps No. 2 NANSEMOND COUNTY AND
No. 6 IstE or WiaHt County.

: Very
Name of rock. Dense. Scatter- seatter- |Depleted.} Total.
ing. ing. ?
Bushels.| Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Sa aR IED, a ici ym Stu arava Mle cia w oa 5iGW bo Gib lee Mba aie wile n nioeiiaialG «|| alelopysinimnwis 195 195
SRMenrRe PST COR a Uidik @o/Giaice - vnn'sicies oe seed pa sineie sre res 7,905 26, 760 10, 878 8, 602 54, 145
STN I ae cee Sal le = ciGleis o wia ta qq ene cu eee hens a slew bee at 950 546 2,755 4, 251
ISS nt ISG. Sl Mees 432 1, 701 420 3, 483 6, 036
POM ROH MI Sa i bs iplstcesa wisp ais So Teaicis tee sale cele «ip ie 4, 212 1,007 728 288 6, 235 -
LM cub LSet 3 Conic oR AURIS ST a yer tO) 0 je |ouee ae ie eae 210 182 5, 792
Wihteio Shave. 3 20” a ee ee a 2, 160 624 600 807 4,191
Sr Oa Te ee hea uemenccleewacec’s 1, 100 420 720 2, 240
Heng ted il 8 ne a ee a eee cles Ly GG4 507 945 1, 416 4, 532
Wishing RATAN PE Hr eso oie ete, digsa lee Bralvio ele wre 6 div,nie Se Dy00 6, 314 2,068 1, 710 15, 447
Between Fishing Point and Ballards Marsh........... Te SAO abies, Ses. DAS |i yas 1,588
Sree SRN ESR a «ata e e oie Goce ia sie ewe cee wnepee|eeeeeeee 124 792 894 1,810
is tent ec Sk pce wee sles cietocnece 28, 468 39, O87 17, 855 21,052 106, 462

This indicates that if it were possible to ‘“‘clean up” completely
the entire area covered by the oyster rocks, the product would be
about 106,000 bushels of marketable oysters. When an analysis is
made, it is speedily apparent that the commercially available supply
on these beds is only about 40 per cent of the foregoing, as stated in
the following table:

AVAILABLE CONTENT OF MARKET OystERS, PusLic Grounps No. 2 NANSEMOND
County AND No. 6 Iste or Wiautr County.

. : Very
Name of rock. Dense. oh seatter- | Total.
ng. fab

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Larkins..... SEAS eet cccie ee cite sie a wines Suchen ak tas Meee SAINT A anbtemal ae whe Oewelel ace aad ence aauie estas
The cclsaorqun nil Ui) 2 Saal ae, 5, 500 13, 500 1, 000 20, 000
EATEN. ald) Sirk ninls cra/nin wi avdhe Sis'cee ccs ecasiespwescuctc eratate ta wee le haan eae 400 100 500
ek arya, cata. kw cld.c's aumpamemmagime 350 MOU traichis's we'wte 1, 200
DOMED NTE Rees tec S Liatale cia 's Siebctcicre nec ob ikmat coddy weap oes 4 4 3, 400 TURD || siete Scie e me 4, 100
oe pee IR RASS Sp Rae Ne, Se MOINS) | a eitehasa a aieWa ince « sins sien 3, 600
MY mene bk eT ee rt ean 1,500 350 |* 100 1,950
ne ee on ie ee Sle cae hea OUD sl wun chante 600
HS halal 20 at SS MRD BD SS eS LN ae cee ae ne img 1, 200 BOOM ecw ecewaan 1, 450
Ne ee ee hana vcntem chs 4, 400 8, 600 800 &, 3800
Between Fishing Point and Ballards Marsh.................... SOOO Gere hiatal ace'te alates ws 1, 200
Ballards Marsh: . rms anebnstodie ta ces sera ie 0's MWe aes dati Ia eee ites a oe cow 75 100 175

SUN RAE RIN ater Ae aL ore ae Sic ahi io ne pda eaehw no wands 21, 150 20, 325 1, 600 48,075

62 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

It will be observed that on the basis assumed in this report the
depleted areas are wholly unproductive commercially, and the
bottoms covered with very scattered growth are practically so. “On
the latter the growth in many cases is barely sufficient to yield 3
bushels per day, and in no case does it much exceed that limit. The
large ageregate of market oysters on the areas of very scattered and
depleted bottoms are so thinly distributed as to be unavailable
commercially, and are therefore valueless except as brood stock to
assist in furnishing spat for replenishing the beds. On the dense
areas about three-fourths of the total contents and on the scattering
growths about one-half may be taken with profit.

The total estimated available product of 43,075 bushels appears
very small as compared with the area included within the Baylor
lines, averaging but about 6 bushels per acre. It is about half of the
average yield of marketable oysters on the public grounds of the
State as a whole in 1901 and 1904, according to the statistics of the
Bureau of Fisheries, and about equal to the average yield in 1908, as
stated by the Bureau of the Census.

The deficiency in productiveness of this section was to be expected
in view of public report. The beds, especially in Nansemond River,
are generally recognized as being seriously depleted, the allegation of
the tongers being that several years ago large quantities of unculled
stock were taken from the beds for deposit on private planting ground,
and the tonger employed by the survey is authority for the statement
that the growth on the Nansemond River beds in the season preceding
the investigation was hardly sufficient to warrant tonging.

Combining the exhibits of the tables of areas and of commercially
available oysters, we find that it apparently would be profitable to |
take from the dense growths about 83 bushels per acre and from the _ |
scattering growths an average of about 32 bushels. On the bottoms
with a very scattering growth the average content per acre at the
beginning of the present oyster season was so small that, even under
the very low standard of profit adopted in this report, the beds would
be reduced to unproductiveness after an average of only about 3
bushels of oysters per acre had been removed. Of course a very large ©
part of this bottom must be regarded as practically unproductive |
in the beginning, and it is only here and there that even the least
ambitious tonger would venture to work.

Another aspect of the present state of these groundsi is the production 3
of young oysters and the presence of shells in such quantities and
cleanliness as to afford prospect of a strike under proper conditions.
The following table gives the estimated total content of the several |
rocks and of the grounds as a whole in oysters less than 3 inches long: |

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 63

Toran ConTENT or YOUNG oR SEED OysTERS, Pusiic GRounps No. 2 NANsEMOND
County, AND No. 6 IstE or WicHtT CouUNTY.

Very
Name of rock. Dense. Scatter- seatter- |Depleted.| Total.
ing. ing.
Bush Bush Bush. Bush. Bush.
(VE TRS. 2 Shae is aes Beira eer ae [Eee ee Pater etal Vetcrate oreo 390 390
Ere TION ENO OSe ie rn oi cye ciao he Rn are ne ee oe Sa ere | 12,580 59,318 9,996 27,370 109, 264
Te SL... 22 3 0 See ae ee eee [22 ame 1,748 854 5,890 8, 492
Remap Hat NVES 262-2 verals yal = Surcietinl= =< ders ore == hia)4 =j='= el 372 2,025 996 4,386 (Que
Se DEED SUG Swe e Sas See as aes ae eae 3, 780 893 1,326 2,112 8,111
Oi 0 Ao a ae ee ae ae ee tlt ae ee 275 112 537
Ln Sa. 2s 52 Se a ae eae 3, 216 1,651 1,392 760 7,019
TUG: Sat Si ee ae ae ee ee eee |Srspreepeere 4,112 1,652 1,890 7, 654
Cer, SUG coche eee cas ae oe reer eeeraaeiles 2,480 1,989 770 4,838 10, 077
Pas ton® TAS h Oo a eee See eee ae eee eo eee ear 8,325 13, 706 3, 290 2,700 28, 021
Between Fishing Point and Ballards Marsh........-...-- 915 0 0 0 915
LEST fis) MIGTPS GL eae Se eae ee eae ai lees ates. = 608 6,303 6, 590 13,501
OD Je ES GRR Se Aa ee Seen nase the rox 31,818 86, 050 | 26, 854 57,038 201, 760

In individuals the small oysters are five or six times as numerous
as the market oysters and in measured quantity they are about
twice as abundant. On the dense areas they bulk about the same as
the market oysters, but as individuals they are two or three times as
many. On the scattered area they much exceed the market
oysters in numbers and are more than double them in measured
quantity. As both of these types of bottom are almost invariably
supplied with cultch in the form of clean shells, it can be safely
assumed that their future is assured under ordinarily fair conditions
and provided the beds are not stripped under infractions of the
culling law.

On the area of very scattering growth the quantity of young in
nearly every @ase materially exceeds that of market oysters. Almost
the sole exception is Nansemond Ridge Rock, where the young and
market oysters are about equal in quantity, the former being de-
cidedly deficient in all places excepting close to the denser areas
below a line between Pig and Barrel points.

Kxcepting Nansemond Ridge Rock the very scattering areas bear
an average of about two and one-half times as many bushels of
young as of old oysters per acre, and there is nearly everywhere a
sufficient abundance of shells to justify the prediction of future
regeneration if man will permit. On Nansemond Ridge the fu-
ture of the very scattering areas, except in a few places, appears
unpromising.

The depleted area is, on the whole, deficient in shells and young
oysters, and if we except one or two spots near Nansemond Light,
the outer end of Ballards Marsh Rock, and several other places
quite close to the productive areas, there is but little probability
that any of the area will become naturally productive.

20201—10-——_5

64 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.
PUBLIC GROUND NO. 1 WARWICK COUNTY, BELOW DEEP CREEK.

This public ground, while continuous in its lines from near New- |
port News to above Deepwater Shoals Light, is divided, for purposes —
of administration, by a line running from Deep Creek to Days Point.
Below this line the cull law is in force and tonging is practically
confined to taking oysters for the market, while above the line it is
legally permissible to take oysters of all sizes for planting purposes.
The total area of the portion of the bed here discussed is about
5,515 acres. It embraces six well-defined rocks or groups of rocks,
the general condition and area of which are shown in the following
table, which also includes a very small contiguous and overlapping |
area at the inshore edge of Kettle Hole Rock, known as Public |
Ground No. 2 Warwick County:

AREAS OF OYSTER GROWTH, PuBLIC GrounD No. 1 Warwick County, BELOW
DEEP CREEK.

Name of oyster rock. | Dense. ae bee Depleted. Total.
Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres
Brownsioneal 23). 2 occ ase. See see nee ce ae 44 226 365
Guam Phtigalc ee bs oe eee ee ee Bee eee 6 0 16 4 26
Keehtie@lole sss sks coc ee iw ah Eee: Soe eee 258 €6 111 1k 446
‘Bhemas Points: . .22 22 Soke J Sa ee a ea 76 118 100 127 421
Bilcmbe? ote. chek 5. 8A Le ae, Beet ee dae 16 69 225 118 428
White ploales: 2c asese oY ee es Shee a 0 10 §2 106
otal oynter reassess eee ee Bw 468 297 489 538 1,792
Total barren: bottom. .. 0222642 ssc i alles ota nce ooees oboe. oe ee eee 3,723
Total Baylor survey...... 2-22 -<.-cnesnsse--sesc)as--cees|aansgs a= 5| eee 5,515

As shown above, the barren bottom is equal to abdut 68 per cent |
of the area included within the Baylor lines, while the depleted area,
which is almost uniformly worthless in its present condition, is equal |
to about 10 per cent. Assuming, as has been done in the discussion |
of the preceding grounds, that the bottom bearing a very scattering
erowth, of little or no present value so far as its market-oyster con-
tent is concerned, is capable of regeneration under the operation of
natural agencies, the total present or prospective productive bottom
constitutes about 22 per cent of the entire area. The following table
shows the estimated present market-oyster content of the several
rocks and their respective subdivisions according to density of
growth:

}
i
he

¥

y

¥

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 65

ConTENT oF Market Oysters, Pusiic GRrounpD No. 1 Warwick County, BELow
DrEepP CREEK.

Name of rock. , Dense. | Scatter- |Very scat-|nenteted.| Total.

ing. tering.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
5 90

Ltd iiss! SAVORS ee ei aes ee Se 12, 444 2,376 1,053 + 16,777
(CSS. ooo te lo Ae eS ee ee ee OUD Le Be 8 seed AR) see AS eee 1,392
Hoe ihe JEUOIE = ees GIES a oe 27,090 5, 412 AMOGD Wen neta es - 37, 164
OP vouaig) 2 Co <0 RS let 2 So SSS Re a a 8,745 8,378 5,100 2, 667 24, 890
TROL DRDICAIR 5 = cchesece ia el a a ee 2,576 4,140 10, 125 1, 652 18, 493
ON EURLE: SSMINORI pd 2 3 Age SS STE SR a Ee Uhetofel| Sms aey teins 3C0 624 6, 572

Moos Bel ESE nn a eee 57,355 20, 306 AuISe | 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 oys-
ters, 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 River.

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, Betow DEEP CREEK.

«

Seatter- |Very scat-| motay

Name of rock. Dense. ing. tering.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

ote yen) SSTtVayeT eps 0 TS A a RO cy een 9, 800 1, 200 250 11, 250
Mant eae eel et 4 ee ene te ere a a eee ee GOO eS ae wall Seen es 600
eran OmILGD Me ek ee clin ssttecteacaen cl, 18900 2,700 800 22,400
“i Fra wntaidy LOLA See 8 ai ie mE BS Rilee Te Cae ee Rae ool eee ie | 6, 000 4, 200 500 10, 700
Co Polit EP Vem et 9 8 Sip SR Seep Onna eos Se ec Se e neines See 2,000 2,000 2,000 6, 000
OVO ie: laa) s 8 BEE Se ee oe ok ee eee ae 7150 /010).41 a eRe ae al 4,000
oil! 22 US Ae eee POND OR See ge ne ose Se Ae 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 cov-
ered by oysters in very scattering growths are slightly more produc-
tive than the average of the grounds previously described, but there
are comparatively few spots on which a tonger could make a mini-
mum livelihood. It is estimated that on the dense areas as a whole
nearly three-fourths of the total content, on the scattering areas

66 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

about one-half, and on the very scattering areas not over one-sixth
could be removed with profit. The depleted bottoms are worthless
for their present product of market oysters.

The yield per acre of bottom included within the Baylor lines is
considerably greater than on the grounds previously described, the
average being almost 10 bushels, 2 bushels less than the average of
the entire public area of Virginia in 1904, and considerably more than
the average reported by the Census Bureau in 1908. The average
available product of the oyster rocks, excluding all barren bottom
but not that which is depleted, is about 30 bushels per acre. The
average of the dense area is about 88 bushels, of the scattering area
34 bushels, and of the very scattering growth about 7 bushels per
acre. The rocks in this ground are, on the whole, so far as present
productiveness is concerned, in better condition than those across
the river. The probable future productiveness of the beds, so far as
the present existence of young oysters is concerned, is illustrated
in the following table: 3

ToTAL CONTENT OF YOUNG OR SEED OysTERS, PuBLIc GrounpD No. 1 Warwick
County, BELow DEEP CREEK.

|

} . | a

Name of rock. | Dense. rae 4 pa Depleted.| Total.
=| i att Ree

| Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
Browns PHGabs py ee eS ae ee ea 8, 568 | 6, 248 2,376 1,130 18, 322
CT a ee ee OE ee cel ee ie, ee | i Se eee ) 992 |... ee , 180
Ret ilewiolen= pes pee meee ens eae eae 81,786 | 13,662 19, 980 See eee 115, 428
“THOMAS MAOMI ye See eae he ee Lk See 12,768 | 20,060 10, 300 10, 160 53, 288
BU CW RY Pe eo) vi rea ds Seah a em ad SNR IE aes ae SO awa 2,736:| 138,317 | 237625 4,956 44, 634
WIRES Boel ei er eg eae 2 ee AES a eee 1,080 2,756 18, 564
etal fea ek i gy orn 3 ee | 121,774 | 53,287 | 58,353 19, 002 | 252, 416

The exhibit here is much more favorable than on the rocks included

n the grounds previously described, the average growth of young |

oysters on the dense and very scattering areas being over double that
on the beds across the river, while that on the scattering area is about
35 per cent greater.

Practically everywhere on the areas of dense and scattered growth ~
there is a prolific growth of young oysters and an abundance of clean
shells, and there is no present prospect of the failure of these areas to”

continue to produce marketable oysters under ordinary conditions and

—_

with a reasonable enforcement of the laws. On the areas of very
scattering growth the conditions are mixed, some places being well
insured against the future and others being decidedly deficient in both

young growth and clean shells. On Browns Shoal Rocks there is, with

the exception of a few places, an abundance of shells; but there are

only two or three patches where there is a supply of small oysters ample

to replace the present market growth. On Kettle Hole Rock the
conditions are good practically everywhere, but on Thomas Point and

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 67

Blunt Point Rocks there are but a few places where the young growth
is prolific, and there are some in which neither young nor shells are
found in even the minimum quantity requisite. On White Shoal
Rock the condition on the areas of very scattering growth is in
general satisfactory.

On the depleted bottoms as a whole the average growth of young
oysters is about equal to that on similar bottom across the river, and
there appears to be but little prospect of the future improvement of
these areas, although there are a few spots on Thomas Point and White
Shoal Rocks, in proximity to productive areas, where the growth of
young is good.

MINOR PUBLIC GROUNDS.

In the Nansemond River and on the right side of James River there
are several small public grounds, all of which are insignificant both in
area and productiveness, and some of which were examined not, at all
or unsatisfactorily. They are as follows (somewhat more detailed
data concerning some of them may be found in the descriptions of the
individual rocks):

Nansemond County Ground No. 3. This was intended to include
Holland Rock and at present contains in depleted bottom about 22
acres, on which there are a very few oysters and shells and about 33.9
acres of barren bottom.

Isle of Wight County Ground No. 2 contains about 9 acres of bottom
of various degrees of productiveness, 24 acres of depleted and 16.8
acres of barren bottom. Its general condition is related in the de-
scription of Aaron Shoal Rock, its only natural bed. Isle of Wight
County Ground No. 3 adjoins the preceding and has an area of 64
acres. It was not examined in the present survey. Isle of Wight
County Ground No. 4 lies inshore of the preceding and covers about
3 acres of apparently depleted bottom.

Isle of Wight County Ground No. 5 embraces Creek Channel Shoal
Rock, covering about 2 acres of depleted and 5.1 acres of barren
bottom. Its present condition is described under the name of the
rock.

PUBLIC GROUND NO. 1 WARWICK COUNTY, ABOVE DEEP CREEK.

The lower part of this ground, lying below Deep Creek, is within
the area from which market oysters only can be taken and is there-
fore subject to the operations of the cull law. Its beds have been
discussed in the foregoing. Above Deep Creek and Days Point, on
both sides of the river, the cull law is suspended so far as young
oysters are concerned, and, while shells must be returned to the
beds, there is no limit on the minimum size of oysters which may
be taken, the whole area being set apart for the production of seed
for replanting,

68 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

It is necessary, therefore, in the discussion of the productiveness
of this part of the James River oyster grounds, to adopt a different
standard of productiveness. The whole oyster product of whatever
size is involved in the question of the present value of the beds,
whereas in the areas previously discussed the market oysters only
could be considered, and the quantity of young was of interest merely
as indicating the probability of the beds being maintained or repleted.
In the discussion which follows here the maximum potential yield is
considered as the production in excess of that which will give the
tonger 4 bushels of oysters per day of tonging, not taking into con-
sideration the time employed in culling out the shells and returning
them to the beds.

This part of Ground No. 1 includes all oyster rocks on the left bank
of the James River, from the mouth of Warwick River to the upper
limit of oyster growth, near Deepwater Shoals Light-House. The
following is a summary of the extent of the several rocks and the
barren bottoms embraced within the Baylor lines:

AREAS OF OySTER GROWTH, PUBLIC GRouND No. 1 Warwick County, ABOVE
DEEP CREEK.

Name of rock. Dense. eos f ae | Depleted.} Total.
Acres. | Acres. | Acres. Acres. Acres.
SSN TSlaniGe = See ae ee Ns ey. aa a © ee 227 198 | 14 508 947
Wireeks Seiko 2 an) eee ee pe et) SERN ONG 2 eee 586 0) 0 0 586
Dig SHORES: erg. ek Pei = 25s PLES SRE AOE. 126 18 | 9 21 174
Pari euonease. 2 ho. ss te Ak Le a eae ten 254 155 239 142 790
Spal ee ee SO es ee ee Se Taek er ey. be 146 0 0 115 261
ju ENT Leas aS), ic lt eke e ie a eet sere aie Res 2 Tac Pie © 422 34 20 29
Meeshiy Salant 2) 25 nt) eel 3 ee ee 197 322. | 235 387 1,141
ene Ghaales soo ees FT Ce gene se ene a 331 10 84 79
BY S47 Ate aS Ee ne Mage eC en ee tL a 240 0 oe 73 . 386
IM BOERSS ook. Fe eras BS ee lene a = ee 37 6 0 0 43
Horsehead s0 260s 3b. USER 2 ee eae eee re eae 33 192 139 16
Deepwater Shoals 17 | 0 | 21 241 279
(otal gente anodes: On rp ke ee ee 2,616 | 935 | 834 1,611 | 5,996
Total barreniarea’: = 22. eer ee eS oe ee ee eee eee 6, 896.8
SS ee
Fotal Baylorsnevey ji: 09h Pe ee ee ee ee Ceea se 12, 892.8

It will be noticed at once that the proportion of barren bottom to
that actually included in the rocks as determined by the survey is
somewhat smaller than in the grounds previously discussed, consti-
tuting about 53 per cent of the total. The depleted bottom, which,
with practically no exceptions, is at present and potentially valueless,
covers an additional 12 or 13 per cent, so that, assuming all the rest
to be at present productive or capable of becoming so in the future,
the oyster bottom covers about 35 per cent of the whole. ,

The following table exhibits the estimated total content of the sey-
eral rocks and their subdivisions at the opening of the oyster season —
on September 15, 1909:

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 69

Tota, ConTENT oF OystTERS, PuBLIcC Grounp No. 1 Warwick County, ABOVE
. DrEEP CREEK. |

Name of rock. Dense. ee Meme Depleted.| Total.

Bushels. | Bushels. es Bushels. | Bushels.
39

Teil TISIETOG| 4 8 SOS Gee ciO ees Cen a Reena se ae 32, 461 21, 582 4,064 58, 499
CUTE OLS (STIWO | SS Sie a Oe ee a TSD RUGS cata keel Meme 2744 =i|ae sais oe 185, 176
PAE POLEVOP ISS 5 Sy ae eee ane eee eee ee 30, 766 2, 232 765 420 34, 183
NAPTUMISIMTA ODS a5 havi: ge aoc cle cnn clte kina ce sce ceeds 50, 800 14, 415 10, 038 2, 130 77, 383
SUSHIL. 0.1 0tS SASS GORGE aoe Enea ee VATA ts Ea Are eral | et ee 1,725 44, 503
Ley) RiTTE 7 TS YCES) Oe ls 2 ee 127, 444 3, 604 2, 600 1, 247 134, 895
MMe ENE eine ein'e eye =2 = Soo edoe wisisiciai ciaa<ie 56 bio'2 wi winje 45, 507 41, 538 19, 975 6, 966 113, 986
Lota sol QU et a ee nes 79,771 640 5,040 1, 264 86, 715
ob... oo ee ee 6, 132 1,095 61, 707
INC VOTES. <sbE Sb tS hcsoGh ae nee ete ie ene ae rns 9, 805 OOS Ree sala cee tee 10, 813
LOSI ERNE! . 2 63 35 BUSS e BER ere ee 7,309 19, 968 TO HOGSl |e sc oe 42, 895
BOUIN SMOR Sieh eft te.okeees- shee stacks ene oekies QOS yen ae hae se 1,097 2, 892 6, 182

VOY LAL os Seed as SS Pit ok RB ee 668, 540 104, 987 61, 607 21, 803 856, 937

It will be seen that the great preponderance of oyster production
is on the dense areas, which exceed the bottoms of other character
not only in their average productiveness but in their total area. - The
bottoms with a scattering growth, which in extent exceed the next
lower grade by about 12 per cent, excel them in their total content
by about 70 per cent, and are considerably more important in total
production than the combined areas of very scattering oysters and
depletion. Summarizing, the dense areas bear 78 per cent of the
total content of the rocks, the scattering areas about 12 per cent, the
very scattering about 7 per cent, and the depleted bottom about 3
per cent. Basing the computation on the basis previously defined
and the data presented in the preceding two tables, we find the esti-
mated maximum available product of the several rocks and _ their
subdivisions to be as follows:

AVAILABLE CONTENT oF OysTERS, PusLic GrounpD No. 1 Warwick County, ABOVE
DEEP CREEK.

—_ —_—— = — SAS 2

. a | , | Seatter- |Very scat-| m,4,
Name of rock. | Dense. ing. tering. Total.
Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Choy bh Tolbuiaid |. 2 j ly ca aR SES aR ae eae ee ee ec Sis ee | 25,000 12,000 100 37, 100
MMe SMOAL....0.2.320.2-0.2.-c. Rae Patiterd sinte Oe wie oe Sn eee a He CUGUSOO OM EE a. eles eh ok 160, 000
Dry CT OAS! oe, ay cua Ree an IRS gS Meare ete yee an any Oils © Ean ak Se 26, 000 U0 ees peers, re 27, 300
Mhctae oT CHRTG+a ES 2 ie cee a ne, Re en eee SE ae nee 42, 000 8, 500 1,000 51, 500
| te 6 REE EE Mes RAE es a Ca ne tire BS, WOON Fe EE 38, 000
i aeeed 1 ARCUATE ER Sa ER Ae ee eee ae | 116,000 1, 800 1, 000 118, 800
Wiicuscloiy Loa Vasol Se eA Sey a Se ee ee ee ee ae eee | 0,000 25, 000 7,500 67, 500
Tpigace Other 2S eae a a eee amare a i ieee a ans Sle | 68,000 3800 1, 500 69, 800
SEE MSE eR Ee kd ALE oo Bele SACOM es aia 'e aims 2,500 46, 500
is a cole ee alae Sia ag eMe citiuy ois winthitoacckok onus TOU Obl ete c uence 500 8, 000
Lars dies 2i6 ll 32 OS gS 6 EES Be Ae hee ee oer ree 6, 000 11,000 7,000 24, 000
Re oe ee LACOL0) ere a ae 400 2,000

SEs eg Nannon sd umnmevdanenwannans ce of BOOL00' | 80,9001 ' 21.600"), . GSOBO0

ns

70 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINTA.

The foregoing may be assumed to be the maximum quantity of
seed oysters that can be profitably taken from the beds during the
present season and the actual yield will probably fall considerably
below the total exhibited in the table. Of the total, the areas of dense
erowth are capable of producing 88 per cent, of scattering growth 9
per cent, and of very scattering growth 3 per cent. The estimated
yield per acre of bottom included within the boundary lines of this
part of the bed is about 50 bushels. This low average of production
is of course induced by the large area of barren and depleted or prac-
tically barren bottom included in the Baylor lines. If we compare ~
the average of the whole area with that of the best bottom in the
natural rocks under discussion the paucity of the former is equally
impressive, the dense areas of the region under discussion having an
average total content of about 256 bushels per acre and a promised
yield during the present season of 213 bushels, over four times the
average of the beds asa whole. The average available product of the
areas of scattering growth is about 64 bushels per acre, and of very
scattering growth about 13 bushels, both yields being far below what
they should produce under proper conditions.

Upon the dense areas as a whole the present production and the
promise for the future are both good, and on the area of scattering
growth, while the present production is fair, the quantity of shells is
such as to promise a better yield in the future, should there come a
season of heavy and general strike.

On the bottoms rated as bearing a very scattering growth the con-
ditions as a whole are not such as to yield much profit to the tonger,
though in some places he could make a living wage for a short period.
In most places on bottom of this character the quantity of clean
shells is such as to give indifferent prospect of the future regeneration
of the beds. |

The depleted bottom, excepting in a few places near Deepwater
Shoals Light-House, bears shells in such small quantities as to make
exceedingly remote the probability of any material improvement
under natural conditions.

PUBLIC GROUND NO. 1 ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY.

This ground extends as a narrow strip along the right bank of ©
James River from close to the shore line out to the main channel, —
between Rock Wharf and Days Point Shoal. It lies wholly within
the area set apart for seed production, and the statements in regard
to the methods employed in computing the productiveness of the
several parts of the preceding ground are applicable to this as well.

Compared with the extensive areas occupied by the rocks across
the river in Warwick County, the beds included in this ground are

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. DL

insignificant. For the purposes of this report it is considered to
include four natural rocks, although the largest of these, for which
no name was obtained from the oystermen, may be locally recog-
nized by names for its constituents severally. The general condi-
tion and extent of the bed are shown in the following table:

AREAS OF OysTER GrowTH, PuBLIc GrounpD No. | IsLtz oF Wicut County.

Name of oyster rock. Dense. ee vee Depleted.| Total.

Acres. | Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres.
TEV OLE \WE SZC SOY) Sa ea en ee 18 0 0 8 26
Between Rock Wharf and Spindle PROC KE asi. ee ee 45 0 5 37 87
eMac PPM Ee Eo Site orale ne Sa cescin.c, 5) ese myn aisiere Snywloienne aye 14 0. 3 2 19
OS Delt) i eee ee 4 0 0 0 “i
PimeOMoneaAtedit MONI kL et eee 81 0 8 47 136
MISUIMISAMROINOTOA. 05-022 o 2 ae ene eee eee Bch ae LEI Neo BY gS OTE Re Soe ee an ey ae a aoe 589
Total Baylor survey.....- 2 Sep gt eA ene ont) a ob |e ey [Se aS [eevere exe. oe | bee once 725

The area of barren bottom as compared with the extent of the
ground is relatively large, constituting about 81 per cent, and the
depleted bottom, which is at present worthless and holds forth no
promise of improvement, adds an additional 7 per cent to the wholly
unproductive bottom. The area of dense growth, which is undoubt-
edly productive, covers about 11 per cent of the whole, while the
bottom bearing very scattered oysters, which is at present prac-
tically incapable of yielding a living wage to the tonger, covers about
1 per cent.

The following table shows the estimated total content of oysters
on the rocks at a end of August, 1909:

ToTaL CONTENT oF OysTERS, PuBLIC GrounD No. 1 IsLteE or Wicut Country.

Sceatter- |Very scat-

Name of rock. Dense. ing. tering.

Depleted.| Total.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

TUHOMOMN VARNES LORS. nie <iaviSicieis cictcs Sod crow cla acta wc acu's Sar Dr OA tacts cil eee ec. ate 88 2, 608
Between Rock Wharf Shoals and Spindle Rocks..... OAS0OF Eo. Semaine 230 666 7, 196
ShorkavGltts 22 OSE Oa Se SEE ee a eatin Ope See eee er DOGO GS cnctiouk cis oe 81 24 2, 065
EMEUIETO ORs sues. cee ke. fe swee Se eedacuccasce. GOSS mprenaeetat aren vicina nen Cae Cidre nc 664

CETUS RS a ea SE cas De SAS 8 a a (he © Ol ae ee et a 311 778 12, 533

The total content of the ground as a whole averages about 17
bushels per acre. Practically all of this is borne by the small frac-
tion of the bottom classed as dense, on which the average produc-
tion is at the rate of about 141 bushels per acre, considerably less
than on the areas of dense growth on the great beds across the
channel.

72 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The estimated available content on these beds—that is, the quan-
tity which may be removed before tonging will cease to pay even.a
very small assumed minimum livelihood—is as follows:

AVAILABLE CONTENT OF OysTERS, PUBLIC GRouUND No. 1 ISLE or Wient County.

| Scatter- /Very scat-| ota)

se. :
Dense ing. tering.

Name of rock.

} ls eS yee
| Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.
2,000

Rock Wharl Sbooals.. 5. ere. ee ee ne eee

Between Rock Wharf Shoals and Spindle Rock.....- ET 5.000.}.: .ccoeee 50 5.050
Spindle. 2 6002. c..3 ns scan dss Wage sata se ee Ree eee ee eee | 1,500 j-.- ee 20 1,520
Days, Peintis \..5 20s ss geet Gee hee ie ee eg 500 |. ......-. ee eee 500

Webel 36.5: Gane he ee 5 a re ees oh, | 9. G60}. pace 70 9,070

Practically all of the available supply of oysters on this ground
is therefore on the bottom classed as dense and the area of very
scattering growth is negligible. The available product is of the
average density of 111 bushels per acre. On the dense area the
shells are sufficient, on the very scattering area they are in fair quan-
tity, while on the depleted ground they are deficient.

SUMMARY.

The public grounds in the region covered by the survey and of which
a detailed discussion is found in the preceding pages cover an area
of 26,408.4 acres as computed in the report of the Baylor survey.
Of this acreage, 12,790.6 acres lie below the line drawn between
Deep Creek and Days Point and 13,617.8 acres lie above that hne.
The beds of the former region are available for the production of
marketable oysters only, the law requiring that all oysters under 3
inches long be returned to the beds, while the latter region is set
apart for the production of seed oysters, and the cull law is not appli-
cable except in so far as it forbids the removal of shells.

Of the entire area the recent survey shows that 3,227 acres may be
classed as bearing a dense growth, 2,078 as scattering, 1,848 as very
scattering, 3,884 as depleted, and 15,371.4 as barren. The barren
and depleted bottoms together comprise 19,255.4 acres, or about 73
per cent of the total, and all bottom which can be construed as pro-
ductive aggregates 7,153 acres, or 27 per cent of the entire bottom —
included within the Baylor lines. Owing to the difference in the pro-
visions of the law applicable to the two regions and the resultant
difference in the character of their product, it is necessary to present
separate summaries of their present condition.

MARKET OYSTER AREA.

The beds of this region are shown on chart 1 accompanying this —
report, to which, and to the preceding pages, readers are referred

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 OF MARKET OysTER AREAS ON PUBLIC GROUNDS.

Name of ground. Dense. fa bie rag Depleted | Barren. | Total.

Acres. | Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres.

Deacemond NO, 2........-.-..-.--.-..-..-- 9 -
ni Mo 6 \ 256 646 514| 1,640] 4,106.8] 7,162.8
PeeeE TION OS © S.c.n «we sin secs cnn sisin tee 0 0 0 22 33.9 55.9
(Ste OL AVILES CF 2 0) 2 Soa 2(?) 4 3 24 16.8 49.8
ES oR ee oe io neon wk ins sia = Smee es Emly ase lam vse Gminate ae seia a cone asc emiels
Serene O NN Pon act ea ee Men ime fillet aie a mlerel|ia g ate <pelcy ate Reiwrminie B eola| hw Gini etevermte lies clara stiere es
Loo Oi \GTSLO gS LOS a rr 0 0 0 2 yea | el

Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep
Ne ao nn tniim <a jm eis sais ea cin inie 468 297 489 538 | 3,723.0 5,515.0
CTALS wes «Gi 726 947 1,006 2,226 | 7,885.6 | 12,790.6
HON CAR ae = Baa ee er | 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 OF MARKET OyYSTERS oN PUBLIC GROUNDS.

—e

re , = J t-
Name of ground. Dense. eee A ok Depleted} Total.

Bushels.| Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

OS 2 oes Gam ie 28 , Q P 9 wis
A ae eae naa eam p28, 468 39, 087 17, 855 21,052 106, 462
8 AS ne EE eae eS See a ee ge eee 330 330
Gsleior Wiebt NO. 2.......-..- 2 ENGR, aS See ac 200 132 69 132 533

NS ee a be BH Cae SA eee ae 22 22
Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep Creek).......- 57, 355 20, 306 21, 780 5, 847 105, 288

moravanemiceh Oysters... of... - 25.8 lees dese 86, 023 59, 525 39,704 | 27,383 212, 635
PICT IO ONO Sa. AU <0 Sino sis oe vs ance e oe easewens 118 63 39 | i 2S i
adn cae dad as ns dance 40.3 28.0 18.7 | 13.0 | 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

74 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

computing the availability of the oysters lying on the bottom, its
variations have been given the fullest possible consideration. For a
discussion of the general principles on which the quantity of oysters
available with profit have been determined, the reader is referred to
preceding pages. For the market oyster beds as a whole the following
table gives a summary:

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE CONTENT OF MARKET OYSTERS ON PUBLIC GROUNDS.

Scatter-
ing.

Very scat-

Dense. tering.

Name of ground. Total.

| Bushels. Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Nansemond: Nor 22... Sete RS A ee eee

erat Welsh Tie Ge eg en ee eae \ 21,150 | 20,325 | 1,600 | 48,075
Nansemond No.3... 2.22 ..-2--20sc20 See a eo se wo Me aS
Isle of Wight) Neue. . Steed fc See ee man cece ee 150 50! ae 200

Teleet Wiehe INOS a. eee eee pees ee
Isle of Witht No. 4i eo). Se BS ee teen ee ee / Me | ae att he
Tsle of W ight IN@uibo oo he ee he ee tae ead a |e ern

Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep Creeks se ees ee | 41,300 10, 100 3,550 54, 950
Potal available market oysters: = 325 sec eee ee | 62,600 30, 475 5, 150 98, 225
Average per acrestt's. 2250p. oe ee ee ee ee Be eee age ees 86 32 5. hentia

Per cents Se en ee ES eee | 63.7 31.0 5.3 100. 0

This may be regarded as a maximum estimate of the probable
yield of the beds during the season of 1909-10. Owing to the low
basis adopted as a minimum wage the yield may not reach the quan-
tity indicated, as it is doubtful whether the beds can be profitably
fished as closely as has been assumed. A yield of $1.35 per full day
of tonging will leave a very small balance after culling and other
expenses are deducted, and the beds undoubtedly will be abandoned
for the season before this degree of depletion has been reached. For
this reason the only parts of the natural rock which can be classed as
really productive are those designated as dense and scattering, which
furnish, according to the foregoing estimates, about 95 per cent of the
ayaa a So while constituting only about 13 per cent of the
total area of the public grounds under consideration.

Taken as a whole, though there are exceptions noted in the pre-
ceding accounts of the individual rocks, the areas covered with very
scattering growths are of but little present value, their total esti-
mated available product during the present season being valued at
less than $2,500, or about $2.50 per acre. There is, however, another
phase to the question which has been touched on in the more de-
tailed accounts of the individual rocks. This is the possibility of
future improvement, and is dependent upon the existing quantity

of young oysters and the presence of an ample supply of clean shells

to serve as places of attachment for future generations of young.
The quantity of young oysters less than 3 inches long on the public
grounds under discussion at the opening of the present oyster season
was as follows:

er,

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. Te

SUMMARIZED CONTENT OF YOUNG OYSTERS ON PUBLIC GROUNDS.

Name of ground. Dense. ee gic Depleted.| Total.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

MRIEPERR CMT TOTINC MNO lec tare il dp ae a al :

Bee ge \ 31,818 | 86,050 | 26,854 | 57,038 | 201, 760

oh Spe GUTeeL TOW RANE RRM SR Sabet AS UI Ma: Reet TAO SRP, ASC Ace ep 50 50
mise OP Wight No. 2:2 ....0.0.... eA eke eee 250 DOU C Se seme a 2, 500 3, 250

ee CE Oca a OMe eee A ee a san Nell on olor ene A ieee eat a Mace ell ewe S'S eta che abe aid by ial
SALMO a verre eye ecS eee RA Aa ue Acie | a HL oA Dees. yt 2/5) hepato octal Suallnis lena ocd» |einbetetenel ae
Sere RACED TMP (Oyo Era Ret ee tm M ey Rr eas NE oy cil a AM vik a mall earevehetsa a roill Me leraiad asta ads I eal o: di ernie) Sltvek 'm see sys
CEILS EAP PENANG DEMO (ans al a Sh ea ental ge A Un ene 0, a nb (ee

Warwick No. 1 and No. 2 (below Deep Creek)....... 121, 774 53, 287 58, 353 19, 002 252, 416
ON eho 2 Oe ne aE A 153, 842 | 139, 837 85, 207 78, 590 457, 476
PMMA ODE ACIOR Ms 22/2. fos Bee cove cee needa ecee 212 148 84 Oona? cathe

LoL) Ute i a i ar Dre eh ake ate 33. 7 30. 6 18.6 i lgaee 100. 0

Here again is evidence that the areas of dense and scattering
erowth should be regarded as not only at present but prospectively
productive beds. In quantity, and to a greater extent numerically,
the young are considerably in excess of the market oysters, and, as in
both classes of bottom under consideration the latter are sufficient to
render the bottom undoubtedly at present productive, the abun-
dance of young is sufficient to continue productiveness, under proper
regulations as to culling, for at least two years. After the lapse of
that period the condition will depend upon the extent of the strike,
and other factors concerning which nothing can be predicted.

So far as the areas covered with a very scattering growth are
concerned closer scrutiny is required. As these bottoms are on the
verge of depletion in respect to market oysters, the proportion of
young to large oysters should be greater to insure that the conditions
will improve in the future.

The writer is not in possession of definite experimental data appli-
cable specifically to the James River, but from a knowledge of con-
ditions in other parts of the Chesapeake region he feels justified in
assuming that oysters as an average will become fit for market in
from two to three years from the time of fixation or setting. If
experience elsewhere be a guide, some oysters will grow more rapidly
and some less rapidly; but two years may be adopted, with very
little question, as an irreducible minimum for the average age at
which they can be advantageously put on the market. On this
assumption and neglecting, for the time being, the question of mor-
tality, it is at once apparent that to maintain the present status
there must be two small oysters for each market oyster killed or
caught.

There is no way to determine, without long and painstaking obser-
vations, the actual average mortality at various ages on the natural
rocks of James River. The experience of planters of seed oysters is
valueless in this connection, being based on oysters handled sand

76 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

otherwise subjected to abnormal conditions. The various locations
of the natural-bed oysters and the consequently variable conditions
to which they are exposed introduce a factor for which it is difficult
to make allowances, and it seems impossible to do more than hazard
a guess as to the proportion of young oysters now on the beds which
will die before becoming marketable. It is probable that it will be
somewhere between 25 and 50 per cent. Considering the size of
young oysters found by the survey, the mortality may be less than
the former and excepting under unfavorable conditions can hardly
be greater than the latter. Assuming that 25 per cent of the young
now on the beds will die before reaching a marketable size, there
should be on the beds, in order to maintain their present condition,
2.66 young for each marketable oyster removed. If the loss be
assumed at 50 per cent there should be 4 young per market oyster.

The following table exhibits the actual average numerical propor-
tion of young oysters to marketable found on the several beds:

NUMERICAL PROPORTION OF YOUNG GROWTH AND MARKET OYSTERS IN THE MARKET-
OystER AREA ON BortoMs BEARING VERY SCATTERING GROWTH.

Oysters | Oysters
less than | between Total.

Name of rock. 1inch land3

long. inches.

NansemondRidces cis eS se ope sR ee ee eee eee 0. 42 1. 82 2.24
Driv Shoale Se a ee pe ee I Ch a a oe ee eT ee «62 3. 29 3.91
New Port INGWSs 2o5\ F202 ls ee eo ee a ae ne ee ee . 50 5. 27 5.77
Eruiser:Shoa). Sok sss ee a a a A 2 or ee 55 3.83 4.38
Blab RG ckA2ete! #55552 ee ee SS Se! Fee ee ee eee . 69 2. 58 ou21
High-Shoalo so) s2 ooo. tS oee etn oe 4 ae ees Se ee eee 1.81 2. 47 4.28
Prout OMoele P2328 t ce sds Se he ee oe ee ee eee Bas 6.81 7.36
Wor Shoal es se. se SBS se en .27 1. 13 1. 40
HM ISHINE POM et So ko cha coy Ee nce SEE oe ac ain 1, et 1.94 3.05
Between Hishine Point and Ballards Marshie... 225 vs ee ee . 06 .00 - 06
Ballsirds Mare: 2 3 4 s9e. Le oP Le Me PASE Oe 2 ee Ee 3.50 11. 40 14.90
BATOR SHOR se Sa Se ee See ee ee ee i . 66 8. 00 8. 66
BTOWHS OiOdls soe TOs AR oR RE ee ee ee Se . 80 4.00 4. 80
GaaT. ks er Se ia se eo ee a ee 2 eee ee . 19 4. 28 4.47
RetiletBothom: 265 Gees SSL Lo ed a tee es eee a eae ee eee . 63 8. 27 8. 90
Thomas: Pointe. o2ks ees el a ieee ee Pe | 4.06 4. 27
Blum Poiaber i ee ee, eS RR er Set Ee ee .35 4. 56 4.91
White Shoalo 2. 2 oe oes Sank er ee mY 5.36 6. 23

AV CTASC Se Bs BFS RF re a ee eee a -76 4.39 5.15

It will be observed that, on the assumption of the smaller death
rate, Nansemond Ridge, Dog Shoal, and the small beds near Ballards
Marsh are the only rocks which appear to lack sufficient young
growth on the very scattering areas to maintain them in their present
condition. Assuming the higher rate of mortality, Drum Shoal, the
small bed near Flat Rock, and Fishing Point Rocks must be added to
the list, though when we consider that many of the market oysters
now on the bottom can not be taken with profit, it would appear
that even these rocks are capable of improving under a rigid observ-
ance of the cull law. The other rocks, under either assumption
as to mortality, probably bear a sufficient number of young to

wi
‘lye
ay
ee

tn

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 7

maintain their present condition or to cause slight improvement in
their productiveness, and the real question at issue largely resolves
itself into a matter of their present productiveness, which has been
already discussed. Most of these bottoms are sufficiently clothed
with shells to insure their share of a good strike. The depleted areas,
excepting in the places specifically mentioned in the descriptions of
the individual rocks, may be regarded as hopeless of recuperation
under natural conditions. |

The barren bottoms, which preceding tables show to constitute a
very large proportion of the areas of the public beds, are in many
cases so situated as to be of necessity and for practical considerations
impossible of separation from the natural beds without injury to the
future of the latter or without due regard to the question of policing
and administration. There are, however, certain large areas readily
separable from the public grounds, and the latter would suffer prac-
tically no diminution in really productive bottom as a result of the
severance. |

SEED-OYSTER AREA.

This region lies above the line drawn between Deep Creek and
Days Point, and is shown on chart 2 accompanying this report. The
following table summarizes the extent and condition of the bottoms
of different degrees of productiveness included within this part of the
Baylor survey:

SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF OYSTER GROWTH ON SEED AREAS.

Sceatter- |Verv scat-

Name of ground. Dense. Depleted.| Barren. | Total.

ing. tering.
Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres.
Warwick No. 1.(above Deep Creek)......... 2, 420 1,131 834 1,611 | 6,896.8 | 12,892.8
MSSM OV TET INO. Voss a-eecss tenes ecdecce ess 81 0 8 47 589. 0 725.0
VPVORUE || fun, ase sea wale Lee Atal dia aaa re OR 2,501 Hoist 842 1, G58 7,485.8 13, $17.8
“Py? Olt, 22 es See ee en a 18. 4 8.3 6.2 12.2 54.9 100. 0

The following table furnishes an estimate of the total content of
seed oysters present on the bottoms of varying productiveness at the
beginning of the oyster season on September 15, 1909:

SUMMARIZED CONTENT OF OYSTERS ON SEED AREAS.

Scatter- |Very scat-

Name of ground. Dense. ing. tering.

Depleted.} Total.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Warwick No. 1 (above Deep Creek)................. 668,540 | 104,987 61, 607 21,803 856, 937
ae ESRC LORY Vet SEN Le LM Chips atsite tyatterws Soo tain» nels Gyorevai4 asia mors x alee Soave ERE ee er a 311 778 12, 533

JTS St a ee a ee ee oe 679, 984 104, 987 61,918 22, 581 869, 470
PEETH RO CI ACOs sae ce dat du Maicidedae bcp ceeicedetusesue 272 93 73 TSCA. eee.
PRCIMEDULD Ee eee hha aie tate a arid atte aac ais bd an aBhoss 78. 2 12.0 real 2.6 100.0

78 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

A considerable proportion of these oysters could not be profitably
removed from the beds, being either too sparsely distributed in the
first place or constituting a necessary remnant which would become
too scattered after tonging had been carried on for a period on bot-
toms of greater initial productiveness. To show the estimated
maximum possible yield of the beds during the present season the
following table has been prepared, covering the entire area of seed
beds in the James River:

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE CONTENT OF OYSTERS ON SEED AREAS.

Name of ground. Dense. | [ole Very Scat) motal.

g. tering.

Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels.

Warwick No. 1 (above Deep Creek) 9a ee ee | 569,100 59, 900 21,500 i
Tsle of WiehiiNo. 4. 5-32. Svs es. a ee eee | 95000 (|... Fae 70 9,070
Potash sek AUST RE SE a ae 578, 100 59, 900 21,570 659, 570
A'Verage Per ACEC oot or ae sae ene yeaa Re ae Sem ee eee 232 53 Se poate ease
Percents 2533 380 a2 es ae es 2 re Se Se Se ae a 87.7 9.1 3.2 100.0

In preparing the data on which this table is based it has been as-
sumed that the seed will bring 30 cents per bushel and that no bottom
can be considered productive when its yield is reduced below 4 bushels
per day of actual tonging, excluding the time occupied in culling. |
As in the preceding pages of this report, the probable yield is based
on the density of the oyster growth and the depth of water on the
several parts of each bed.

Although the data employed differs somewhat from that used in
the discussion of the bottoms below Deep Creek, owing to the lower
price brought by seed as compared with market oysters, the financial
return to the tonger from the bottoms designated as respectively
dense, scattering, and very scattering is essentially the same. The
minimum yield assumed to place a given area above the grade of —
depleted bottom is valued at $1.20 per day at the prices recently pre- |

]

Se ee

,

vailing, and this can not be regarded as other than an extreme mini-
mum, because, when the number of idle days is taken into considera-
tion, a tonger could not afford to work for such low wages. The
limit is justifiable only in consideration of the fact that before the
dense and scattering areas are reduced to a level so low they will have ~
yielded to the tonger an average daily wage much in excess of this.
If the price of oysters falls below 30 cents per bushel, it will not be |
profitable to work the beds so closely as was contemplated in the
preparation of the above table. At the prices reported as current —
on the James River in November, 1909, namely, 20 cents per bushel -
for seed, the estimated catch on the area of very scattering growth —
may be eliminated, that on the scattering bottom reduced by at least
50 per cent and on the dense areas by about 15 per cent, lowering the

3

Th ep On

OYSTER BEDS OF 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 produc-
tive areas. Concerning the great area of barren bottoms the same
statement holds true in part, a considerable proportion of it lying
in the channels and deeper holes between the beds or in other situa-
tions 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.

20201—10——6

80 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

CONCLUSION.

The foregoing gives, in detail and summary, the facts as to the con-
dition of the oyster beds of James and Nansemond rivers immedi-
ately prior to the opening of the present oyster season, the period
at which the beds are at their maximum apparent productiveness.
Within a few weeks, under the intensive fishery which they sustain,
the quantity of oysters on the beds will be vastly reduced and long
before the close of the season they will become so impaired that work
on them will be practically abandoned for the time being. In other
words, it is for a part of the season only that these beds will offer a
frond to the tongers, who for the rest of the year must seek a
living either in the employ of the oyster grower or in some other
occupation not connected with oyster fishing.

In the determination of the nature of tidal bottoms, with respect
to their being regarded as oyster rock or barren bottom, the prime
consideration is whether they will afford, either at present or pro-
spectively, a sufficient quantity of oysters to provide a livelihood to
those who work on them. It is manifest that a few oysters which
could never be taken with profit should not entitle the bottom on
which they lie to be regarded as an oyster bed within the meaning
of the laws. To so regard them would be contrary to common sense,
economic principles, and judicial decisions.

The author has ‘avoided a definition of what constitutes a liveli-
hood, believing that to be a matter which is more properly for deter-
mination by the state authorities should its definition become
necessary for purposes of legislation or administration. In the
preparation of the foregoing report, however, it has been necessary —
to adopt some standard for the classification of the various densities
of oyster growth in the several beds, and for purposes of convenience |
the limit between the bottoms regarded as depleted and those of the ©
lowest class of productiveness has been placed at a minimum believed
to be reasonably irreducible. The subdivisions of productiveness —
differ by such small quantities that should it appear that the lowest
is too low the next higher can be regarded as the minimum without
impairing the value of the data adduced in the report, though, as is ©
elsewhere indicated, this would dictate a reduction in the estimated
total available product of oysters for the season.

Under the terms of the resolution of the State Board of Fisheries,
which was made the basis of the request for the survey preferred to
the Bureau of Fisheries by the Governor of Virginia, the author is
not warranted in offering recommendations as to the use which
might be made of the facts developed in the preceding pages. It may
not be inappropriate, however, to point out the several avenues of
procedure which it is possible to follow in respect to the oyster

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 81

bottoms of the region discussed. These resolve themselves into
three: (1) The maintenance of the integrity of the public grounds
as now constituted; (2) their abolition in toto; and (3) a middle
course which will preserve to the public the productive bottoms
practically in their entirety while throwing open to oyster planting
a large part of the barren and unproductive bottom now included
within the public grounds. The principal arguments for and against
these propositions may be epitomized as follows:

1. The first course—that the beds be retained in the present status—
hardly needs discussion. It has been tried and its results are known,
largely as the effect of the acrimonious disputes to which it has given
rise. The matters of fact which have been at issue in these inter-
minable discussions, as to whether or not the public grounds embraced
any considerable area of barren bottom, have been dealt with in the
preceding pages and speak for themselves. It should be pointed
out, however, that while the barren area is shown to constitute a
considerable proportion of the whole bottom, much of it is so related
to the productive bottom that it could not be eliminated under any
scheme permitting of practical administration.

2. The second alternative—the total abolition of the public grounds
and its corollary, the opening of the whole area for leasing—is drastic.
On broad economic grounds the proposition is as logical and legiti-
mate as the sale of public timber land or the breaking up of the
great public ranges of the West into holdings in severalty, and, as
the oyster is sessile, it has nothing in common with an alienation of
the common fishery for nomadic species. The law has already
recognized that under conditions an oyster in situ may be property,
while a wandering fish can not become such until caught. The
breaking up of the public grounds into leaseholds under private
control would increase their productiveness precisely as the breaking
up of the common ranges of the West has resulted in economic eflfi-
ciency and greater productiveness. This course would, furthermore,
yield a return to the State, where there is now a net outlay for
policing the public grounds, though this aspect of the matter is one
which should always be held subservient to the major consideration—
the welfare and prosperity of the citizen.

On the other side of the question it is necessary to consider the
effect of so drastic an innovation upon the welfare of a large body
of persons whose livelihood in part is at present dependent upon
the situation to which the policy of the State has given the aspect
of presumed permanency. Immediately upon the alienation of the
public beds the men engaged on them for part of the season are,
for the time being, forced from the category of independent workers
into that of employees, unless they themselves elect to take up

82 OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

bottoms in severalty. The value of this objection is mainly senti-
mental, but is not less real on that account.

3. The third course mentioned, the retention of the actually pro-
ductive bottom for the use of the public and the opening of all barren
bottom practicable for leasehold from the State, is essentially a
compromise between the other two and presents fewer difficulties
than either. The valid objections to it are mainly concerned with
administration. By retaining the present natural beds intact the
tongers would be left in possession of everything of value to which
they now have access, while the opening of the barren bottoms for
lease would make productive considerable acres now valueless to all.
The tongers would still have the option of independent work on the
natural rocks; they would have increased opportunities of employ-
ment by the planters; and some of them could themselves lease
bottoms for their own use. In every way it would appear to be
economically advantageous to the industry and the State.

In considering the subject, however, it should be borne in mind
that, while this report shows a preponderance of barren bottom
ae the public grounds, much of it, owing to its location, is prac-
tically incapable of separation from the natural rocks. And inspec-
tion of the chart will show that many of the barren bottoms are
between or in the midst of naturally productive bottoms. To
exclude them would make necessary an undue multiplication of the
public grounds, with an attendant difficulty in policing.

Effectually to prevent depredations on the natural rocks under
the guise of work on adjoining planted grounds, which is a diffi-
culty with which the oyster police will have to contend, the public
areas should be as few and as compact as possible, and the boundary
lines should be straight and easily defined. For this reason the
public grounds to be established must, for very practical considera- - |
tions, necessarily include a considerable proportion of barren bottom. —
Any readjustment of the lines of the Baylor survey should be based
on reasonable compromise and adopted only after careful considera- _
tion by the State. It is believed that the foregoing descriptions and —
the accompanying charts will furnish a reliable basis for a revision,
should the State deem it wise to undertake it.

OYSTER BEDS OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. 83

DESCRIPTION OF CHARTS.

The public grounds are platted from the published sheets of the Baylor survey, and
their boundaries are shown in broken black lines.

The depths, which are expressed in feet as referred to mean low water and the
symbols designating the consistency of the bottom, are the characteristics selected
from a large number of observations. The oyster beds are included within solid red
lines, and the density of the oyster growth is indicated by the relative intensity of
the shading, and is based on the quantity of culled oysters which can be taken by a
tonger working nine hours per day, not including the time occupied in culling.

Chart 1 covers the area from which market oysters only may be removed, and the
bases of the classifications of oyster growth are as follows: Dense, yielding over 8
bushels of market oysters per day’s tonging; scattering, between 5 and 8 bushels;
very scattering, between 3 and 5 bushels; depleted, under 3 bushels.

Chart 2 embraces the beds of the upper part of James River, on which the cull law
is inoperative so far as it pertains to the size of the oysters, and which are therefore
devoted to the production of seed oysters for replanting. The classification is as
follows: Dense, yielding over 12 bushels of seed oysters per day’s tonging; scattering,
between 8 and 12 bushels; very scattering, between 4 and 8 bushels; depleted, under
4 bushels.

The unshaded areas within the boundaries of the public beds as charted represent
barren bottom.

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BUREAU OF FISHERIES

Survey of

THE PUBLIC OYSTER BEDS
JAMES RIVER VIRGINIA

By Fisheries Str. FISH HAWK, Chf. Bosn W.Martin, U.S.N., Comd¢
Under the direction of
HF.Moore, Assistant, Bureau of Fisheries
JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER
1909

NEWPORT NEWS

hang = 0. Church
| /

Statute Miles

o2

L
Barrel Point

—

Yards

Boundaries of Public Beds shown in broken black lines.
Natural Oyster Beds, shown in red:
drea of dense growth of market ayatera PRR
” » scattered H
» » very scattered.
9 depleted
Stations at which dense growths of young occemr

Soundings:
Depth at mean low water expressed tn feet.

Bottom symbols: hy; for hard; 8, for soft.

Note: For more detailed explanation see text.

X¥ Middle Ground Lt.
(Middle )

tt Nansemond Riv Lt.
(Vanse) A

E. Veith, Drafleman

U.S.B.F=Doc.729

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Deep Water Shoal LightQ \s mit» Coewiard:
‘ Dead

[Deep] real ay
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Boundaries of Public Beds shown in broken hlack lines. Point eg Light O :
[Shoat

Natural Oyster Beds, shown in red:

growth of seed oysters

Area of dense
1» Scattered

very scattered

depleted

Soundings:
Depth at mean low water expressed in feet.

Bottom symbols: h, for hard; $, for soft.

Note: for more detailed explanation see toxt.

Statute Miles

Yards

Herre

«ron?
BUREAU OF FISHERIES

o
ak
y Survey of
THE PUBLIC OYSTER BEDS

JAMES RIVER VIRGINIA

By Fisheries Str. FISH HAWK, Chf. Bosn W.Martin, U. S.N.,Comd’
Under the direction of
HF.Moore, Assistant, Bureau of Fisheries
JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER
1909

& White Shoal Light
[White]

Goodwin Point

EB Veith, Draftsman

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