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-CARLILE P. PATTERSON
reat SUPERINTENDENT

| METHODS AND RESULTS

/

REPORT ON THE OYSTER BEDS
| oF THE a
JAMES RIVER, VA.

AND OF

TANGIER AND POGOMOKE SOUNDS

\

“MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA

,

APPENDIX No. 11—REPORT FOR 1881

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1882

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Mell. / S, COAST|AND GEODETIC SURVEY“

CARLILE P. PATTERSON
SUPERINTENDENT Dwision of Mollusks

METHODS AND RESULTS

a. —

f
£ f

REPORT ON THE OYSTER BEDS
OF THE
JAMES RIVER, VA.
ine OF

TANGIER AND POCOMOKE SOUNDS

SANTHSONIAW
MAY 18 1988
LIBRARIES,

MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA

APPENDIX No. 11—REPORT FOR 1881

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1882

ERRATA TO APPENDIX No. 1—COAST AND GEODETIC
FOR 1881.

Page 7, line 43 from top, for ‘‘ Moelius” read ‘‘Mébius.”
Page 14, line 8 from top, for ‘‘up” read ‘‘rip.”

. Page 24, line 34 from top, for ‘“‘Fog” read ‘‘Fox.”
Page 27, line 44 from top, for ‘‘600,000” read ‘‘630,000.”
Page 34, line 23 from top, for “light” read “‘bight.”
Page 46, line 7 from top, for ‘‘welks” read ‘‘ whelks.”
Page 46, line 10 from top, for ‘‘welks” read ‘‘ whelks. ”
Page 64, line 3 from top, for ‘“‘suecessive” read “successful.”
Page 65, line 2 from top, for ‘‘in” read ‘‘the.”

Page 70, line 28 from top, for ‘‘welks” read ‘‘ whelks.”
Page 70, line 28 from top, for ‘‘cinereus” read ‘‘ cinerea.”
Page 70, line 36 from top, for “cinereus” read “cinerea.”
Page 70, line 37 from top, for ‘‘welk” read ‘‘ whelk.”
Page 70, line 38 from top, for ‘‘welk” read ‘‘ whelk.”
Page 70, line 40 from top, for ‘‘welks” read ‘‘ whelks.”

SURVEY REPORT

Page 79, Appendix A, area Clump Point, for ‘‘382,000” read ‘382,500.”

Page 79, Appendix A, area Horsey’s Bar, for ‘‘202,000” read ‘°202,500.”

Page 79, Appendix A, area of Cow and Calf, for ‘‘292,000” read ‘‘292,500.”

Page 79, Appendix A, area Cedar, for ‘‘337,000” read ‘‘337,500.”

Pages 86 and 87, Appendix E, for ‘‘Monroe” read ‘‘Munroe,” and for “analysis”

read ‘‘analyses” wherever occurring.
Page 86, Appendix H, line 6, for ‘‘furnishes” read ‘‘ furnish.”

Page 86, Appendix E, insert at head of table “parts in 1,000,000 of water.”

"

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(APPENDIX No. 11, COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY REPORT FOR 1881.)

REPORT ON THE OYSTER BEDS OF THE JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA, AND OF TANGIER
AND POCOMOKE SOUNLS, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.

By FRANCIS WINSLOW, Master U. S. Navy, Assistant Coast and Geodetic Survey,
Commanding Schooner Palinurus.

PREFACH.

In editing the following reports, it has been my endeavor, while preserving the original form
and design, to omit such matters as would be of no interest to the public, but which were properly
communicated to the Superintendent of the Survey. Of such a character I have considered the
history of the work, in so much as it related to the difficulties encountered in its prosecution, and
the various recommendations as to special matters connected with future operations. I have also
considered that the same minuteness of description, either of methods or results, which was mani-
festly proper in a report to my superior, would be unnecessary in a paper intended for general cir-
culation. I have, therefore, in some parts, condensed the reports considerably, though always with
care that the reader should experience no difficulty in following the steps- by which I nemeed any
conclusion.

In the manuscript reports and in letters to the late Superintendent, I have frequently testified
to the kindness and assistance rendered me by the inhabitants of Crisfield, Md., and of the shores
of the sounds, and I wish to again express, in a more public manner, my appreciation of their efforts,
aud especially my indebtedness to Mr. T. S. Hodson, the collector of the port. My thanks are also
due to the members of the Johns Hopkins Zoological School, to Prof. S. F. Baird, United States
Fish Commissioner, to Mr. T. B. Ferguson, Maryland Fish Commissioner, to Mr. H. J. Rice, and
Mr. W. H. Dall, and especially to Dr. W. K. Brooks for assistance rendered me.

As such suecess as has attended my labors in this field is largely due to the zealous and effi-
cient co-operation of my brother officers and companions on board the Palinurus, I have felt it their
due that their contributions to the results should be known. I have accordingly prefixed to each
report the names of my assistants and have specified those portions of the work for which they are
in @ measure responsible.

IT regret that it is not in my power cay more adequately express my appreciation of the zeal and
energy they displayed, the arduous nature of their labors in the field, and the good judgment they
showed in the compilations assigned them in the office, and while it is difficult to make a distinction,
I feel my indebtedness to Master H. H. Barroll, U.S. N., to be greater than to any other one con-
nected with the investigation.

FRANCIS WINSLOW,
Tieutenant, U.S. N.

INSTRUCTIONS.

The instructions of the Superintendent, dated August 2, 1878, directed that the investigation
of the oyster beds should include the following:
1. The determination of the positions and areas of the oyster beds of the Chesapeake and its
adjacent waters and the depth of water over them both at high and low water.
2. The determination of the character of the beds; whether natural or artificial; whether the

4

oysters were spread all over a given area, or grew in clusters of large or small size, or were scat-
tered singly or in small groups.

3. The determination of the temperatures of the surface and bottom water at each locality
and the velocities of the currents.

4, The preservation of specimens of oysters of different ages, from each locality, and speci-
mens of the bottom and bottom water.

5. The determination of the existence of any deposit of mud or other earthy or vegetable
material and the determination of the character of the bottom beneath the oyster beds.

6. The determination of the source of the sediment if any was deposited and the means of
directing it, if injurious, away from the beds. Also to determine whether ice ever rested on the
beds and so destroyed them.

7. The determination of the density of the water, with special reference to the question of dis-
placement of the salt water by the fresh water from adjacent streams and rivers.

The Superintendent also desired that the examination should, at first, be confined to a limited
area and made exhaustive. Subsequently the investigation was to be extended as far as the means
at the disposal of the Survey would permit.

The instructions were received on the 3d August, 1878. On the 7th of that month the vessel
sailed from Baltimore, Md., to execute them, and the party remained actively in the field until the
15th October, when the season closed. As the investigation was novel in design and execution,
and as the difficulties encountered by the party were mainly due to the absence of all experience
and previous exertions in the same field, I have thought it best to preface the account of the results
of our labors by a short description of the methods employed in making the several determinations
required by my instructions.

METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION.
The examination of the different beds was carried on in the following manner:
1.—DELINEATION OF THE BEDS.

The services of an oysterman of experience, and who was well acquainted with the localities
of the different beds, was first obtained; the vessel was then anchored in such a position as to
enable-her use as one of the points for angling upon, and her position carefully fixed by sextant
angles upon all points recognizable upon the chart. At the same time angles were taken upon any
object that might be useful subsequently in fixing positions, either of the boats or schooner. By
carrying forward our own points in that manner it was possible to dispense with signals, the
erection of which would have occasioned much delay and the sacrifice of time and labor, to procure
an unnecessary degree of accuracy. The boats then ran traverse lines, more or less open, over
the adjacent beds, the size of the interior angle and the length of the line depending upon the
supposed size and character of the bed; our general method was to work with the tide and endeavor
to cross the lines as we returned over the ground. The “oyster pilot” was sent in one boat and
one of the ship’s company, who was an old oysterman, was sent in the other. They were provided
with poles, which were marked to feet, and continually probed and examined the bottom as the
boat passed over the line. The depth of water and character of the bottom were recorded as in
ordinary hydrographic surveys. The position of the boat was frequently ascertained by sextant
angles, but as the ‘ points” were not always well defined, two angles were not considered sufficient,
and angles on all prominent objects were taken. Occasionally, when in proximity to the schooner,
mast-head angles and bearings were used for ascertaining the position of the boat, and in a few
cases the bearing and distance of some well-defined point of land was estimated.

At intervals the boat was anchored, her position fixed, and specimens of oysters, bottom, and
water obtained, and the temperature of the air, and surface and bottom water, observed; the
character of the substratum of the bottom was also noted, and the set and velocity of the current
recorded. The observations for ascertaining the character of the bottom beneath the surface and
those for temperature were more frequently made than the others, and the current was measured
only at such points as would give a fair idea of the general set of the flood and ebb tides; but

~~ ir

5

whenever an oyster specimen was taken, all the observations, with the exception of those for
strength and direction of current, were made. Only general instructions could be given as to the
points on the beds where it was desirable to obtain specimens of any kind, or observations for
temperature or character of bottom, and much was necessarily left to the discretion of the officer
of the boat, not only with regard to those points but also as to the general delineation of the beds.

_ So far as it went the work was satisfactory, but there were three great drawbacks to the use
of the boats, viz: The time and labor necessary to effect anything with them, the inability to use
the pole with any accuracy in depths over three fathoms, and the failure of the pole to discover any-
thing but the solid beds. We attempted to use with the boats a small and light dredge made
especially for us, but found it impracticable, the largest boat, when under oars, fully manned, or
when under sail in a stiff breeze, being unable to tow the dredge or even to move it; consequently the
boats were useless for collecting any information, except over solid beds in less than three fathoms
of water.

To define the limits of those beds lying in deeper water and of those not entirely solid, or
where the oysters were scattered either in groups or singly, recourse was had to dredging with the
schooner, using an ordinary oyster dredge of 36 inches width and with twelve teeth. This method
was found to be so much more satisfactory in all respects, that all the boat work, whenever it was
possible, was supplemented by dredging lines run by the schooner. Traverses were made as with
the boats, and observations for ascertaining the character of the bottom, both of the surface and
substrata, observations of temperature, and the selection of the various specimens, were carried on.
The position of the vessel, however, was more frequently ascertained than had been customary
in the boat work. The lowest possible rate of speed was maintained that was consistent with safe
and ready manoeuvering (a matter of some difficulty), and the dredge put over at intervals varying
from two to ten minutes, and depending upon the character and extent of the bed, depth of water,
and ability of the crew to get the dredge in, it being at times necessary to heave the vessel to in
order to recover it. The dredge was put over from the weather side, and, after having dragged a
sufficient distance to insure its bringing up a specimen, should there be any oysters, was hauled in
by hand. The presence of oysters on the bottom was readily detected by placing the hand on the
dredging rope, the uneven, jumping motion of the dredge as it gathered the oysters and shells
being distinctly perceptible. The dredge was usually on the bottom from thirty to forty-five
seconds, which length of time was sufficient for our purpose and sometimes enough to fill the
dredge, a catastrophe which was not desirable. Soundings were taken along the lines, and, with
the character of the bottom, recorded.

The following form for keeping the record was used and found to be of great value:

RECORD.
[Date, September 5,1878. Day-mark, S. Recorder, S. E. Stevens.]
| | 1 : atic | 4
Time. | Depth. | Station. | Bottom. Dredge. jAmountan mound Right object. Left object.
| ee to
h.m. see.| | |
i 1) BMD | 15 feet. 3 eevarde-| Over....) 4full------ 34 fms. | Clay Island Light-House. --.----- Red trees.
BU llsosacoo=ac letiececeaa= lat eceecisce Taking 168 | WaOo Sone Reditreesise 25s eseceeeassan oie Tall trees.
IDL WN) |sessocccse Weeiasseyersietll ceimerins ae Off bot. OyisliGMs, |loisseoscce PRA MGRO CS tea Roe ee yeaa ate Solomon’s Lump Light-House.
ic ee — :
| Specimens. Temperatures.
eae ‘
| Angles. | 1 =a) dale: al ka a1 Remarks on oysters. General remarks.
| Oysters.) Bottom. | Water. Air. | Surface. | Bottom.
ie | (ios 5) | pene es
| | ¥ = Sued ae
Onnars | | fa} fe) fe)
52 08 | 3 | 1 | 1 3 flood. 59 68 68 Margersineleeeras seen see eres | Probed: 2 feet oysters, then
68 23 [Besekdhes| aqs5d5553 jeqeososslococg aad cesceeesibobedenzes| eenseescas Young growth and clusters ------) hard. 100 sail dredging to
22 00) ene. oa | sedansoces | aooosens [SOaR eee Sok SS eel Sa eene es Mee ete | Many young and drills; no sponge| southward. Wind, SW—3.
i E |

The number of oysters in the dredge, the portion of the dredge filled, the character of the
oysters, whether old or young, single or in clusters, large or small, the character of the parasites
attached to the shells, the amount of grass, seaweed, and sponge in the dredge, the estimated

6

number of young smaller than the marketable size, and other pertinent remarks, were noted after
each haul. At intervals during the day the number of dredging vessels in sight was recorded for
reference, and subsequently an attempt was made to collect data for the estimation of the number
of oysters taken in a day by each sail. At each anchorage the current was measured.

From the results given by using the pole in the boats and the dredge in the schooner, the
outlines of the beds have been traced on the chart, the lines defining their limits including nearly
all stations when the number of oysters was greater than one-tenth to the square yard, and though
in some portions of the beds, as shown on the charts, the number was less than one-tenth, vet
other circumstances, such as the character of the bottom, the amount of shell brought up by the
dredge, &c., have caused them to be ineluded as part of the beds.

The limit of scattered oysters can only be considered as approximate, as the lines were drawn
from information received from local oystermen and from such observations as we were enabled to
make ourselves. As has been already stated, the boats were unable to ascertain the positions of
any but the solid beds or large clusters, and the schooner not being able to work in less than 8
feet of water, our ability to determine the area covered by the scattered oysters was necessarily
limited. As that area, and indeed that of the solid beds also, is variable, changing from year to
year, the line inclosing the scattered oysters may be considered as accurate as it is necessary to
have it.

TIDES.

The mean rise and fall of the tides in the sounds is so slight (amounting to 2.5 feet in Tangier
and 2.4 feet in Pocomoke), and generally the depth of water over the beds so great, that it was not
considered necessary to establish tide gauges except in one case; such tidal corrections as have
been applied to the soundings have been obtained from the Coast Survey Tide Tables. A coim-
parison of the rise and fall of the tides, as given by those tables, with that given by a tide-statf
erected at Clay Island Light-House, showed that during the months of October and November the
greatest difference was nine-tenths of a foot. Owing to the vernal and autumnal gales the most
considerable departure from the usual height of the tidal water occurs at those seasons, and it is
therefore probable that one foot will represent the maximum error of the Coast Survey Tide Tables,
and 34 feet the maximum rise of the tide in either sound. Considering the great depth of water
over the majority of the beds, it was coneluded that the slight variation in those depths caused by
the tides could have but little influence on the oysters, and consequently the correction of sound-
ings except in depths less than three fathoms has been neglected.

'
SPECIMENS.

The oyster specimens, 754 in number, were selected from large quantities brought up by the
dredge and tongs, the endeavor being to take three specimens of different ages from each locality.
One specimen of an adult oyster of two years’ growth or more, one of from one to two years’ growth,
and.oue less than a year old, were usually selected. Shells, either old or new, and especially those
having a Jarge number of young clinging to them, were also occasionally preserved, and though a
few specimens of oysters that had been transplanted were secured in order to show the effect of
change of water, bottom, and depth, yet no examination of the planted beds was undertaken. In
the selection of specimens we attempted to reserve such as would indicate the effect of different
natural conditions. At the close of the day’s work the oyster specimens were washed in salt
water, opened carefully with a sharp-pointed, thin-bladed knife, and the upper valve detached from
the muscle, and then replaced. A small wooden peg was then placed between the bills of the
shell. the valves tied tightly together with twine, and the oyster wrapped in cotton cloth of a very
open texture. The whole was placed in alcohol. The wooden peg kept the shell open sufficiently
to allow the alcohol access to the body of the animal, and the cloth wrapper prevented the destruc-
tion or loss of anything of interest which might be attached to the shell. Six parts of alcohol to
four of water were used, and to each specimen was attached a wooden label showing from whence
the oyster came.

g

BOTTOM AND WATER SPECIMENS.

The specimens of bottom were obtained from large amounts of sand, mud, and gravel, brought
up by the dredge or tongs. When the bottom was hard, an ordinary bottom specimen cup screwed
into a 25-pound lead was used, but over the solid beds, or where the bottom was of hard sand, it
was very difficult to obtain anything, either with dredge, tongs, or lead.

The specimens of bottom water were secured by using the drop-water cylinders, which are
fully described by Lieut. Frederick Collins, U. S. N., Assistant Coast and Geodetic Survey, in his
report on the ‘Densities of the Waters of Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries,” published by the
Survey in the Report for 1877, Appendix No. 14. The cylinders worked as successfully as during
the previous summer, and there can be no doubt that the water brought up by them was a speci-
men of that at the bottom. All the specimens were tested with a hydrometer, and the readings
reduced to those at the standard temperature of 60° F.

SUBSTRATUM OF BOTTOM.

The character of the bottom beneath the surface was roughly ascertained by means of an iron
probe, 5 feet in length, attached to a long wooden staff. The probe was thrust as far as possible
into the bottom, and the composition and character of the substratum estimated, the different
constituents, whether sand, shell, mud, clay, or gravel, being easily recognized. Owing to the
velocity of the currents, the speed of the vessel, and the difficulty of handling a long staff, but few
determinations of the character of the substratum were made when the depth of water was greater
than 3 fathoms.

CURRENTS.

The currents were measured by a current meter, or by an ordinary chip log, though the latter
was not used frequently. The position of the stations for measuring the current was left to the
discretion of the officer of the boat, but a sufficient number have been occupied to show the set and
strength of the maiu current, and the effect on them of the prevailing winds.

NUMBER OF OYSTERS TO THE SQUARE YARD.

The number of oysters to the square yard was found by using a ground log in connection with
the dredge. From the information derived from experienced oystermen, and from our own exam-
ination of those beds that had been dredged, I was of the opinion that a dredge, when of consid-
erable size, and dragged slowly, usually collected everything met by it in its course. Considering
that, at the suggestion of Mr. Rice, I used a small ground log to measure the distance traveled by
the dredge. As that instrument was exactly one yard in width, it was concluded that it swept
approximately clean one square yard for every linear yard it passed over. The ground log consisted
of a small lead, a few ounces in weight, attached to a light line 1,000 feet long; between the lead
and line was a length of copper wire of 20 feet; the line was marked every 5 fathoms and kept in
a tub or on a reel ready for use; the lead was conical in shape to prevent its catching on shell
clusters. When the dredge was thrown over the lead was dropped to the bottom and allowed to
remain there, the line running out freely until the dredge was lifted off the bottom, when the line
was stopped and the number of fathoms run off with the number of oysters in the dredge recorded.
The dredge was not allowed to remain on the bottom long enough to be filled, consequently none
of the oysters were lost from its inability to receive them.

Though the foregoing method was imperfect it was the best that could be devised under the
circumstances, and a similar method was used by Moelius in ascertaining the number of oysters on
the Schleswig-Holstein bed. From the very small number of oysters to the square yard, as shown
by the method, from the small number of oysters it assigns to the beds, and from comparison of
the latter number with the number known to have been taken off the beds during our stay in the
sounds, it is evident that the “number to the square yard” given in the records of the work are
useful for comparison only; for in almost all cases the number of oysters given to the square yard
must be considered as far below the real number. For instance, the number of oysters on the
beds in Tangier Sound, south of Jane’s Island Light-House, was estimated from the data of the

; | 8

record given by the dredge and log to be 7,994,692, while from other observations I am positive
that at least 2,000,000 oysters were taken from those beds in six days at the commencement of
the oyster season. Such could hardly have been the case had there been but 8,000,000 oysters
on the beds, and consequently we must regard the “number of oysters to the square yard,” as
shown by the method used, only valuable as establishing an initial number and standard by which
the increase or decrease of oysters on the beds may be ascertained, and by which one bed or
locality can be compared with another. Alone, the results of the dredge and log are valueless.

TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER.

It was originally intended that the temperature of the bottom water should be obtained by
means of thermometers attached to the ‘drop cylinders” used for obtaining the specimens of water
from the bottom, and six of those cylinders were fitted at the office with mercurial thermometers,
inclosed within the spindle upon which the cylinder moves, the bulb of the thermometer being a
little above the center of the cylinder when closed on the lower disk, and the graduated stem being
exposed above the top, thus allowing the temperature to be read within any limits that would
probably occur.

Under the direction of the assistant in charge of the office, a series of experiments were made
by Mr. H. W. Blair, in order to ascertain the correction to be applied to the thermometers when
moved through strata of water of different temperatures, and from water of one temperature into
the air at another. With tables of corrections derived from those experiments, and with care in
using the apparatus, we hoped to arrive at results that would be very nearly correct, but I regret
to say that upon the first occasion when the cylinders were tried the thermometers were shown to
be useless.

The cylinder is closed upon the lower metal disk by means of a spiral brass spring, which also
holds the cylinder down firmly, thus preventing the escape of the specimen. The spring acts with
considerable force, and we found that invariably the shock of the closure of the cup was sufficient
to break the mercurial column and prevent any reading of the thermometer. Attempts were made
on board the vessel to remedy the evil by diminishing the strength of the spring, and by placing a
rubber buffer on the lower disk, but we were unable to prevent leakage, and subsequently the
same difficulty was experienced at the office.

Owing to the failure of the thermometers in the water cylinders, and the inability to obtain
any apparatus, at so short a notice, in time to be available for the season’s work, we were forced to
use ordinary unprotected thermometers, furnished by the Coast Survey Office, with corrections
established by experiments made previously and subsequently to the work of the party. The
thermometers were fastened to a lead, lowered to the bottom, and kept there a sufficient time to
acquire the temperature of the surrounding water. They were then hauled up as rapidly as possi-
ble and the temperature read; at the same time the temperatures of the air and surface water was
noted,

Owing to the rapid change of reading when the thermometers were moved through strata of
different temperature, the observations are only reliable when the temperatures of the air, surface,
and bottom water were identical.

As the investigation extended over so short a period of time, and as the spawning season had
closed before we arrived on the ground, the recorded temperatures are of little interest, and have
been omitted in the following papers.

NAMES AND AREAS.

In naming and describing the beds I have used the local names given them by the oystermen.
The term “rock” is with them synonymous with “bed,” as they regard only the solid portions of
the area covered by the oysters. In the following pages the term ‘‘ rock” indicates the solid, or
approximately solid, portions of the bed. Areas are given in feet and miles. When the latter unit
is used it is the nautical mile of 6,080 feet, and not the statute mile.

4

9

REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 1878.

My subordinates and assistants during the season were Master H. H. Barroll, U.S. N., and
Mr. S. E. Stevens. Mr. Barroll tested the water specimens, 475 in number, and corrected the
hydrometer readings for temperature; and compiled and arranged the record books and the various
tables appended and referred to in the report. Mr. Stevens assisted in plotting the work, caleu-
lated the areas of the beds and of the bottom covered by scattered oysters, and developed the pro-
files of the bottom.

OYSTER BEDS OF THE JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

The examination of these beds was a very hurried one, and the delineation must be regarded
as merely approximate, being the result of a hasty reconnaissance. On that account no attempt
has been made to produce a chart similar to that of Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, but the ouat-
lines of the beds, as shown by a few traverses run by the boats and as indicated by the local
oysterinen, have been sketched in roughly.

According to such information as it was possible for us to obtain, the beds do not extend above
Deep Water Light, with the exception of a few small ones that are seldom fished on the account of
the inferiority of the animals. We had not time to determine ourselves whether the information
was correct, but I presume it to be so.

Below Deep Water Light the beds of any consequence are twelve in number, and of a total
area (approximate) of 10.4 square miles. Taking them in order from Deep Water Light to Hamp-
ton Roads they are the Mulberry Point Bed, Point of Shoals Bed, Jail Island Bed, Blunt Point
Bed, White Shoal Bed, Thomas’s Point Bed, Kettle Hole Bed, Brown Shoal Bed, Bally Smash Bed,
Naseway Shoal Bed, Cruiser’s Bed, and the Nansemond Ridge Bed. The beds are “natural,” and
the following remarks apply to all. .

Currents.—Nineteen observations were made of the currents, and established that, over the
Mulberry Point, Jail Island, and Point of Shoals Beds, the general set of the flood is NW., with a
maximum velocity of 0.5 mile per hour, and the general set of the ebb SEH., with a maximum
velocity of 1.7 miles per hour. These velecities were measured after or during moderate to stiff
NW. breezes and spring tides, which conditions would increase the velocity of the ebb current
considerably; it is probable that that velocity does not exceed one knot per hour under ordinary
circumstances. The set both on flood and ebb is directly across the bed, but the main body of
water follows the deep channel to the southward, the ebb striking the shore in Burwell’s Bay, and
at times washing a good deal of it away. 6

Over the Blunt Point, White Shoal, Thomas’s Point, Kettle Hole, and Brown’s Shoal Beds the cur-
rent sets NW. and SH., with a maximum velocity of 0.8 mile per hour on the flood. The ebb on
the first quarter showed a velocity of 0.3 mile per hour, and probably the maximum velocity is but
little over one knot per hour, as the great body of water passes to the southward of the beds.

On the southern side of the river, over the Bally Smash, Naseway Shoal, Nansemond Ridge,
and Cruiser’s Beds, the general set of the currents is NW. and SE., except where the very shoal
spots are met, when the current becomes variable in direction though not diminished in force.
When the shoal ledge lies in the general direction of the river the effect dovs not appear to be so
great, but where the shoal extends across the main current it is deflected from its usual course,
and forms strong counter currents and eddies. Thus over the Bally Smash Bed the ebb was found
to set to the SH., with a maximum velocity of 1.1 miles; over the Naseway Shoal on one side of
the shoal ridge the set of the ebb was SW., with a velocity of 0.4 mile per hour; while on the other
side of the ridge an observation made at about the same time showed a set of 0.2 mile NE. When
clear of theobstructing shoals the current sets to the northward and westward on the flood, and to
the southward and eastward on the ebb, with an average velocity of 0.5 mile per hour.

Over the Nansemond Ridge beds and inside of them the flood sets in towards Ragged Creek,
and the ebb probably in the opposite direction.

In order to determine whether the salt water over the beds in the river, and especially over
the Mulberry Point, Point of Shoals, and Jail Island Beds was displaced by the fresh water of the
spring ebbs, specimens of water were obtained at every two fathoms of depth, on a section across

App 11-——2

10

the river just above Deep Water Light, at low water, spring tide. The density of the water at that
point and time is shown in the following table:

Section across James River.

Location. Station. Depth. Tide. Specifie gravity. Remarks.

Feet.
Near Deep Water Light-House --....---- 2.2. ne A Surface. Low water... 1. 0083
A 6 PEO Vy Soar e : 1. 0084 Bottom, soft mud.
B Surface |.---do----..- 1. 0088
B 12 sere (ON SAne ens 1, 0082
B 24 Bnei) HARB 1. 0088 Bottom, soft mud.
Cc Surface. .-.. do\- 22-2 1. 0077
C 6 Ba UG) pono se 1. 0078 Bottom, soft mud.

Comparing the specific gravity of the water obtained in the sections with that of two stations
below Deep Water Light, which was obtained at nearly high water, a difference of density of 0.0037
is shown—1.0000 representing distilled water. So slight a change of density can hardly have any
material effeet upon the oysters, and, except during long continued freshets, which occur sometimes
during the spring, the animals in all probability do not suffer therefrom.

According to the oystermen, during the winter ice frequently grounds on the shoal spots on
the Beds, but never remains there long, unless the weather is of unusual severity, the strength of
the current and the variability of the climate being sufficient to remove the ice in a short space of
tine. As to the amount of damage done the oysters by the ice, opinions varied a good deal; the
general impression was that, though the oysters were poorer in quality and flavor, the ice did not
remain long enough to kill many of them. Only afew persons could be interrogated, and they were
not very intelligent; but,in the absence of any opportunity to investigate the matter ourselves, their
opinion is given.

All the beds in the James River are subject to the deposit of mud and vegetable matter brought
down by the freshets that oceur in the spring. The* Mulberry Point, Point of Shoals, and Jail
Island Beds, owing to their position, are particularly unfortunate in this respect. The set of the
current being directly across these beds, they are the first to receive whatever is held by the
water. From the character and appearance of the river, it is probable that a large.amount of
earthy matter is brought down by every ebb tide; but the velocity of the current is so great, and
the shoal rises so abruptly between the Point of Shoals Light and Deep Water Light, forming a wall
and barrier, that the principal part of the sediment seems to. be carried into Burwell’s Bay, where
it has gradually covered and destroyed a large number of small beds. The spring freshets always
cover the Mulberry Point, Point of Shoals, and Jail Island Beds, but not always for a sufficient
time to very seriously damage the oysters, the current managing to sweep off the deposit in time
to expose the cultch to the spat. Occasionally the damage is great; for instance, we were informed
that during 1871 and 1872 there were a succession of heavy freshets, which destroyed the fishing
for several years. In 1876, the mud having been washed away and the eultech exposed, a growth
of young oysters was noticed -in all the beds about and above Jail Island. In 1877 the oysters
about Deep Water Light were good, and probably during the coming seasons (18/879), the cateh
on all the beds will be large, as at the time of our observations the oysters were numerous, with
the young growth predominating. Apparently, then, it requires from three to five years for the
beds to recover from the effects of heavy freshets, and as the oyster becomes marketable in about
two years, from five to seven years must elapse from the date of the freshet before the beds can
be profitably worked.

Happily, the other beds are affected to a much less extent, though about the shoals on the
southern side of the river the oysters are gradually deteriorating, presumably from deposit of dele-
terious matter. The variability of the currents about these shoal places, and the fact that the
depth of water about them is decreasing and the shoals increasing in size, appears to support the
inference. On top of the Naseway Shoal, which is completely dry at low water, quantities of shells
were found, and in its immediate neighborhood, especially to the northward and westward, the

11

oysters were of a very poor quality, having deteriorated much of late years. In addition to the
deposit by the James River; the Nansemond Ridge and beds off Pig Point receive a portion of
the sediment brought down by the Nansemond River, but, other causes not operating, that deposit
would not be sufficient to seriously injure the beds. Below Jail Island, on the northern side of
the river, the beds are not so much affected by the deposit, and the oysters found on them are of
a better quality than those on the opposite side of the channel.

Without incurring an expense not justified by the end sought, there is no practicable means
of protecting the beds from this evil. Natural efforts appear to have sufficiently protected them
in the past, and, if they are guarded in other respects, the loss on account of the deposit of matter
brought down by the current, which is but occasional, will not interfere, to any great extent, with
the industry.

Mulberry Point Beds.—These beds comprise an area (approximate) of 3,656,000 square yards.
They lie to the southward and westward of Mulberry Point, on the north side of the swash chan-
nel, and northeastern side of the main channel.

Point of Shoals and Jail Island Beds.—The Point of Shoals beds lie to the northward and
eastward of the Point of Shoals Light, and comprise an area of 14,941,000 square yards, approxi-
mately. They are bounded on the southward-and-eastward, southward, and southward-and-west-
ward, by the main channel, the one-fathom curve of which cleariy defines the limit of the bed,
except for a mile and a half to the southward of the light. The northern boundary follows nearly
the edge of the swash channel, which separates this bed from the Jail Island Bed; the latter lies
to the eastward of the swash and northward of the main channel, and has an area, approximately,
of 5,730,000 square yards.

Both the Mulberry Point and Jail Island Beds extend inshore as far as the sands which are
found about at the one-fathom curve. The hydrography of the accompanying chart of the river
was executed in 1874, and since that time very slight changes of depth of water can have occurred.
It may therefore be accepted as giving the correct depth at the time of our examination. It shows
that over the Mulberry Point beds the depth of water is from 1 or 2 feet in some places to 24 in
others; on the Point of Shoals beds the same irregular bottom exists, the depth being from 2 feet
to 30; and on the Jail Island beds from 3 to 16 feet are found. The soundings are given for mean
low-water, the plane of reference; the mean rise and fall of the tides is 2.6 feet, and the maximum
rise and fall 3.4 feet. The spring tides, however, fall 0.4 feet below the plane of reference, and
consequently all the beds are subject to the grounding of ice of more than 16 inches thickness.
As, however, the shoalest parts of the beds are situated on the boundary lines, they afford a
certain amount of protection to the interior portions, the ice piling along the borders instead of
lying in heavy masses upon the entire bed.

On the shoalest parts of the beds the bottom was found to be a stratum of shells with a light
covering of mud and a substratum of hard sand. On these shoal places the oysters and shells were
most abundant. The oysters were not evenly distributed over the entire bed, but grew in detached
patches and ridges on and in the vicinity of the shoals, with numerous narrow mud sloughs inter-
secting and separating them. The deep water was found over these sloughs, and, generally speak-
ing, the shallower the water the larger the number of oysters and the thicker and more solid the
bed, this being especially true about the boundaries, where the beds rise abruptly from the main
channel, and where great difficulty was found in attempting to penetrate them with the probe,
while in the interior portions and in deeper water the surface stratum was of shells and mud, with
6 feet or more of soft mud underneath.

On the Jail Island beds the bottom was of shells and light, yellow mud, the stratum being
about 4 feet thick; below it the bottom was mud. From the appearance of the shells I judged

that they had been covered for some time; and that, combined with the unusual thickness of the
shell stratum, leads to the opinion that this bed was receiving a larger amount of the sediment
brought down by the river than cither the neighboring oyster areas.

The oysters on the three beds are of the class known among the dealers as ‘‘snaps.” They
are small and poor, single or in small clusters of two or three, and when not transplanted are used
for canning. There was no sponge or grass attached to the shells, and but very few of the usual
inhabitants of a bed other than the oysters appeared to be present. Young oysters, of about one

12

year’s growth and under, predominated, and the proportion of voung to mature oysters was greater
on the shoal spots and ridges at the edge of the bed than elsewhere, owing, probably, to the fact
that such portions of the bed being shoalest, hardest, and cleanest, they ‘offered superior points
for the attachment of the drifting spat.

The oysters from the Jail Island Bed were considered superior to any in the river for planting
purposes, though no reason was assigned for the preference. The oysters from all these beds are
generally transplanted before being sent to market. No oysters were found in the main channel,
and in the swash channel only a few, and those widely separated.

Along the southwestern side of the river and main channel, in Burwell’s Bay, and off Day’s
Point, are a few small beds, separated by large mud sloughs and many old “‘rocks” buried in the
mud. The bottom is of red mud, with a substratum of mud or sand. The adjacent banks of the
river are of red clay, and appear to be gradually washing away with the swift current of the river.
The oysters found were older than those on the opposite beds on the Point of Shoals, but were of a
poorer quality, and the beds are seldom worked on account of the scarcity and inferiority of the
animals upon them.

Blunt Point Bed.—This bed consists of a number of small rocks of a few hundred yards area,
with mud sloughs between them. The area of the bed is about 1,125,000 square yards, but as the
bed does not rise abruptly from the channel, like those already described, thus allowing a ready
and nearly correct definition of its outlines, the area given for if must not be considered as more
than a rough approximation. In the case of the Point of Shoals and Mulberry Point Beds the
channels and s uds defined the limit of the oyster areas. In the case of the Blunt Point Beds the
oysters are scattered in decreasing numbers from the center of the bed to the shores and channels,
and the acvurate or even approximately accurate delineation of the area covered by them would
have required far more time than was at our disposal.

The bed is subject to a deposit of mud from the James River, but to a less extent than those
beds already described; it also receives some sediment from the Warrick River. The bottom was
found to be mud and shells on the surface, with a substratum of mud, except about the shoal places,
where the substratum is hard, probably of sand. The contour of the bottom is more regular than
that of the other beds, the depth of water as shown by the charf being from 7 to 8 feet.

The oysters were more numerous about the shoals and were distributed in a manner similar to
those on the beds previously noticed, being collected in groups aud patches separated by mud
sloughs. They grew singly and in small clusters with no sponges attached and are of poor
quality.

Thomas Point, Kettle Hole, and White Shoal Beds.—These beds are similar in character to the
Blunt Point beds. The shoal portions embraced by the one-fathom curve show the original forma-
tion of the bed in the past, and mark what may be termed the backbone of the bed in the present.

The areas (approximate) are Thomas Point, 949,000 square yards; Kettle Hole, 1,792,000
square yards; and’ White Shoal, 1,300,000 square yards. The bottom on the Kettle Hole and Thomas
Point Beds was found to be of mud and shells on the surface, the substratum on the Kettle Hole
being of shell and sand, and on the Thomas Point Bed of mud, except when near the shoal spots.
On both beds no oysters were found on the shoals when the falling tide exposed them, but great
quantities of broken shells were mixed with the sand; on all contiguous parts the oysters were very
thick. Away from the sand shoals the beds commence to be broken up by mud sloughs, and the
oysters are found in groups, the size and number of the groups being inversely proportional to
the distance from the shoal. The Kettle Hole Bed is nearer solid and uniform than the others, the
rocks being larger and closer together. The depth of water over the beds is shown by the chart,
and the same general conditions with regard toit that were noticed on those beds already described
exist on those now under consideration. The covering of mud over the animals was quite light,
and the beds appear to receive less of the sediment in the river than those above or on the opposite
side of the channel. The oysters were single and in small clusters. Those from the Thomas Point
Bed were small and of an inferior quality; those from the Kettle Hole were larger, of good quality,
and with a moderate amount of white and gray sponge clinging to them, and on both beds the pro-
portion of young oysters of less than a year’s growth to those mature was very large.

Bally Smash and Naseway Shoal Beds.—The Bally Smash Bed lies between Goodwin Point and

13

Fishing Point, and about one mile off the southern shore of the river. Its area is (approximately)
984,000 square yards. The Naseway Shoal Beds lie NE. of Fishing Point, about the Naseway
Shoals, and comprise an-area (approximate) of 2,988,000 square yards. Both of these beds appear
to have been originally formed about the shoals, those parts of the latter that are uncovered at low
water showing a mass of shells broken and mixed with sand, and in their proximity the oysters
are in greater numbers than near the margin of the bed.. The depth of water on the Bally Smash
Bed is about 4 feet; on the Naseway Beds it is the same, except in the mud sloughs, where the
depth is from 6 to 8 feet. The Bally Smash appears to be an unbroken “rock,” the bottom con-
sisting of shells and oysters with a light covering of mud. The oysters were small and of the infe-
rior quality known as ‘“‘snaps.” The strong current setting past and about the bed should have
the effect of cleaning it, but the shoal, being dry at certain stages of the tide, appears to offer a
barrier to the current in such a way as to cause a growth of the shoal to the northward and west-
ward, where we found the largest amount of mud.

The Naseway Shoal Bed consists of a number of detached “rocks” separated by mud sloughs,
except in the vicinity of the shoal, where the oysters were found in the largest numbers, and where
the bed is comparatively unbroken. The ‘‘rocks” appear to follow the general direction of the
shoals, and are in ridges and groups, scattering and becoming smaller in size as the distance from
the shoal increases. The oysters were single, of all ages, and generally of poor quality, but inshore
from the bed, where a number of small detached “rocks” known as mud and sand rocks are found,
the oysters were larger and older in appearance, and the young growth was missing. The bottom
on the Naseway Shoal was a thin stratum of mud and shells on the surface, with a substratum of
mud, very thick in the sloughs, and of hard sand and shell in the vicinity of the shoals. The
Naseway Shoal Bed is supposed to receive a larger amount of the sediment brought down by the
ebb-tide than any other bed on the southern side of the river. As will be seen by the chart, the
Eastern Shoal runs across the direction of the current, and the water deepens quickly to the
eastward of the shoal. The ‘‘rocks” lie closer to the shoal on the eastern side than on the western,
while the mud sloughs are more frequent on the western side than on the eastern. From the above
it would appear that the western part of the bed received the larger amount of deposit, and that.
deposit was injurious to the oysters.

Browns Shoal Bed.—The rocks composing this bed lie to the northward and eastward of the
Naseway Shoals on the northern side of the river, and are situated, as their names indicate, on and
about Brown’s Shoal. The approximate area of the bed is 1,828,000 square yards. The depth of
water is from 3 to 15 feet, the average depth about 8 feet, and the deep water is found as on the
other beds, over the mud sloughs. The bed follows the general direction of the shoal, and is not
So extensively cut up as those previously described. The bottom was of shell with a little mud,
resting on a substratum of shell or hard sand. The oysters were single, and in small clusters, and
were not evenly distributed, being thicker on the edge of the channel, where also was found the
largest number of young. The oysters brought up having but little mud on them, and the sound-
ings and probe discovering but a light covering of mud, it is presumed that there is comparatively
but little deposit on the bed. The principal part of the sediment brought down on this side of the
river is probably received by the Thomas Point and Kettle Hole Beds, and as we were informed
that ice seldom grounded on Brown’s Shoal, it is perhaps protected by the beds from that soil
also.

= CRUISER’S ROCK AND NANSEMOND RIDGE.

Cruiser’s Rock and the beds of the Nansemond Ridge are situated off Ragged Island, on the
southern side of the channel, and about the shoals extending from Barrel Point. Their approxi-
mate area is 6,925,000 square yards. The beds are similar in character to those already described,
being intersected by mud sloughs, and the oysters growing in groups and patches, but the mud
sloughs are smaller and the area of the groups larger than on the other beds. The depth of water
over the rocks is from 7 to 8 feet, and the surface stratum of the bottom consisted of shells and a
small amount of mud. The substratum was, on the shoal parts of Cruiser’s Rock, hard and of sand
or shell; on the Nansemond Ridge of soft mud and shell for about 5 feet. The oysters found
grew in small clusters or singly, and were of inferior quality. They were not found to the north-

14

ward and eastward of the beds in greater depths than 15 feet, but exist to the eastward, scattered
either in small groups or singly, as far as the channel into the Nansemond River. Inshore from
the main beds are a pumber of small rocks and groups of oysters. From the character of the
bottom on the Nansemond Ridge, it is inferred that there is a deposit of sediment accumulating
on those beds, and from which Cruiser’s Rock is free. The fact is that the position of the Naseway
Shoals is such that they protect the upper portion of the ridge (Cruiser’s Rock), while nothing
interferes with the lower and middle portions, and the current out of the Nansemond River sup-
ports the inference. In addition there is a strong tide up along the Nansemond Ridge which
would probably cause a deposit of any matter held in suspension. I was informed that these last-
named beds were less exposed to the grounding of ice and its subsequent piling than any in the
river. Attached to the oysters taken from the Nansemond Ridge was a variety of sponge, red in
color, that was subsequently found on the Craney Island flats, and in large quantities in Tangier
and Pocomoke Sounds. It is not often found where there is much mud or sand on the bottom,
or where the oysters are scattered singly, and its presence is a good indication of a solid ‘ rock,”
though its absence is not conclusive as to the non-existence of the same.

Between the Nansemond River and the channel into the Elizabeth River, and along Craney
Island flats, are numerous small beds of unimportant area. They extend from the one-fathom
curve out to about 23 fathoms, growing in ridges and groups with wide spaces of mud between
them. The oysters found were single and larger than any in the James River. There was also
more red and gray sponge clinging to them than had been noticed before. The bottom was gener-
ally of mud and shells on the surface with, in the vicinity of the Elizabeth River, a hard stratum
of sand and shells underneath, and in the vicinity of the Nansemond a substratum of mud None
of the beds are important and are only fished for the local market. The practice of depositing on
the Craney Island flats the matter dredged out of the Elizabeth River and Norfolk Harbor is
gradually destroying the beds inshore, an | especially those near Craney Island.

THE FISHERY AND ITS EFFECTS.

The oysters are removed from the beds in the Janes River with the tongs alone, no dredging
being permitted, and this may accou it to some extent for the beds being made up of patches and
ridges of oysters. This formation is only advantageous in so much as if assists the rapidity of
the current, and in all other respects if is anevil. Beds such as Cruiser’s Rock, Nansemond Ridge,
and Point of Shoals, where the oysters in places are too thick, would be much improved by using
a light scrape or dredge instead of the tongs in the fishery. If used with moderation, the surface
of the bed would be cleaned, its area extended, the animals would be more evenly distributed and
allowed more room for development, and the spat, having ala-ger and cleaner amount of “cultch”
exposed, would probably attach in greater numbers. As, however, without stringent laws, rigidly
executed, it would be impossible to keep the dredging within proper limits, and as there is but
little prospect of such a thing occurring it is perhaps better, on the whole, that dredging is pro-
hibited. The mud surrounding the beds is of too soft a character to permit any great extension of
the present area, and thus one of the principal advantages of using the dredge would be lost
while allits evils would be retained. Even as it is, the fishery is carried to excess, and all the beds,
especially those in the neighborhood of Hampton Roads, are deteriorating.

TANGIER AND POCOMOKE SOUNDS.

The charts showing the oyster beds and limits of oysters in these sounds have been construeted
from the data collected during the progress of the work.

Ouly the natural beds are shown on them, and no attempt was made to carry the investigation
beyond the sounds, except in the cases of the Manokin and Big Annemessex Rivers, where the
beds were large enough to make their delineation and study advisable.

The beds have been named from the solid **rocks” which they surround, and are indicated on
the charts by the darker shades. In many cases it was a matter of some difficulty to determine
the outlines of the beds proper, on account of their peculiar formation. It would have given an
erroneous impression to have considered either the solid unbroken portions as the beds, or to have

15

taken the entire area upon which oysters are found, and I have therefore adopted the number of
0.1 oysters to the square yard as the standard by which to determine the outlines, all positions
where the number fell below that standard being excluded from the beds, unless other cireum-
stances have led me to a different decision.

The light shades op the charts show the area occupied by scattered oysters, and, as already
explained, must be considered only approximate. The broken lines show areas where the oysters
are very widely separated. The dark lines have been drawn through those positions where the
number of oysters to the square yard was above the average.

In designating the oysters, the term “young growth” has been applied to the small oysters
that were evidently but one year or one and a half years old. The term “young” has been applied
to small oysters of the last brood that were found clinging to the mature oysters and old shells,
and were, on an average, about one-ha!f or three quarters of an inch in length, or under.

Tangier Sound extends north and south, in round numbers, 36 miles, from Watts’ Island to
the head of Fishing Bay, and each side of the channel for 32 miles is lined with oyster beds of
greater or less extent. These beds are continued, though the oysters are generally scattered,
through Kedge’s, Hooper’s, and Holland Straits, and on the shoal between Smith’s and Tangier
Islands. On each side of the channels into the Nanticoke, Manokin, and Big Annemessex Rivers,
beds are found, and to a less extent in the Wicomico and Little Annemessex Rivers.

By reference to the chart it will be seen that the only parts of the sound unoccupied by oysters
are a short Space, one mile in length, off Deil’s Island, a space of two miles north of Jane’s Island
Light and between the Big and Little Annemessex Rivers, and a stretch of 24 miles on the western
side of the sound off Reach Hammock and the northern part of Tangier Island.

With these exceptions, the oysters are to all intents continuous, and the total area covered by
them amounts to 69.12 square nautical miles.

eThe area of the beds proper, or that part of the total area on which the number of oysters to
the square yard was at least 0.1, is 17.97 square nautical miles.

Whenever the names of the beds could be ascertained they have been given to them, but in
some cases they could not be, and [ have included them under general heads.

Taking them from the head of Fishing Bay in regular order, they are twenty-eight in number.

FISHING BAY BEDS.

Under this head I have included all the beds lying in Fishing Bay, north of Clay Island Light-
House, as they are subjected to similar influences of current, bottom, water, and temperature, and
present similar characteristics. Most of the beds are of small extent, and many have special names;
but the printing of the latter would encumber the chart, and consequently they have been omitted.
Almost the entire bay, as far as Fishing Point, may be considered an oyster bed, oysters existing,
though very irregularly distributed in groups of greater or less extent, over the whole area, except
in the channel and close inshore. The groups, or “rocks,” are represented on the chart by the
dark shades, and are forty-three in number, comprising a total area of 3,600,000 square yards.
The remainder of the space, 25,605,000 square yards, is occupied by small groups and patches of
oysters, separated by large mud areas.

. The beds or “‘rocks” become smaller as the head of the bay is approached; they grow about
any marked shoal, and all are somewhat broken by small mud sloughs, especially about the edges.
The center of each “rock,” and noticeably on those in the middle and wider part of the bay, are
comparatively solid, and about such places the oysters were found in greater numbers than near
the mud sloughs and channel. In the northern part of the bay the depth of water over the beds
is from 4 to 10 feet; over the southern part from 8 to 12 feet; the general depth, except in the
channel, is about 11 feet.

The bottom in the northern part of the bay is hard, of shell mixed with mud, the stratum
being from 4 to 6 feet thick, over a stratum of sand on clay. The bottoin surrounding the beds
was of mud. Soft, sandy bottoms were found along the shores, especially about Fishing Point
and about the mouths of creeks. On the western, northern, and northeastern shores, marked
‘Planting Grounds” on the chart, the bottom was of clay with a light covering of mud on the
surface. On the southern beds the bottom is a stratum of oysters and shells mixed with mud, 1

16

to 3 feet in thickness, over a stratum of mud, except in the southwestern part and on a small rock
on the eastern side of the channel, near Cliy Island Light-House, where the substratum is of sand.
The rocks are surrounded, like those to the northward, by soft muddy bottoms, except in the case
of those in the southwestern part of the bay, where the surrounding bottom is of sand; those beds
having sand as a substratum were less broken than the others. In the channel the bottom was
invariably of soft, dark mud. ’

On the northern beds of the bay the oysters were single and of small size, with many of recent
growth and probably about one year old. No sponges and but few of the usual mollusean inhab-
itants of an oyster bed were discovered. On the extreme northern beds above Fishing Point, where
the water is shoal, the beds old and much worked, the oysters are scarce, but on the other beds a
very fair number were found. They were round and thin shelled and gave promise of developing
into those of good quality, but the majority were too young at the time of our observations to be
removed from the beds.

On the southern beds the oysters were larger and of a better quality than those to the north-
ward, though the young growth still predominated. Some clusters were found, but generally the
oysters were single and more plentiful than in the northern part of the bay, but the same sparse-
ness of the fauna was noticed. In the southern portions, where the bottom is sandy, a moderate
number of young and many astyris were discovered, and in the same part of the bay many oysters
were found buried in the sand 3 or 4 inches. I was not able to ascertain whether that was their
normal condition or not, but am inclined to think the sand was moved over them by a gale which
oceurred during the day previous to our examination.

A remarkable absence of young of less than a year’s growth, and nearly a total absence of the
drill, seem peculiar to the Fishing Bay beds.

Were Point Bed.—South of the Fishing Bay beds and north of Hooper’s Strait Channel lies the
Were Point Bed, comprising an area of 1,845,000 square yards. It is divided about the middle by
a narrow strip of sand and mud into two irregularly-shaped portions, the upper one of which is
similar in character to the Fishing Bay beds, though more broken. On both portions the oyste s
grow in groups and patches, separated by mud and sand sloughs, the separation being more marked
about the edges of the bed. Oysters are found over the entire surface, but are not evenly distrib-
uted, the largest number on the southern portion being found along its northern and eastern
border. The depth of water is from 9 to 15 feet, the general depth being about 11 feet. The
bottom is of oysters and shells mixed with sand and mud, for about 2 feet, with a substratum of
soft sand or mud. Where the groups occur the shell stratum is very thick, but is thin over and
about the mud and sand spaces. Along the dark line on the chart, indicating the largest number
to the square yard, the bottom is harder than elsewhere. The muddy bottoms were found prinei-
pally on the eastern and southern portions of the bed, and the bed is bounded in those directions
by bottoms of a similar character, while to the westward the contiguous bottom is of sand. The
oysters were single, of moderate size and fair quality; very few young and no drills were found,
either on the muddy or sandy bottoms; there was no sponge or grass among the oysters, and
young growth of at least one year predominated. The scattered oysters near the bed were similar
to those on it, though a few small clusters were found to the westward. i

The number of oysters to the square yard, as given by the mean of fourteen measurements, is
1.25. On account of the shoaluess of the water and softness of the bottom, the number is more
nearly correct than usual, but it must be remembered that in this, and in all other cases, where the
number to the square yard is given, that number only expresses ‘ marketable” oysters, and does
not include those which would not be accepted by a dredger, or which on account of want of age
are practically incapable of reproduction.

Shark’s Fin Bed.—Directly south of the Were Point Bed on the western side of the main channel
and south of Hooper’s Strait Channel, lies a bed of moderate size, but celebrated for the quality
of its oysters, called the Shark’s Fin Rock. It is regular in shape, extending ESE. and WNW.
about one mile, and being about one-half mile broad. Its area is about 1,867,000 square yards
Practically, it joins the Were Point Bed at the southern extremity of the latter, the space separating
the beds being very small. In the course of time through the action of natural causes and the
dredges this space will be obliterated and the union of the beds made complete.

1 hy tt

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17

The Shark’s Fin is a more compact bed than its neighbor, though about the edges, especially
those bordering on the main channel, the oysters exist in groups, as on the beds already described.
The animals are spread over the entire area. but are found in larger numbers about the central and
more solid portions of the bed, and are scattered more and more widely as the borders are
approached. The southern limit is not very well defined, scattered oysters extending farther in
that direction than in the others. The depth of water is from 8 to 15 feet, the general depth being
about 12 feet. The bottom is hard, consisting of oysters and shells with mud and sand for about
3 feet, and then astratum of soft sand or mud. On the western part of the bed the shell stratum is
much thinner and the substratum is hard sand. East of the bed the bottom, being that of the
main channel, is of mud, and to the westward and southward of sand, soft near the bed, but
growing harder as the distance from the bed increases.

The oysters were single, of a moderate size and fine quality. Very few young and no drills or
other enemies were discovered, but the young growth of less than a year were found in large
numbers, and also a little of the red sponge on the northern part of the bed. The scattered oysters
were similar in character to those on the bed, though a larger proportion of young growth was
found to the southward, and the same absence of “young” and drills was noticed both on muddy
and sandy bottoms. On the bed the number of oysters to the square yard was 1.01. The number
to the square yard on the area covered by scattered oysters west of the bed was 0.04, east 0.03,
and south 0.03.

Nanticoke Middle Ground Bed.—On the middle ground between the channels into the Nanti-
coke and Wicomico Rivers there is a large bed of an area of 3,195,000 square yards, called the
‘Middle Ground Rock.” It extends along the channel into the Nanticoke about 24 miles, and its
greatest breadth is three-quarters of a mile. The bed is broken in many places, as will be seen on
the chart, where only the larger divisions are shown, and the oysters grow in groups and patches
of different areas with mud sloughs separating and intersecting them in all directions. The
whole bed is broken up in this manner, but isis less noticeable on the northern and soutbern
portions than on the central. The depth of water is from 8 to 21 feet, the deeper water being
found along the western edge of the bed, where it borders on the channel, but, as the shoal
rises abruptly, the parts of the bed covered by deep water are of small extent, and the general
depth may be considered as about 11 feet. The bed is clearly defined by the channel of the
Nanticoke on the west and the sands on the east. The bottom is a thin layer of mud over a
stratum of shells and oysters from one-half foot to 5 feet in thickness. About the middle and
western portions of the bed the substratum was soft mud, while on the northern, eastern, and
southern portions hard sand was found underneath the shell stratum. The bottom on the
central part of the bed in many places appeared to consist of alternate strata of shells and mud
and on the northern and southern parts the general character of the bottom: was much harder
than on the central portion. To the northward and eastward of the bed the bottom was of
hard sand or fine gravel, and probably the lowest stratum of the bed bottom, could it be
reached, would be found of similar nature. South and west of the bed and in the channels the
bottom is soft mud. Only a few oysters were found iu the channel into the Wicomico, and none,
in that into the Nanticoke.

The oysters were generally of an inferior quality and small size, and grew singly and in small
clusters, though the number of the former was comparatively small. No young were found, but
many young growth, probably about one year old, and no sponge, grass, or drills. Along the edge
of the Nanticoke Channel the shells were blackened, probably by the mud. On the west side of
the Nanticoke Channel, north and east of the one-fathom sand shoal, there are a few small beds,
comprising a total area of 270,000 square yards. The depth of water over them is from 4 to 8 feet,
and they are unbroken but separated from each other by spaces of mud or sand. Over these
spaces the depth of water increases. The bottom is a stratum of shells, about one foot in thick-
ness, over a stratum of sand and clay. A light covering of mud lies on top of the shells. The
oysters were single, with many of a young growth. Many shells, but no young or drills, were
found. West of these beds and southeast of Clay Island light the oysters are very thinly scat-
tered, in small groups or singly. The three-fathom curve approximately defines their limit to the

App. 11 3

18

southward and westward, and the one-fathom curve the northern limit. The bottom is of mud or
sand, the latter being found inshore.

Clump Point Rocks.—These are small beds lying on each side of the channel into the Wicomico
River and between Long and Clump Points. They are of small area, comprising collectively but
382,500 square yards, and lie in from 5 to 10 feet of water; they are separated from each other by
the muddy bottoms of the channel or sloughs. All the rocks are broken in many places, the
oyster groups separated by spaces of mud and sand, the latter species of bottom being found
principally near Long Point. On the rocks the bottom is of shells and mud, with a substratum
of mud. Very few oysters were found on the bottoms surrounding the rocks, and those discovered
grew in small groups, the number and size of which decreased very much to the eastward of Long
Point. The oysters were very scarce and resembled those of the Nanticoke Middle Ground in
general character, though a larger number of single ones were found than on that bed.

Horsey’s Bar and Tyler’s Rock.—These are comparatively small beds, lying on the southern side
of the Nanticoke Channel, southwest of the Middle Ground and north of Haine’s Point. The first
bed extends north and south three-eighths of a mile and east and west one-eighth of a mile. Its
area is 202,500 square yards. The second bed lies southwest of Horsey’s Bar, and is one-half
mile in length and breadth, and comprises an area of 675,000 square yards. Both beds are
unbroken, except about the edges, and on the major portion of each bed the oysters are evenly
distributed. Along the northern and southern boundaries, where the beds border on the channels,
the oysters are found in groups, separated by mud sloughs. The depth of water over Horsey’s
Bar is 12 feet, over Tyler’s Rock from 14 to 16 feet. The bottom consists of a stratum of shells
from 1 to 2 feet in thickness, on a stratum of hard sand; on top of the shells was a light layer of
mud. The oysters were small, single, and of poor aati and those of one year’s growth pre-
dominated. No young, drills, sponges, or grass were found on the beds.

Drumming Shoal Bed.—This bed lies on and about the shoal off Haine’s Point, ae which it
derives its name. It is one mile and three-quarters long and three-eighths of a mile wide, and
extends in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction along the eastern edge of the main channel
of the sound. Its area is 2,430,000 square yards. The bed is unbroken, the central and southern
portions being remarkably hard and solid. About the edges, as with the other beds, it is inter-
sected by mud sloughs, and the oysters grow in the usual groups and detached patches, but gen-
erally they are evenly distributed, a slight difference existing in favor of the shoaler and central
part of the bed lying on the Drumming Shoal.

The depth of water is from 10 to 20 feet, the deeper water being found on the northern part
and along the western border. The major portion of the bed has but 11 feet over it. On nearly
the whole bed the bottom consists of a stratum of shells with a light covering of mud over a
stratum of hard sand. On the extreme northern part the substratum was mud, and the surface
stratum of shells not so thick as elsewhere. The oysters were single and in small clusters; a
moderate number of shells and a little of the red sponge was found. Inside of Drumming Shoal
is a small bed called Haine’s Point Rock, which has been included in the description and area
given for the Drumming Shoal Bed, with which it is closely connected.

Cedar Rock.—This bed lies about one-half mile south of the Drumming Shoal and comprises
an area of 337,500 square yards. The depth of water over it is from 12 to 17 feet and in all
respects it is similar in character to the Drumming Shoal Bed.

On the western side of the sound, along the edge of the channel, the beds are nearly continu-
ous from the Shark’s Fin to the Terrapin Sands, a distance of about 11 miles. This space was
originally divided into three portions, each locality having a particular designation, but at present
it is difficult to define their limits, the spaces separating the beds having gradually diminished
until they practically have ceased to exist. The dark lines on the chart indicate the positions
where the largest numbers of oysters are found, and will show approximately the situation of the
original unbroken “rock” from which the locality derives its name. The oysters taken from this
region are known in the market as ‘‘Grass Tangiers” and have a good reputation, both for size
and flavor.

The Cow and Calf Beds.—These are two small beds lying on the edge of the channel and south
of the Shark’s Fin. This area is 292,500 square yards. The smaller bed, called the Calf, has from

4

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9 to 16 feet of water over it; and the larger bed, the Cow, has from 9 to 11 feet. The beds consist
of large groups of oysters separated by mud sloughs; the “rock” itself is a very hard and thick
stratum of oysters and shells, into which we could not force the probe more than 24 feet. The
oysters were small, with about two-thirds of young growth; neither young nor drills were found.
The number of oysters to the square yard was 1.51, which is probably more nearly correct than
usual, the hauls of the dredge being made under exceptionally favorable circumstances.

On the western side of the channel and Sound and due east of the southern part of Bloods-
worth Island is a large bed, the name of which we were unable to ascertain. It is two miles long,
extends north and south, and is from two-eighths to five-eighths of a mile wide. Its area is
4,027,000 square yards. The eastern part of the bed is unbroken, but the western portion and the
extreme eastern border are cut up by mud sloughs, which separate the oysters and leave them in
groups of different sizes. Along the eastern part, almost immediately after striking the bed, we
discovered a shoal ridge about 200 yards wide, which was unbroken and had a depth of water over
it of 10 or 11 feet. To the westward of this ridge the water deepened quickly 3 or 4 feet, but the
general depth of water over the bed is from 10 to 14 feet. The oysters are distributed over the
entire area, but unevenly, the largest number being found on the central and southern portions
of the bed. The bottom was found to be generally a stratum of shells, oysters, and mud, of about
one foot in thickness, over a stratum of mud. Along the shoal ridge oysters and shells were found
as far as the probe could penetrate. To the westward of the bed the bottom is soft sand.or mud,
the sand predominating and becoming harder as the shores of the island are approached. To the
eastward the bottom is soft mud. The oysters were single and of moderate size. Large numbers
of young growth, but neither young nor drills, were discovered. <A little red sponge was found on
the eastern edge of the bed. To the southward of the bed the oysters were larger, but not so many
of recent growth were found, while to the westward the scattered oysters presented similar char-
acteristics to those on the bed, and the same absence of young and drills was also noticed. The
number of oysters to the square yard, the mean of ten observations, was 1.06.

Turtle Egg Island Bed.—This bed is situated on the western side of the channel, off the small
island from which it derives its name. It is irregular in shape, extending along the edge of the
channel ina NNE. and SSW. direction about 14 miles, and is from one-quarter to one-half mile
broad. Its area is 1,620,000 square yards. The bed is unbroken about the center, but narrow mud
sloughs intersect the northern, eastern, and southern portions; to the westward the oysters are
scattered; on the eastern border of the bed they are more numerous than elsewhere. The depth
of water over the bed is from 10 to 23 feet. A ridge similar to the one on the bed immediately to
the southward was found along the eastern edge with a depth of water over it of about 12 feet;
to the westward of the ridge 14 and 16 feet were found, and to the eastward much deeper water.
The surface stratum of the bottom generally consisted of shells and oysters mixed with mud or
sand; on the eastern portion of the bed the substratum was mud, while on the western and north-
ern portions it was sand. East of the bed the bottom was soft ud; west of it soft sand on top
of hard sand. The oysters were single, a few of large, but most of moderate size, of good quality,
and many of recent growth. Neither young nor drills were found. A little red sponge was brought
by the dredge on the SE. border, and a good deal of grass was found on the sands to the southward
and westward of the bed. Very few oysters were found to the westward. Last of the bed, on
the small rock in deep water, many young growth, but no young, were discovered. The number
of oysters to the square yard on the bed, as given by the mean of thirteen observations, was 0.38.
On the small rock referred to above, the number to the square yard was 1.30.

Mud Rock.—This bed lies on the western side of the channel, south of the Turtle Egg Island
Bed, and east of South Marsh Island. It extends north and south about 14 miles, and is from one-
quarter to one-half mile broad. Its area is 1,845,000 square yards. The bottom is very irregular,
the depth of water being from 12. to 34 feet. The ridge along the edge of the channel was not as
prominent as on the two beds previously described. The bed is broken in many places by mud
sloughs, and about the eastern portion especially, where the oysters are in groups and patches.
In the vicinity of the line showing where the largest number of oysters exist, the bed is more solid
and the bottom harder than elsewhere. As this line crosses the bed three times, and from other
circumstances, it is concluded that the distribution of the oysters is irregular, and the conclusion

20

is supported by the evidence of the sounding pole and probe. East of the northern part of the
bed, in the channel, are two small shoals with 12 feet of water on them. On and around them
small oyster beds have formed, and between the shoals and the main bed oysters are found seat-
tered in groups in water as deep as 8 fathoms. On. the main bed the bottom is a thin stratum of
oysters and shells resting on mud or sand. East of the bed soft blue mud was found, and to the
westward mud, shells, and sand. The oysters were large, single, and in small clusters, and of good
quality; the largest oysters were found on the soft muddy bottoms; the number of young growth
was smaller than on the beds previously described, while the number of young was larger; a few
drills were found about the edges of the bed and a moderate amount of red sponge. On the small
beds in the channel the oysters were principally of recent growth. East of those beds a good deal
of grass was found, and also in the deep water between the shoals and main bed.

Chain Shoal Bed.—This bed lies on the eastern side of the channel, abreast the Lower Thor-
oughfare and Little Island. It extends north and south 14 miles, is from one-eighth to three-eighths
of a mile wide, and comprises an area of 1,192,000 square yards. It is unbroken, except about its
western border, where the oysters are found in groups; to the eastward the sands, on which are
seattered a few single oysters, clearly define the limit of the bed in that direction. The bottom is
irregular, the depth of water being from 12 to 19 feet, and the upper stratum consisted of shells,
oysters, and mud; the substratum was of hard sand. The surface stratum was from 1 foot to 4
feet thick, and, with a diminished amount of sand, increased in thickness on the southern part of
the bed. The surrounding bottoms are of sand, though on the western side the mud of the chan
nel approaches the bed closely. The oysters were of moderate size and fair quality. The mature
oysters were single; those of recent growth, a large number of which were found, were single
and in clusters, the latter predominating. Very few young were discovered, and very few drills
(astyris); the latter. were located principally on the southern -part of the bed. A large amount of
red and gray sponge was found on all parts of the bed. The oysters.on the contiguous bottoms
were similar to those described on the bed.

The Muscle Hole Bed.—This bed lies on the western side of the channel, south of the Mud
Rock. It extends north and south about 3 miles, is from one-half to one-quarter of a mile wide,
and comprises an area of 3,060,000 square yards. It is very irregular in shape, and at about two-
thirds of its length to the southward it is cut in two by a mud slough. The depth of water is
from 12 to 34 feet, and the bottom very irregular, especially about the northern portion, which is
cut up into shoals of shells and oysters separated and intersected by narrow mud sloughs, over
which the oysters are thinly spread. About the central portion the middle of the bed is compara-
tively solid, but the eastern and western portions are similar to the northern. The southern part
is also broken up considerably, but the bottom is not as irregular as elsewhere. The bottom con-
sists of a stratum of oysters and shells mixed with mud and sand, from one-half foot to 2 feet in
thickness, resting on a stratum of hard sand. The shell stratum was thicker along the western
part of the bed, where the dark line is drawn on the chart, and decreased in thickness as the
eastern edge was approached, where it was hardly observable, and where a substratum of mud
was frequently found. East of the bed the bottom is soft mud; to the westward soft sand or
sticky mud, with usually a hard substratum. he mature oysters were large and single and of
good quality. A very large proportion of young growth was noticed, at least one-half the oysters
being of that description. A large number of young, but few drills (astyris), were found on the
hard bottoms of the central part of the northern portion. On the central and southern portions of
the bed the number both of young and drills decreased, while they increased greatly ou the west-
ern portion. A large amount of red sponge was found, and in greater quantities about the edges
of the bed, especially the western, than elsewhere, but its presence appeared to have no effect
upon the young or drills. Kast of the bed the oysters were of the same general character as those
on it; the same proportion of young growth was also noticed, but there was almost an entire
absence of young and drills. To the westward, as a rule, the oysters were somewhat larger than
those on the bed, but as many young growth were present as elsewhere. The number of young and
drills was, however, much diminished, as was also the amount of red sponge. The namber of oysters
to the square yard, the mean of thirty-six observations, was 0.70. The number to the square yard
on the area occupied by scattered oysters, the mean of seventeen observations, was 0.07.

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21

Piney Island Bar.—This bed lies south of Little Island, on the eastern side of the channel and
on the western side of the shoal lying between the main channel of the Sound and the channel into
the Manokin River. It extends NNW. and SSE. 3 miles, and its greatest breadth, which is near
its southern extremity, is about one mile. The bed gradually diminishes in size to the northward,
and at that extremity is but one-eighth of a mile wide. Its area is 6,975,000 square yards, and it
is unbroken, with the exception of a few sand spaces in the southern portion and a smaller number
of mud areas in the northern. About the extreme western border the oysters are in detached
groups, with mud sloughs between them, and to the eastward and southward the oysters are more
widely scattered and scarce, until they reach the sands or soft muddy bottoms of the channel, when
they entirely disappear. The depth of water is from 12 to 36 feet, and, generally speaking, the
deeper water will be found on the western and the shoaler on the eastern parts of the bed; there
are several holes and sloughs, however, about the middle of the bed. The oysters are not very
evenly distributed, as will be seen by the lines on the chart, which indicate the positions of the
greatest number, and in the vicinity of the sand and mud areas a smaller number of oysters were
found than elsewhere. The bottom is hard, except about the extreme western edge, in deep water,
and about the mud holes and sloughs situated in the northern portion. Owing to the depth of
water the observations of the character of the bottom were not as numerous as on other beds, but
those that were made showed the existence of a stratum of shells and oysters of from one-half foot
to 4 feet in thickness, and mixed with mud and sand, over a stratum of hard or soft sand, the
former predominating. West and south of the bed the bottom is mud or sticky sand, the latter
being found more frequently to the southward than westward. To the eastward the bottom is
hard sand. The oysters were single, of moderate size and ordinary quality. <A very large propor-
tion—fully one-half—were young growth. Few drills and not many young were found, and both
young and drills were in greatest numbers about the extreme southern part, and in least numbers
about the northern. A moderate amount of red and gray sponge was found on all parts of the
bed, and some of the sponge on the sandy bottoms south of it; where the young oysters were in
greatest numbers the amount of sponge was least. West of the bed very few oysters were found,
the “rock” rising abruptly from the channel. South and east of the bed the oysters were scarce,
and the amount of sponge and grass much increased. The number of oysters to the square yard,
the mean of forty-nine observations, was 0.69. The number to the square yard on the area occupied
by the scattered oysters was 0.04.

Beds of the Manokin River.—These beds lie on each side of the channel of the Manokin River
and extend about 4$ miles from its mouth. The investigation extended as far as Saint Pierre
Island, above which point only a few small “rocks,” of inconsiderable area, were found. The beds
are fifteen in number and comprise a total area of 6,142,000 square yards. Generally speaking, the
larger beds are on the northern side of the channel. By reference to the chart it will be seen that
beds of more or less area are distributed over the entire river bottom, being separated and inter-
sected by numerous mud sloughs. The character of the individual beds is similar, each being cut
up by mud sloughs and divided into small groups and areas of oysters, thus on a small scale repro-
ducing the whole river bottom. The depth of water is from 8 and 10 feet on the upper beds to 27
feet on those off Hazzard’s Point. In the channel the depth is 25 and 30 feet off Hazzard’s Point,
shoaling gradually"to Saint Pierre Island, where there is about 13 feet, though there are many
deep holes and sloughs where the depth exceeds the average. On the beds the bottom is very
irregular, and the change from shoal to deep water sudden and frequent. Generally a thick
stratum of oysters and shells were found on the shoals, and where the water deepened a large
ainount of mud. The oysters appear to be in larger numbers on the beds about the mouth of the
river than elsewhere, are very thinly scattered in groups in the channel, and on the extreme
upper beds are very scarce. The bottom consists of a stratum of shells and oysters, from one-half
fovt to 2 feet in thickness. On the northern side of the channel, near the sands, a stratum of hard
sand is found directly underneath the shells, but nearer the channel and on its southern side there
is an intervening stratum of mud from 1 to 4 feet thick. On the greater part of the beds the
oysters and shells are mixed with mud, but in the extreme southwestern portion soft sand is found
instead. Many of the beds in the upper part of the river are covered by a stratum of mud about
1 foot thick, and near the southwestern border the oysiers and shells were covered by 3 to 6 inches

22

of sand. In running lines across the river a similarity was frequently noticed in the character of
the succeeding surface strata to those of the bottom, as shown by the probe. For instance, in the
channel soft mud was found; proceeding inshore a surface of shells and mud, then one of mud or
soft sand, and, finally, hard sand was encountered; the bottom on the major portion of the bed is
built of similar strata, arranged in reverse order, the hard sand being the lowest. The oysters in
the upper part of the river were single and in small clusters; most were young growth, and all
were of inferior quality. But few young and few drills were found, and no sponge or grass. On
the southern beds the animals increased in size and numbers and improved in quality; a large
proportion of young growth was still present, and a larger number of young and drills; a small
amount of sponge and grass was found. The scattered oysters in the channel and on the sands
were of the same character as those on the beds, but no young, drills, or sponge were discovered.

On the extensive sand shoal south of Piney Island there are no oysters, but much sponge and
grass.

The observations for ascertaining the number to the square yard were made only on the
southern beds, and consequently must not be considered as giving a just average for the whole
area, On the beds, the number to the square yard, the mean of twenty-five observations, was 0.90;

e

on the area occupied by scattered oysters, 0.13.
BEDS OF “l'HE BIG ANNEMESSEX RIVER.

In this river and about its mouth, and on both sides of the channel, are ten beds. The largest
are the western ones, situated off Flat Cap Point, and from thence to the eastward the beds
gradually decrease in size. They comprise a total area of 2,835,000 square yards.

Though the beds are distributed over the river bottom in a manner similar to those in the
Manokin, there is little or no similarity in other respects, except between the western parts of the
beds in the mouth of the river and where those farther to the eastward are in proximity to muddy
bottoms. In these cases the beds are broken up by sloughs and the oysters piled up about the
shoal spots much in the same manner as in the Manokin. The beds in the mouth of the river,
especially where they come in contact with muddy bottoms, are also broken by sloughs and the
oysters separated into groups. Most of the beds, including nearly all in the river, are compara-
tively unbroken. They are surrounded by sandy bottoms, and, except near the channel where
there is mud, such few sloughs as run into them are of sand.

The western beds have from 16 to 33 feet of water over them, and the eastern beds from 7 to
13 feet. Generally speaking, the depth of water may be considered as about 14 feet. The bottom
consists of a stratu_n, about 6 inches thick, of oysters, shells, and soft sand or mud over a stratum
of hard sand. Tle surrounding bottoms consist of strata of soft sand on hard sand, except in the
channel where the surface stratum is mud. More mud on the surface was found on the western
beds than the eastern, The oysters were small, single, and in small clusters, of poor quality, and
with few young, and no drills (astyris). A small amount of sponge was found, and the oysters
taken in the vicinity of the mud sloughs had blackened shells. The number of oysters to the
square yard on the western beds, the mean of seven observations, was 0.56.

Harris Bed.—This is a large bed lying off Flat Cap Point, on the eastern side of the main
channel of the Sound, and across the channel into the Big Annemessex River. It extends north
and south 24 miles, and its greatest width is a little more than one mile. Its area is 3,420,000
square yards. The bed is broken in many places, and is separated into four distinct portions by
broad spaces of sand that intersect it. All of these portions are more or less cut up by mud or
sand sloughs, and especially the middle and larger portion, which contains within its limits several
large areas that are occupied by scattered oysters only. The northern portion of the bed is broken
by many mud sloughs, and the oysters grow in patches of small area. The other portions are as
represented on the chart, the groups of oysters being large and comparatively solid, and the
separating sand spaces of more considerable area than where they were of mud. As will be seen
by referring to the dark lines on the chart, the oysters are not evenly distributed, but they are
found in larger or smaller numbers on the entire area. The bottom is irregular in contour, as will
be noticed by reference to the depths of water piotted on the charts. On the northern portion the

No.5l Coast and Geodetic Survey Report for 788)
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23

depth is from 17 to 33 feet, on the central portion from 16 to 24 feet, and on the southern portion
19 to 28 feet. On account of the depth of water over the bed, only a few observations of the
character of the bottom could be made, but a sufficient number were obtained to show that it
consisted, generally, of a stratum of shells, oysters, and sand, of about 2 feet in thickness, over a
stratum of soft sand. The bottom of the northern portion and in the Annemessex Channel was
softer, and mud was found on the surface in the place of sand. Except on its northern border, the
bed is surrounded by sandy bottoms, though the mud of the channel is not far distant from the
western edge of the bed. The oysters were of all sizes and qualities; those on the northern
portion were in small clusters and of small size. A few young and a few drills, with a moderate
amount of sponge, were found. On the eastern part of the bed the oysters were single, large, and
of good quality. Very few young, but few drills, and a moderate amount of sponge and grass
were found. On the central parts of the bed the oysters were of moderate size and fair quality.
About the middle of the larger portion were an immense number of “young” and a moderate
number of drills. Many of the young were injured by the dredge and a large number by drills.
A good deal of red, gray, and white sponge was found, but its presence did not apparently
influence the number of voung on the extreme southern part of the bed, though an unusually
large amount of grass and sponge was discovered, and a few drills, yet the nnmber of young was
also large. On the western portion of the bed fewer oysters were found, and a smaller number of
young and drills. There was no increase of sponge or grass. ‘The scattered oysters east of the
bed were large, single, and in small clusters, with a moderate amount of sponge and grass, a few
young, and a few drills. To the westward very few oysters were found, but a good many shells
and red and gray sponge were brought up by the dredge. It will be noticed that the “strike” or
“set” of “young” on this bed was confined to the center of the largest portion, and that very few
“young growth” were found on or about the bed, though they were in large numbers a few miles
to the northward in the Manokin River. The number of oysters to the square yard, the mean of
forty observations, was 0.28. The number on the area occupied by scattered oysters, the mean of
twenty observations, was 0.06.

Terrapin Sands Bed.—This is a long narrow bed lying on the shoal from which it derives its
name. It is on the western side of the channel, south of the Muscle Hole Bed and Hedge’s Strait
and opposite Harris’ Bed. It extends northwest and southeast 34 miles, and is, on an average, from
one-tenth to one-quarter mile wide. It comprises an area of 1,417,000 square yards. It is divided
by spaces of mud and sand occupied by scattered oysters into four distinct portions, the southern
one of which is separated from the main bed by a sand space of one-half mile. The northern por-
tion is similar in character to the southern part of the Muscle Hole Bed, the oysters growing in
groups and patches, separated by soft bottoms. The remainder of the bed is less broken than any
in the Sound, being entirely free from mud and sand sloughs, except about the borders. The
oysters are distributed over the entire area, but are in larger pumbers on the main and central
portion and in smaller numbers on the northern portion than elsewhere. The bottom is irregular,
the depth of water ranging froin 12 to 23 feet. On the narrow part of the bed the shoal ridge along
the eastern edge is very prominent. Except on the extreme northern portion, the bottom is very
hard, consisting of shells for over 3 feet, which was as far as the probe could penetrate. An incon-
siderable amount of sand and mud was found on the surface. On the northern portion the bottom
is softer and the shell stratum thinner; mud sloughs are frequent, but where the groups of oysters
were found the substratum was hard. The surrounding bottoms were—to the eastward mud and
to the westward principally sand, though many mud holes and sloughs exist, especially on those
parts contiguous to the bed. In this direction the oysters are scattered in groups and patches as
well as singly, and the muddy bottoms were usually found in the vicinity of those groups. Between
this bed and the Muscle Hole Bed the bottom is soft mud, and between the bed and Paul’s Bed to
the southward the bottom is hard sand.

The mature oysters were large, of good quality, and single; only.a few clusters were found.
On the northern portion were very few young, young growth, or drills, but a moderate amount of
red and gray sponge. On the central portion, about one-third of the oysters were young growth,
and a very fair number of young, with a few drills (astyr7s), aud a small amount of red sponge were
found.

24

No oysters were found on the soft bottoms east of the beds. Those scattered to the westward
were large and of good quality. Very few young and fewer drills were found; where the groups
were encountered in a few cases, amoderate number of the oysters were “young growth,” but gener-
ally there was a marked absence of that class. Sponges were found on the sand in moderate
quantity. The number of oysters to the square yard, the mean of fourteen observations, was 0.27.
The number on the area occupied by scattered oysters, the mean of twelve observations, was 0.03.

Paul’s Bed.—This bed lies on the western side of the channel, opposite the mouth of the Little
Annemessex River. It is south of the Terrapin Sands and north of a bed called the Woman’s
Marsh, with which it is connected. It is similar to the latter bed, being broken in many places by
mud and sand sloughs, and with the oysters growing in groups and patches. Its area is 765,000
square yards. The depth of water over the bed is from 14 to 16 feet. The bottom is generally of
sand, but many mud sloughs were found. No specimens were obtained from this bed, but the
oysters are probably similar to those found on the Woman’s Marsh Bed, which will subsequently
be described.

Between Paul’s Bed and the Terrapin Sands, on the area covered by the broken lines, very few
oysters are found, and on the eastern side of the channel, between Harris’ Bed and the bed oft
Jane’s Island Light-House, none at all, presumably on account of the character of the bottom,
which is soft, shifting sand.

Bed off Jane’s Island Light-House.—TYo the northward of the channel into the Little Anne-
messex River, and to the eastward of the channel of the Sound, there is a bed extending from the
channels to and over the shoal about the light-house off Jane’s Island. It comprises an area of
1,800,000 square yards, and is unbroken except about its southern and western boundaries, where it
joins the channels. The depth of water is trom 17 to 47 feet, the deep water being found on the
western edge and the shoal water in the vicinity of the light-house and shoal extending from it to
the westward. The oysters were unevenly distributed and were in largest numbers about the cen-
tral portion of the bed in 33 and 4 fathoms water. Along the edges of the bed where it is broken the
oysters are scattered in groups and are in smaller numbers. The bottom is hard and of sand and
shells, except near the channels, where some mud was found over the hard stratum. West of the
bed there is soft mud and east of it hard sand. The oysters were single or in clusters of two or
three, the single oyster of moderate size predominating. The young were no more evenly distrib-
uted than the mature oysters, large numbers existing on some parts of the bed, and very few on
others. Those parts farthest from the chaunel appeared to have the largest proportion of young
to mature oysters. A few sponges and some grass were found on the northern part of the bed.

The Great Rock.—On the eastern side of the Sound off Great Fog Island, and south of the
channel into the Little Annemessex River, lies the largest oyster bed in either Tangier or Poco-_
moke Sound. It is called the ‘*Great Rock,” and comprises an area of 8,505,000 square yards. Its
greatest length is 33 miles, and its greatest width, 14 miles. It isirregularin shape, and about two-
thirds of its length to the southward it is divided into two portions. Originally these portions
were widely separated, but, through the action of natural causes and the dredges, each portion has
been extended until where the bottom was hard they have become united, and probably in the
course of tine the union will be more complete. The depth of the water over the bed can be seen
by referring to the chart. The inner limit of the northern and larger bed is approximately indi-
cated by the 3-fathom curve, and as no oysters were found in deeper water than 8 fathoms, the
depth of water over the bed is, therefore, within those limits. Generally speaking, the deepest
water is over the lower part of the larger portion. The inner limit of the smaller portion of the bed
is not as well defined as that of the other, and some of the oysters on this area are found in 2
fathoms of water, and on and about the 2-fathom shoal off Great Fog Island: The muddy bottoms
of the main channel lying in from 5 to 9 fathoms of water define the western limit of the bed, and
a deep mud slough which separates it from the bed off Jane’s Island Light forms the northern
boundary.

The northern and western portions of the bed are somewhat broken, the oysters growing in
groups, which decrease in size and number as the edge of the bed is approached. Similarly towards
the eastern and southern limits the oysters begin to scatter in groups and singly, but the main bed
may be considered solid, only a few mud sloughs and sand spaces of inconsiderable area existing in

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25

the interior. The oysters are distributed over the entire bed, but not evenly, the largest number
being found in the vicinity of the dark line marked on the chart. The bottom is hard, of shells and
_ sand; the oysters on the surface had a small amount of mud with them, the thickness of which
was not uniform, but did not exceed a few inches. As the channel and northern boundary are
approached the bottom becomes softer and more mud is found; on the eastern and southern portions
of the bed the sand increased; north of the bed the bottom is mud, to the eastward and southward,
hard sand, and to the westward, soft mud. On the bed itself the substratum of the bottom is prob-
ably hard sand, but owing to the great depth of water it was impossible definitely to ascertain the
character of the substratum, except in a few isolated cases. The oysters found were single, of
moderate size, and good quality; occasionally small clusters of two or three were discovered.
Many young were found, but they were not evenly distributed, being in larger numbers about the
central portion of the bed and decreasing as the edges were approached. On the southern and
smaller portion the young were comparatively scarce. A moderate number of young had evidently
been destroyed by the dredges, and large numbers were injured by drills; many drills were found
attached to the oysters, and where the bottom was clean the drills were generally in direct pro-
portion to the young, but where the red or gray sponge or grass existed there was a marked
diminution of the number of young and a moderate diminution of the number of astyris. The sponge
and grass were found in considerable quantities about the western and southwestern edges of the
smaller portion, and to a less extent on the main bed. As the bottom became soft or muddy, both
young oysters and astyris disappeared. Though the bed is so large and so favorably situated for
production the oysters are not very plentiful, the number to the square yard, the mean of thirty-six
observations made at different points, being but 0.16. The scattered oysters to the eastward are
much larger and finer than those on the beds. They are singly on the sands, the distances sepa-
rating them being proportional to the distance of the oysters from the main bed. ‘To the south-
ward and eastward the oysters are not so fine, especially those in the latter locality, where they
grow on the edge of the mud, and have discolored shells and an unhealthy appearance. The num-
ber to the square yard, on the area occupied by scattered oysters, was 0.04.

The Woman’s Marsh Bed.—This bed lies on the western side of the Sound, opposite the Great
Rock, and is next to it in size, comprising an area of 6,975,000 square yards. It is irregular in
shape, extends north and south along the edge of the channel for 43 miles, and is a little less than
one-half mile broad. All parts of the bed are broken in many places, and this is especially the
case about the middle portion. Large spaces of sand and smaller ones of mud are frequently met,
and the oysters grow in groups of considerable size, separated by these spaces, except about the
locality of the dark line drawn on the chart, where the bed is nearly unbroken.

The depth of water is from 15 to 22 feet; over the southern and middle parts of the bed the
usual depth was about 19 feet, and on the northern portion about 14 feet was found. Generally
speaking, the deeper water is near the channel, but on the extreme eastern edge of the bed the
water suddenly shoals, usually to 16 or 17 feet, and sometimes to as little as 2 fathoms. Immediately
to the westward the water deepens rapidly. The ridge is very narrow and on or near it the
largest number of oysters were found; hence the dark line on the chart shows, approximately, its
position. The shoal water is found on the western part of the bed, and the deep water over the
soft bottoms and mud sloughs.

The oysters are spread over the entire area, with the largest number along the eastern edge
of the bed, where the bottom is hard, though they are scattered over and about the mud and sand
spaces. The bottom was hard, of shells and sand, except where the mud sloughs occurred, when
the covering of shells was very light, and the mud underneath of considerable thickness. <A little
mud was found on the solid parts of the bed, the amount depending upon the distance from the
channel or interior mud spaces. Very few observations were made of the substratum, but it is
probably of sand, the bottom to the westward being of that description. East of the bed the
bottom was soft mud. ‘The oysters were large and single, occasionally of small clusters and of
very good quality. Many young and many drills were attached to them and the old shells. The
young were very unevenly distributed, the largest number being found about the locality indicated
by the dark line on the chart and on the hard bottoms. ‘The drills were similarly distributed, being
usually in proportion to the young, though exceptions to this rule were more frequent than on the

App. 11 a

26

Great Rock. Both young and astyris were found in greater numbers on the southern portion of the
bed than on the northern. Along the eastern edge of the bed on the hard bottoms the red sponge
was found, and a smaller amount on the central part; very little was found where the bottom was
soft, and the number of young diminished where the amount of sponge was excessive. The number
of oysters to the square yard, the mean of thirty-two observations made on different parts of the
bed, is 0.24, which is somewhat larger than on the Great Rock, probably on account of shoaler water
in which the dredging was done. The oysters scattered around the bed are similar to those on it,
though they grow somewhat larger and have cleaner shells. To the westward the young were
present in moderate numbers and with the usual proportion of astyris. But little sponge or grass
was found in this direction, but to the southward both increased, and young and astyris disap-
peared. The number to the square yard, on the area occupied by scattered oysters, the mean of
thirteen observations, was 0.06,

Thoroughfare Beds.—On the eastern side of the Sound, opposite Little Fox Island and south of
the Great Rock, are two beds of moderate size, called the Little Thoroughfare and Great Thorough-
fare. The area of the former is 720,000 square yards, and the area of the latter, 1,597,000 square
yards.

The depth of water over the Little Thoroughfare is from 15 to 34 feet, the deep water being
found over the western and southwestern portion and shoaling from thence gradually to the north-
ward and eastward. Over the Great Thoroughfare the depth is from 16 to 54 feet, the deep water
being found on the western and northwestern edge of the bed and shoaling to the southward and
eastward. The space separating the beds is about one-fourth of a mile wide, and has over it a
depth of water from 20 to 40 feet. The beds are unbroken except about the edges, where the
oysters are scattered. On the western side of the Great Thoroughfare, where the bed extends to
the soft muddy bottoms, the usual detachment of the oysters into groups is noticeable, but about
the other boundaries, where the bottom is hard sand, the oysters are distributed more thinly and
the breakage not distinguishable. The distribution of oysters was more even on the Great Thor-
oughfare than on the Little Thoroughfare bed, the largest number on the latter bed being found
on the western part, while on the former the largest number was about the central portion. The
bottom on both beds is hard, consisting of a stratum of shells and oysters 1 or 2 feet thick, over a
stratum of sand. Very few obser vations of the character of the substratum were made, he depth
of water being too great to permit it, but as the bottom as far as the channel was hard, and large
numbers of shells and oysters were brought up from the western border, it is probabts that the
shell stratum continues as far as the muddy bottoms.

The oysters were of moderate size, usually single, but occasionally in Snail clusters. Large
numbers of young were found on the extreme northern part of the Little Thoroughfare and on the
central and western portions of the Great Thoroughfare bed, while very few young were found on
the eastern part of the latter. Some of the young had been destroyed by dredges and a few by
drills, though not many of the latter (astyris) were discovered. A small amount of sponge and
grass was found about the edges of the beds. The number of oysters to the square yard, on the
Little Thoroughfare, the mean of nine observations, was 0.14. On the Great Thoroughfare, the
mean of ten observations was 0.11. On the area occupied by scattered oysters, the number to the
square yard, the mean of seven observations, was 0.00.

The California Bed.—This bed lies on the eastern side of the channel, opposite the thorough-
fare into Pocomoke Sound, and south of the Great Thoroughfare bed. It extends in a north and
south direction about 3 miles, and is very irregular in shape. About the center it is divided by a
mud slough one-eighth of a mile wide. The area of the bed is 3,915,000 square yards. Along the
western part of the bed runs a narrow ridge, which is comparatively unbroken and appears to be
the original of the bed defined on the chart. To the eastward of this ridge the stratum of oysters
and shells is thinner, though the shells and oysters are spread quite evenly, diminishing in numbers
as the edge of the bed is approached. West of the ridge and also in the vicinity of the dividing
mud slough, the bed is broken into detached groups of oysters and shells. ‘The depth of water is
from 17 to 39 feet, the deepest water being found on the northwestern and western parts of the
bed. Except about the western border, the bottom is hard. Only a few observations of the char-
acter of the bottom could be made, either on the bed or in its vicinity, the depth of water being

Coast and Geodelie Survey Report for /Bél
+
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|
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+

|
(elas (ale le
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27

too great. Such as were obtained showed a substratum of hard sand, and it is probable that the
substratum is similar on all parts of the bed.

On the central portion of the bed the oysters were single, of moderate size, and fair quality,
but not numerous. Very few young, very few astyris, and but little red or gray sponge were dis-
‘covered. On the western part of the bed the oysters, though similar in character, were in greater
numbers, young and old, and where the number of young increased, a proportional increase in the
number of astyris was noticed. On the eastern part of the bed the number of oysters, young and
astyris, considerably diminished. About the edges of the bed the grass, sponge, and sea-weed
increased, and where this occurred a decrease in the number of young was noticed. The number
of oysters to the square yard, the mean of thirty-six observations, was 0.21. On the area occupied
by scattered oysters, the number to the square yard, the mean of eighteen observations, was 0.06.
On account of the depth of water, and other unfavorable circumstances, both results must be
regarded as a much rougher approximation to the real number than in the cases of the beds pre-
* viously described.

Johnson's Bed.—This bed lies on the eastern side of the Sound, immediately to the westward
of the 3-fathom shoal off Watt’s Island Light-House. The bed is separated into two portions, of
nearly equal area, by a dividing space of sand which extends north and south, following the
general direction of the bed. Hach portion is about one-eighth of a mile, and the northern and
southern extremes are separated one mile and a quarter. The area of the bed is 1,595,000 square
yards. The bed is unbroken, except about the edges, and the oysters exist on the entire area,
though unevenly distributed, the larger number being found about the center of the bed. The
bottom is comparatively regular, the depth of water being from 24 to 36 feet, the greater depths
being on the western part and the least on the eastern part of the bed. On account of the depth
of water and unfavorable nature of the weather during the examination of this bed no observa-
tions of the character of the bottom were made. The lead showed a hard surface stratum, except
about the western edge, where mud was found. The oysters were large and single with many
young and drills (astyris). Very little sponge was found on the bed, but on the shoal to the west-
ward and between Johnson’s and the California Beds there was a large amount of it. Very few
oysters were found in this area. The number of oysters to the square yard, the mean of four
observations, was 0.19.

East of Johnson’s Bed is a small rock, called ‘‘Parker’s Hill,” which for want of time was
neither surveyed nor examined. It is of little importance and seldom worked.

Oak Hammock Rocks.—These beds are situated on the western side of the Sound at the entrance
to and in a large mud slough, which extends as far as Queen’s Reach into the sand shoal surround-
ing Tangier Island. Each of the beds has a distinguishing name and is separated by mud
sloughs from the others, but as the areas are small and the outlines of the rocks very indefinite I
have included all of them under the name by which the assemblage is generally designated. The
beds extend northwest and southeast about three-fourths of a mile, and the area is irregular in
shape. The depth of water is from 9 to 24 feet, and the bottom is a stratum of shell, mud, and
sand, over a stratum of mud. Underneath this mud, where it was not too thick for penetration,
we found a hard stratum. The majority of the oysters were old, of small size, single, and in smail
clusters. Neither young nor drills (astyris) were found, and but a moderate amount of sponge.
To the northward and westward of the beds the oysters are scattered in the mud in groups and
patches. The total area of the bed is 600,000 square yards.

On the sand shoal between the Oak Hammock beds and the Woman’s Marsh no oysters have
ever been found.

DENSITIES.

Specimens of the bottom water taken on each bed, at all stages of the tide, have been tested
with the hydrometer and its readings reduced to a standard temperature of 60° Fahr. These
results show a maximum density of the waters of Tangier Sound of 1.0164, which was found in
the lower part, about the California Rock, at half flood-tide. The minimum density of 1.0111 was

28

found in the upper part of Fishing Bay, with the tide three-quarters ebb. The following table
shows the maximum and minimum density on each bed, with state of tide and remarks:

Comparison of densities—Tangier.

(The figures represent the excess of density over that of distilled water, which is represented as 1.000.]}

Bed. Rane | Tide. | Remarks. Diff. | al orate: Tide. Remarks.
Fishing Bay -.-----.--- 1. 0136 | High water .| Southern part .........--..-----. .0025 | 1.0111 tand ebb. Extreme northern part.
iWiere Point----.-----.-- 1.0139 | 4 flood ..-.-. | In channel to Hooper’s Straits... .0022 | 1.0117 Low water..
Shark’s Fin..)...-..--- | 1.0143 | High water.| Edge of main channel -......--- - 0025 | 1 0118 ) ebb ......- Middle of bed.
Nanticoke M.G....-..-.. | 1.0186 | High water .| West of channel.......-...-.--.- OOLT }) ol[011 9 \eeebbiseeer ee Middle of bed.
Clump Point-..--...---. 1. 0118 | 2 flood ....-- Only one:specimen....25- =2 22 =525-)-mo-o-2s|e eee 2-cese|aeee eee ee ee No specimen.
Horsey’s Bar ..-..--- |
Tyler’s Rock .....--. >| 1.0132 | zebb..-...- Only one specimen..-.......----- — . 0012 1.0120 | 4 flood ....-.-. Only one specimen.
Drumming Shoal - - a |
Grass Tangier ---..--.. 1.0144 4 flood ....-- ieintthe channel ssee-= sere eee . 0024 1.0120 _ Low water.. Middle of bed.
*Turtle Egg Rock ..-..| 1.0120 | 3 flood ...-.. | Seve aesce ck eee kara cte thee az CONCER [ase ac cel eee cee Ee eee
Chain Shoal...... PS ae 1.0145 | 4 flood ...... pesSsbneseusencoasessaapcaseonen= . 0022 1. 0123 | 2 fiood .....- |
Mud Rock ....--..----. | 1.0144 | 3 flood ....-- | SERS ON ote fears Sea es abt Ae 0008 | 1.0136 | 3 ebb -..-.--
Muscle Hole.-......... 1. 0157 | 4 ebb ....--- ies ee (Serie ebaene cee eee Se meerate . 0012 | 1.0145 Low water
Pivey Island Bar. -...| 1.0150 | 4 ebb ....-... | ‘South of beds2- 2-2 =jee= - 0019 1.0131 | 4 ebb -...... Middle of bed.
Manokin River .---.--- | 1.0152 | 2ebb 2 .----= Lower beds...<s.2-- s<=een=s45- 0014 | , 1.0128 | ebb .....-- Upper beds. .
Big Annemessex -.----- 1. 0151 0007 1.0144 | ebb ..-.--- | Eastern beds.
Harris Rock ..--.--...- 1. 0153 | 0007 1.0146 High water.
Terrapin Sands.-.-.---- 1, 0159 0015 1. 0144 | 4 flood ...... | Light southerly breezes.
Rock off Jane's Island . 1. 0156 | 0013 1.0148 | 3 flood ...---
Great Rock..:....--.-.| 1.0159 | 2 - 0011 1.0148 High water.
Woman’s Marsh...---- 1. 0160 | S:6DD) == eee ste Opposite opening between Tan-

gier and Smith’s Island. - 0016 1.0144 | 3 flood .....-

Little Thoroughfare - - - 1.0158 | ebb --.-..-. esac orenoses SeEeaeeremcetaei tas eae . 0009 1.0151 | 4 flood ..---.
Great Thoroughfare ...' 1. 0157 | x flood; 2:ebbi|\.<isececc se tance ceeeweec cats ones - 0005 1: 0152 | 4 flood ..-.--
GCaliformiazs=.-o------= 10164 |-4\floodi ss. 22". S-n ote dosenen ser ciccacwat sees 0012 | 1.0152 | $ flood .-----
Johnson’s Rock......-- 1.0161 | 4 flood .....- |: Sede ce cree ae eeeee oe cee ae .0013 | 1.0148 | 4ebb.......
Oak Hammock ......-. 1.0160 | ebb -...--. [Misia ls ae See eta ae Seo . 0002 1.0158 | 4 ebb -..-.---

*All specimens taken on flood. This is minimum density.

By consulting the table it will be seen that the state of the tide has but little influence upon
the density, though the depth of the water has, and the prevalence of strong winds. may increase
or diminish it. There is shown a gradual and constant increase of density as the southern portion
of the Sound, where it opens upon the Chesapeake, is approached. There is also an increase of
density when in the vicinity of the openings into the bay, and a decrease in the various rivers and
off their mouths.

Though the density of the water increases, yet the difference between the maximum and
minimum density steadily decreases to the southward, showing that the oysters on the northern
beds are exposed to greater fluctuations of density, and probably salinity, than those on the beds
to the southward.

There were no heavy rains during my stay in the Sounds, and the densities given therefore
show only the condition of the water in that respect during dry weather. I was informed that
there was a noticeable change in its character about the mouths of the tributaries of the Sounds
after a heavy rainfall, and the effect upon the oysters was also perceivable.

The difference between the maximum and minimum density of the Sound amounts to 0.0053;
but the difference between the maximum and minimum density on each bed will give a more
correct idea of the changes to which the oysters are exposed. The greatest difference is 0.0025,
which occurs on the Shark’s Fin and Fishing Bay Beds, and the least difference on any of the
main beds is 0.0009 on the Little Thoroughfare.

It would be perhaps still more correct to divide the Sound into several parts and consider the
fluctuation of density over them, thereby assembling a larger number of observations. Throwing.
out the Fishing Bay beds, which by their position are removed to a great extent from the condi-

29

tions affecting the other beds, and including all those south of Clay Island as far as Piney Island
bar, where the influence of the Manokin and Annemessex Rivers would be felt, the difference of
density amounts to 0.0028.

The difference of density over the beds south of Little Island and north of Little Annemessex
River is 0.0031.

The difference of the beds south of Jane’s Island Light is 0.0020.

These differences show that the greatest fluctuation is over the beds in the middle of the
Sound, and is probably due to the influence of the Big Annemessex and Manokin Rivers and the
waters entering by Kedge’s Strait.

Throughout the Sound there is a marked difference between the densities of the water taken
about the latter part of August and the first part of September and those taken in October. This
ditterence is given in the following table:

|

N

: | wo. | 4 Za
ca Eee Ss Be bs 5
Bed. ESN in lore Bed. Pe ae | aa
2 & of | gs of ef | 88
ea se | 87 ao ee |
Pee ae ey A AS 18
IMMNG MING. BER ses cee eco oewacasecebesoonsss| Aug. 24 | Oct. 5 | .0018 | I anTIS S PROC Ke tere rclaleletoeimaleele etree =| Aug. 29 | Oct. 1 | .0005
AWW GRO DOIN: Gabe bbseeouaseasaesecusoosaas | Aug. 24 | Oct. 5 .0014 | Great Rock ...-..----.--2-++-2--2++22:0+-- Aug. 30 | Sept. 28 | . 0007
Nanticoke Middle Ground --..- ....-...--. Aug. 26 | Oct. 5 | .0014 || Woman’s Marsh ........-.----.----------. Aug. 30 | Sept. 23 | .0008
Bed north of Turtle Egg Island...-.....-. Aug. 26 | Oct. 4 | .0016 |; Great Thoroughfare .............-.....-- Sept. 5 Sept. 28 | . 0007
Gihaiin SHON 225s sosecccassscsococsusossce anes, of || Ooi 3) oC 4} Chahta costes assesossoseecacsaasnsteess Sept. 6 Sept. 26 | .0009
iPineyalslandeBareeeeeseeenecn seen eae. Aug. 28 | Oct. 4 .0010 | Johnson’s Rock...... ......---..----- : Sept. 6 Sept. 20 | .0010
Man okinuBedipssseeseeereeeeencesrsceeee as! AUo.Lan | Sept: 30 | 0017 |

The earlier observations show the least density.

It will be seen by the table that the observations were made at from two weeks to six weeks
apart; that, generally speaking, the amount of difference in the densities increases with the inter-
val between the observations, and that the northern beds and those in the rivers are exposed to
greater fluctuations of density than the neighboring ones in the Sound. If the change of density
over the beds, as shown by these tables, represents with approximate accuracy the change of
salinity of the water, the fluctuation is too slight to seriously affect the beds or oysters; but if the
slightness of the change is due to organic matter held in solution by the waters of the ebb tide,
which would replace the salt of the flood, there may be a much greater difference in the salinity
of the flood and ebb than has been indicated by the hydrometer.

CURRENTS.

The general set of the currents in the Sound is north and south, following the main channel
and diverging slightly about the mouths of the tributaries and straits.

In the following statements regarding the currents the influence of the wind has not been
eliminated, and accounts for many irregularities, both of velocity and direction, and about slack-
water, especially of the windward tides, this influence was most apparent.

In Fishing Bay the currents follow the general bend of the shores and channel, setting over
the lower portion, on the flood, to the northward; over the middle portion to the northward and
westward, as far as Fishing Point, and above that point and over the upper part of the bay, set-
ting to the northward and eastward. The maximum observed velocity of the flood current was
0.58 of a mile per hour. The ebb in each portion ef the bay sets in an opposite direction to the
flood.

The currents about the northern part of the Were Point bed were measured during and after
strong northeast winds, which accounts for the set to the southward and westward, and also for
the slight velocity of the ebb, which was only 0.15 of a mile per hour, the northeast wind having
lasted for twe days and having driven a good deal of the water out of Fishing Bay.

Over the Shark’s Fin the flood current sets to the northward and the ebb to the southward
and eastward, most of the latter apparently coming from Hooper’s Straits. Its maximum velocity

30

was 0.4 of a mile per hour. The observations of the strength of the flood current made on this
bed were too much influenced by the wind to be considered reliable, but the velocity immediately
south of the bed was 0.5 of a mile per hour.

The currents of the Nanticoke Channel and over the adjacent beds set to the northward and
eastward on the flood, following the bend of the channel, with a maximum velocity of 0.6 of a mile
per hour. The ebb over the major portion of the Middle Ground sets to the southward, with a
velocity of 0.3 to 0.4 of a mile per hour on the first quarter, until it meets the current of the Wicom-
ico, when it turns to the westward. <A strong current sets in and out of Rock Creek; over the
Drumming Shoal and Cedar Rocks the current sets NNE. on the flood, with a velocity of 0.4 of a
mile per hour, and SSW. on the ebb tide, with a velocity of 0.6 of a mile per hour.

Over the beds south of the Shark’s Fin and Cedar Rock, and north of Piney Island bar and
Kedge’s Straits, the general set of the flood is to the northward, with an inclination towards
Holland’s Straits when about Turtle Egg Island, and tending to the northward and westward off
the Little Thoroughfare. The general set of the ebb while in the channel is to the southward, but
on the Turtle Egg Island, Mud and Muscle Hole Beds the set is to the southward and eastward.
The strength of these and all currents in the Sound is much influenced by the winds that have
prevailed during the immediately preceding days, and Which it was impossible to eliminate in the
space of time covered by this investigation. ver the western beds, above Kedge’s Straits, the
maximum observed velocity of the flood was 0.8 of a mile per hour, and a mean of all the veloci-
ties of the flood current was 0.4 of a mile per hour. The maximum observed velocity of the ebb
current was 1.0 mile per hour, and the mean of all velocities of the ebb was 0.3 of a mile per hour.

Over the Chain Shoal the maximum velocity of the flood was 0.37 and the mean velocity was
0.3 of a mile per hour. The maximum velocity of the ebb was 1.0 mile and the mean velocity 0.5
of a mile per hour.

The flood current over Piney Island bar sets NNW., or about in general line with the Sound
at that point. Its velocity on the third quarter, Guring and after northerly breezes, was 0.1 of a
mile an hour, and probably it is seldom less than that. The ebb current over the northern part of
the bed sets SSE., but tends to the southward over the southern part. The maximum velocity of
the ebb during and after northerly breezes was 1 mile per hour and the mean of all observations,
taken under similar circumstances, gives a velocity of 0.4 of a mile per hour.

In the Manokin River the current follows the general trend of the channel, the flood setting
to the northward until above Hazzard’s Point, and then to the northward and eastward. The ebb
sets southwest, and, when it strikes the shoal off Piney Island, curves somewhat to the southward.
The currents were measured during light or gentle northeasterly breezes. The maximum velocity
of the flood was 0.4 of a mile per hour and the mean of all the velocities of the flood 0.2 of a mile
per hour. The maximum velocity of the ebb was 0.5 of a mile per hour and the mean velocity 0.2
of a mile per hour.

In the Big Annemessex River the current sets to the eastward on the flood tide and to the
westward on the ebb, curving to the southward on the latter as it approaches the mouth of the
river. The maximum velocity of the flood current was 0.4 and the mean velocity 0.25 of a mile
per hour. Of the ebb the maximum velocity was 0.5 and the mean velocity 0.33 of a miie per hour.

The flood current sets over Harris Rock to the northward with a maximum velocity of 0.33
and a mean velocity of 0.2 of a mile per hour. The ebb, being somewhat influenced by the cur-
rent out of the Annemessex and the sweep of the main current of the Sound, sets to the southward
and westward, with a mean velocity of 0.2 of a mile per hour. The maximum velocity observed
was but a slight increase of the mean.

Over the Terrapin Sands the flood sets northwest, with a maximum velocity of 0.9 and a mean
velocity of 0.7 of a mile per hour. The ebb sets southeast until near the buoy marking the shoal,
where it. turns to the southward. Its maximum velocity was 1 mile and its mean velocity 0.9
of a mile per hour. The currents over the Terrapin Sands were measured during spring tides,
and after light breezes and calms had prevailed for several days.

Over the Woman’s Marsh Rocks the flood sets about NNW. until in the vicinity of Horse
Hammock, where it turns to the northward and eastward. The ebb sets SSW. over the upper
part of the bed, and to the southward and eastward over the lower. There is a strong set in and

dl

out of the opening between Tangier and Smith’s Islands. The maximum velocity of the flood was
0.7 and the mean velocity 0.6 of a mile per hour. The velocity of the ebb was, maximum 0.8 and
mean 0.4 of a mile per hour. These currents were also measured during spring tides. Along the
eastern side of the Sound, below Jane’s Island Light and over the several beds located on the
eastern edge of the channel, the general set of the current is to the northward on the flood and to
the southward on the ebb. The flood sets a little to the eastward or westward of north as the
channel changes in direction, and about the northern part of the Great Rock sets strongly to the
northward and eastward into the Little Annemessex. The ebb current out of that river forms a
strong tide rip where it joins the main current due east of Jane’s Island Light and on the northern
part of the bed off that light. The general set of the ebb is the reverse of that of the flood, and
both currents follow the trend of the channel.

Through the Thoroughfare, opposite the California Rock, the flood sets east into Pocomoke on
the first three quarters, and west on the last quarter. On the ebb the set is westward on the first
three and eastward on the last quarter, and this irregularity is communicated to some extent to
the waters over the California Rock.

The maximum velocity of the flood current on the eastern side of the Sound, below the Little
Annemessex, was 0.3 and the mean velocity was 0.2 of a mile per hour. The maximum of the ebb
was 0.8 and the mean 0.7 of a mile per hour. Most of these currents were measured during
northerly winds, which would increase the ebb and diminish the flood currents, and probably they
are more equal than the observations show them to be.

Over the Oak Hammock Rocks the flood sets to the northward and westward, and the ebb to
the southward and eastward, with a velocity of from 0.1 to 0.2 of a mile per hour.

Reviewing the currents, it will be seen that the strongest on both tides were those over Terra-
pin Sands during the spring tides, their velocity being about one mile per hour. As the observa-
tions over the Sound were made during various states of the weather and of tide, the highest velocity
ohtained is probably as great as ever sets over any of the beds.

The velocity, except within wide limits, however, is not so important to the oysters as the
direction of the current, and that has been ascertained with, I hope, sufficient exactness to assist,
so far as it can, in the study of the beds.

DEPOSIT.

It would require a much longer period of observation than was at our disposal, and a much
more extensive and careful investigation of the character of the water and bottom of the Sound
than I was enabled to make, to allow me to speak with authority or exactness upon this subject;
but from the information collected from the most intelligent of the oystermen whose experience
on the beds was considerable, Iam of the opinion that there is little or no systematic deposit going
on upon any of the beds of the main Sound. There must be some sediment contained in the
waters of the rivers and creeks, but it appears to be deposited on those beds near their mouths.
In the upper part of Fishing Bay, on the Clump Point Rocks, Middle Ground of the Nanticoke,
in the Manokin and Big Annemcssex Rivers, there is a larger amount of mud in the surface and
underneath than elsewhere in the Sound. Those beds lying in deep water are particularly free
from an undue proportion of mud on the bottom, the shoalest beds having the thickest mud
covering.

If there was a constant and increasing deposit upon the beds they would long ago have dis-
appeared, or at least have become of much smaller area, but the reverse is the case, the beds in-
creasing in area constantly.

They are, however, exposed to one species of deposit which is very injurious. Heavy gales
occurring in winter and summer frequently tear up the large quantities of grass, sea-weed, and
sponge on the sand shoals about the Sound and deposit it upon the beds. If this occurs in sum-
mer, when there are a smaller number of dredgers at work, the effect is very injurious, the ‘cultch’’
being covered, and the young, if spawned, smothered by the grass, weeds, sand, and mud which
it collects. The California Rock, Piney Island bar, and Manokin beds are those most subject to
this evil.

The gales also have the effect of covering the scattered oysters on the leeward sands, which

32

process is called “sanding,” and, from what I could learn, appears to be a very injurious one. The
oysters are buried, and the bottom becomes smooth and hard. Where at least thirty bushels of
oysters could be taken previous to a gale, not one oyster could be found subsequent to it. The
winter gales have the greatest effect, owing probably to their greater severity, and direction, which
is from the northward and westward. The ‘“‘sand” oysters are found in largest numbers on the
eastern shores of the Sound, and about Kedge’s and Hooper’s Straits; consequently they would feel
a northwesterly gale much more than one from the opposite direction. They are said not to re-
cover from the “sanding” for several months, and upon their reappearance are noticeable on account
of the whiteness of their shells. Though there were several very heavy blows while we were in
the Sound, they were not of sufficient severity to produce the effect spoken of, and if they had been
T should not have been able to detect it, on account of the shallowness of the water in which the
scattered oysters lie, which prevented the schooner’s dredging for them.

EFFECT OF GALES AND ICE.

As there was no opportunity for me to investigate this question in person, the examination of
the beds having been accomplished during the summer and autumn months, the following infor-
mation is derived from the queries put to the oystermen and persons inhabiting the shores of the
Sound. The heaviest gales during the winter season are from the northward and westward; during
the summer season, from the southward, and southward and eastward. The gales from the east-
ward, southward and eastward, and southward, cause an increase of depth over all the beds,
amounting sometimes to 2 feet, and the northerly and westerly gales a contrary effect, but not suf-
ficient to leave any of the natural beds uncovered, except one or two small patches in Fishing Bay.
Gales from any direction cut away considerably the leeward shores and points, especially when
they are of a sandy nature.. Those parts of the Sound suffering most in this respect are Bishop’s
Head, Haines’ Point, and Diel’s Island, Little Island, the shores about and near Jane’s Island
Great Fox Island, the shores about Horse Hammock, and the southern part of Watts and Tangier
Islands. Cod Harbor, in Tangier Island, is said to be filling up with the washings of the sand-
spit to the southward.

Though it is said the amount washed away from these points is considerable, no additional
deposit was ever noticed on the beds, nor did the gales appear to affect them in any way-other
than has already been described, except in conjunction with the ice in the winter.

Ice never rests upon the main beds except in a few isolated cases where there happens to be a
very shoal spot on the bed; as, for instance, occasionally the ice will ground on some of the small
rocks in Fishing Bay and once in a while on the Woman’s Marsh, but not often. The injury done
the oysters by the grounding depends upon the length of time the oysters are in contact with the
ice. If it only touches in a few places not much harm is done; indeed, it is supposed to protect
the majority on the bed by covering them, but where there is a contact all over the “rock,” the
oysters are killed in a short space of time. The number of points in the Sound where it is possible
for the ice to rest is inconsiderable, and not many of the animals are destroyed by the grounding
of the ice, though they are affected seriously by its long continued presence.

The winter gales break up the ice fields and pile them up in immense masses on the leeward
shores and over the adjacent beds. The Shark’s Fin Bed suffers particularly in this respect. A
good deal of damage is done to the shores by the ice, and the oysters fee! the effect, showing it by
becoming what is called “winter killed,” or poor and weak, having a slimy, sickly appearance when
opened. Many die on the beds trom this cause, and after the disappearance of the ice ten days or
two weeks must elapse before they are fit for marketable purposes. Ordinary cold weather aud a
moderate amount of ice is said to improve the fishing, the oysters appearing to be drawn more to
the surface of the bed and the shells to sink more toward the bottom. My informants said this
effect was quite noticeable. :

No one that I was able to interrogate had ever seen an oyster frozen in the water, and the.
impression was that so long as the oysters were covered they would recover trom any ill effects of
ice or ordinary cold weather.

33

POCOMOKE SOUND.

Pocomoke Sound extends from Watts’ Island in a north-northeasterly direction 124 miles.

The main channel is narrow with a varying depth of water, the main body of the Sound being
covered by shoals with from 7 to 18 feet of water over them. Long sand-spits make off from most
of the points and islands and separate the channels into the different creeks from each other. The
Sound is about 9§ miles broad from shore to shore about its middle, but the channel occupies only
14 miles of this space.

The change of depth is gradual, except between Watts’ and Beach Islands, near the southern
extremity of the Sound, where the change from deep to shoal water is sudden. About the upper
and northeastern portion the depth is more uniform, the deep channel shoaling to about 12 feet,
and that depth being but slightly diminished close to the shores.

The beds do not, as in Tangier Sound, cover the shoals on each side of the channel, the majority
being found on the eastern side, and only two beds to the westward of that part of the channel
where the water is deeper than three or four fathoms.

The total area covered by oysters, to a greater or lesser extent, in this Sound is 34.12 square
nautical miles. ‘This area is that inclosed on the chart by the boundaries of scattered oysters, and
is but approximate, as previously explained. The solid beds, comprising all parts of the Sound
where oysters were found in a greater number than 0.1 to the square yard, or where the bed was
found to be to all intents solid “‘oyster-rock,” or comparatively unbroken, embrace a total area of
4,52 square nautical miles. The groups or rocks are not always contiguous, being frequently sepa-
rated by the channels into the different creeks and rivers and by mud sloughs and spaces, and in
only one case have the beds extended across a channel, and peculiar circumstances account for that
exception. Generally speaking, they will be found to lie on each side of the main channel in the
Sound and on each side of the channels into the rivers. Taking them in order from the mouth of
the Pocomoke River to the entrance of the Sound, there are seventeen of a sufficient size to justify
a Separate consideration and name; and I have called them by the names given by the local oyster-
men to the solid ‘“oyster-rock,” which was probably the origin of the bed.

They are: The Old Rocks and New Plantation Rocks, Buoy Rock, Potter’s Rock, Slatestone
Flat Rock, Dog Fish Bed, Drum Bay Point Bed, Trevise’s Bed, Shell Bed, Buoy Spit Bed, Muddy
Marsh Bed, Bird Bed, Hern Island Bed, Beach Island Bed, Parker’s Bed, and Brig Bed.

In considering and describing the beds I shall separate the first ten from the others, and, as
they are subjected to very similar conditions of bottom, current, and density of water, shall treat
them under one head, as the Pocomoke beds.

SCATTERED OYSTERS IN POCOMOKE SOUND.

The area covered by scattered oysters is determined only approximately, it being very difficult
to accurately define the limits. Generally speaking, the one-fathom curve will nearly mark the
inshore limit, while the sott muddy bottom of the main channel will define the outer one. The
depth of water over the scattered oysters and the character of the bottom can be ascertained by
reference to the chart. No oysters were found in the deep channels nor on the shoal sand-spits.

The oysters are scattered singly and in groups, but usually grow singly, though numbers
of small beds of a few hundred yards area are included within the limits of scattered oysters.
In the vicinity of the Messongo and Guilford Creeks the oysters seem to be scattered in that
manner, the spaces between the groups being proportional to their sizes. Very few oysters were
found along the edge of the shoal on the western side of the channel south of the Muddy Marsh.
In the channel itself no oysters were found. Opposite Beach Island, in from thirteen to fourteen
fathoms, a few clams and shells were brought up. In this case, however, the bottom was of hard
sand. The area covered, to a greater or less extent, by the scattered oysters comprises 122,117,000
square yards, or 29.60 square nautical miles. The number of oysters over this area, as nearly as I
could ascertain, was about 0.12 to the square yard.

Pocomoke Beds.—Across the mouth of the Pocomoke River lie the “Old Rocks,” comprising
an area of 1,057,000 square yards, and marking the limit to which the oysters of the Sound extend,
only few small rocks being found in the river. Below the ‘Old Rocks,” on the western side of the

App. 11 5

34

channel, are the Buoy Bed, comprising three “rocks” and 967,000 square yards; Potter’s Bed, of
seven “rocks” and 900,000 square yards; Dog Fish Bed, of 720,000 square yards; Flat Bed, of
742,000 square yards, and Trevise’s Bed, of 697,000 square yards.

On the southern side of the channel, and extending from it to the sands, are the Old Planta-
tion Bed, of 180,000 square yards; the Slatestone Bed, of 967,000 square yards; the Drum Bay
Point Bed, of 337,000 square yards, and the Shell Bed, comprising five “rocks” and an area of
1,102,000 square yards.

The depth of water over the beds can be seen and studied by referring to the chart. The
average depth is from 8 to 12 feet at low and from 11 to 15 feet at high water, the deeper water
being found near the channel and over the mud sloughs. Of the different beds the “Old Rocks,”
New Plantation, and Buoy are in the shoalest water, and the Shell Bed in the deepest. The channel
has 27 feet off the Shell Bed, and shoals gradually to 10 and 11 feet off the Buoy Bed. None of
the beds are solid or unbroken; those approximating to that condition are the “Old Rocks,” New
Plantation, Buoy, and Slatestone Beds. The majority of the beds have been cut up by the dredges
or mud sloughs into small groups and ridges, with oysters scattered between them. The divisions,
however, are too small to be shown on the chart.

The bottom generally consists of mud, and the stratum is both softer and thicker in the
vicinity of the channel than elsewhere. On the beds remote from the channel hard bottom was
occasionally found, and near the one-fathom curve sand and gravel; the last character of bottom
was sometimes found in deep water, but not frequently, except about Trevise’s Bed and near the
sand shoal, to the southward and westward of Ape’s Hole Creek. Between that creek and Merem-
scot Creek, to the eastward, the bottom is a mixture of sand and clay, and the locality is therefore
a favorite planting ground, as is Ape’s Hole Creek and the light above the “Old Rocks.” On the
Old Rocks we found the surface stratum of shells, oysters, and mud to be about one foot thick
and the substratum of soft sand or mud. In the vicinity of the bed the bottom is similar, except
that the substratum is of shell. On the New Plantation Bed the surface stratum was of sand
and shell, 5 feet in thickness, and the substratum hard sand. The Buoy Bed has a light covering
of mud and fine sand on the shells and oysters, and a substratum of hard sand and shell. In the
vicinity of the bed the bottom is soft mud. On Potter’s Bed the surface stratum was of sand and
Shell, 1 foot thick, over a stratum of soft mud. In one case on the “rock” most remote from the
channel the substratum was hard sand. Within the area north of Potter’s Bed, occupied by seat-
tered oysters, the bottom, with one exception, was of mud over a stratum of hard sand. On the
Slatestone Bed the surface stratum is of mud and shells, from 1 to 5 feet in thickness, over a stratum
of sand, or sand and clay. On the Dog Fish and Flat Beds we found a surface stratum of sand,
mud, shells, aud oysters 2 or 5 feet thick, and underneath that a hard stratum. About these two
beds there are several places where the substratum was a mixture of sand and ciay, similar to the
bottom of the planting grounds. About and inshore of the Drum Bay Point Bed the bottom was
of sand and gravel on the surface, with clay or sand and gravel underneath. The probe was not
used on this bed nor on Trevise’s Bed, but about the latter the bottom is of soft sand for a few feet
and then hard sand. South of Trevise’s Bed, near the channel, the bottom is of mud. The Shell
3ed derives its name from the character of its bottom, which consists of a stratum of shells about
13 feet thick, over a stcatum of mud of from 1 to 4 feet in thickness, after which the bottom appears
to be hard. In the vicinity of the bed the bottom is of sand, which becomes harder as the distance
from the bed increases and the water shoals. In the channel the bottom is soft mud, and no oysters
were found in it.

Within the lines defining the limits of the scattered oysters the animals are distributed, but
very unevenly so. Even on the beds the distribution is by no means regular, or likely to become
so, the production and growth of the oysters varying with the locality, and the size, contour, and
character of each bed continually changing from the action of-natural causes and the constant
fishing. Throughout the area assigned to scattered oysters, many small lumps and patches may
be found; but generally the oysters are scattered in small clusters or singly, and those on the beds
are of the same general character, being small, single, or in clusters of two or three, and without
parasites or parasitic attachments. There was a remarkable absence of young oysters of less than
six months’ growth, even, as in the case of the Shell Bed, where the bottom was clean and shelly,

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and apparently in good condition for attachment. Generally the mature oysters were scarce,
though many shells were found, and on the Shell Bed the number to the square yard was as small
as 0.015, though great quantities of broken shells were brought up. The Slatestone and Drum
Bay Point Beds appeared to be in best condition, so far as to the number of oysters.

Buoy Spit Bed.—This bed lies on the eastern side of the channel, southwest of the Shell Bed
and opposite the Muddy Marsh Bed. Its area is 427,000 square yards. It extends NNW. and
SSE. five-eighths of a mile, and has an average breadth of oue-quarter mile. The depth of
water over it is from 14 to 19 feet, the shoal water being found on the southern part of the bed and
the deep water on the northern part, and near the channel. The bed is comparatively unbroken,
except about the edges, where the oysters grow in groups separated by mud sloughs. Apparently
the bed is very old, the stratum of shells being very thick. The oysters are evenly distributed
over the entire area. The bottom consists of a stratum of shells, oysters, and mud, about 3 feet
thick, over a stratum of hard sand and shell; on the southern part of the bed the substratum is
mud. In the vicinity of the bed the bottom is soft sand or mud, the latter being found in the
channel. The oysters were single, with very few young attached; a moderate amount of red sponge
was found. No oysters existed in the channel. Those scattered near the bed were to the east-
ward. They were similar in character to those on the bed, but a larger number of young were
found, and about one-third of them had been injured by the drills.

Muddy Marsh Bed.—This bed is on the western side of the channel, opposite the Buoy Spit
Bed, and comprises an area of 1,912,000 square yards. The main bed is long and narrow, extend-
ing 24 miles along the edge of the channel, and being on an average about one-quarter of a mile
broad. One-half mile to the northward of the main bed are two detached “rocks,” whose area
_ has been included in that just given. The depth of water over the bed, as will be seen by the
chart, is from 11 to 17 feet; the small “rocks” have from 13 to 14 feet over them. The shoalest
water found was about the central portion of the principal bed, and the ridge marks, approxi-
mately, the original oyster “rock.” From this ridge the water deepens slightly to the westward
and considerably to the eastward. The bed is comparatively solid, having few mud or sand sloughs
in it; about the shoal ridge it is entirely unbrokeu. The oysters are spread unevenly over the
entire area, the smallest number being found on the shoal, unbroken, central part, and the largest
number about the extreme ends of the bed, where the water was deeper and the bottom softer.
On the small beds to the northward the oysters were scarce, and many clams were found. The
bottom on the two detached “rocks” consists of a stratum of shells and mud over a stratum of
mud. ‘To the southward, and between them and the main bed, the bottom is of hard sand and
broken shells. Where the beds approach the channel the bottom is softer, and in the channel only
soft mud is found. A few mud sloughs and mud patches were discovered at some distance from
the channel, but generally the surrounding bottoms are hard. On the main bed a very thick and
hard stratum of shells, with a little sand on the surface, composes the bottom. We could drive
the probe down some 2 or 3 feet, but did not in any case penetrate the shell stratum, except on the
southern portion, where the bottom is neither so hard nor so shelly as about the center of the bed.
South and west of the bed the bottom is sandy, and hardens as the water shoals. A few mud
Sloughs were found along the western edge of the bed, but it is noticeable that on the principal
part of the bed there was little or no mud, and that the bottom was fairly clean. The oysters on
the bed and from its vicinity were of medium size and fair quality, single, and very scarce. Very
few young, no young growth nor drills, and no sponge, grass, or parasitic attachments of any kind
were found, but an immense amount of broken shell and other débris was brought up by each haul
of the dredge. On one occasion the dredge filled in three minutes; shells and one oyster resulted.
A similar haul produced a dredge full of shells and five oysters. As the dredge held about two
bushels, the percentage of débris is thus shown to be enormous. The hauls were made on the
shoal, solid portion of the bed, where, according to most experience, the oysters should have been
most numerous. The number of oysters to the square yard, from observations in these places,
was 0.40.

The Bird Bed.—This bed lies on the eastern side of the main channel and across the channel
into Messongo Creek. It is irregular in shape, and is the largest bed in Pocomoke Sound, having
an area of 3,285,000 square yards. The southern extremity joins the Hern Island Bed, thus

36

practically making the two beds one; but as the oysters were not very thick in the channel into
Guilford Creek, the original dividing space, and as the two beds still retain their original names, I
have considered them separately. The depth of water over the Bird Bed is from 14 to 24 feet,
the deep water being found near the channel and the shoal near the sand spits. The bed is
unbroken, except about the edges; that portion indicated on the chart by the dark line is less
broken than the remainder, and probably in that vicinity was located the original “rock” from
which the bed has extended. About the western edge the bed is broken by mud sloughs, and
immediately to the eastward of the bed numerous small, detached groups of oysters are found and
a few small beds, whose area has been included in that given for the Bird Bed. The oysters,
though found over the entire area, are not evenly distributed, but exist in larger uumbers on the
northern and more solid portion of the bed than elsewhere. The bottom is hard, of shells, with a
light covering of mud. On the western portion the substratum was of mud, but elsewhere it was
generally hard, probably of sand. To the northward of the bed the bottom was of sand, soft on
top and hard underneath; to the south and west soft mud was found. The oysters were single,
of medium size, and good quality. No sponge or grass was found, but many old and broken shells.
In the vicinity of the muddy bottoms the shells were black and no young were discovered, but on
the central part of the main bed, where the shells were of ordinary color and moderately clean,
large numbers of young were found. It was noticed that many of the young had been destroyed
by the drills, and especially about the solid portion of the bed, where as many as 152 out of 156
on one shell had suffered. As the channel was approached the drills (astyris) did not appear to
be as numerous nor to have done as much damage, only about one-fourth of the young having
been destroyed. The number of oysters to the square yard, the mean of four observations on
different parts of the bed, was 0.36.

Hern Island Bed. = Oniemallst this bed was icouth of the channel into Guilford Creek, but by
the action of natural causes and by dredging it has been extended across that channel and con-
nected with the Bird Bed. It lies due south of that bed and extends in an east and west direction
one mile, and has a width of about one-half mile. Its area is 2,092,000 square yards, and a .
next in size to the Bird Bed. The depth of water is from 14 to ‘29 feet, the shoal water lying
little to the westward of the central portion of the bed, and the deep water being found in ie
Guilford Channel. The bed is broken about the edges, especially the northwestern one, and where
it borders on the Guilford Channel, but elsewhere and in the center it is comparatively solid. A
* few mud or soft sand spaces were found in the eastern part. The oysters are distributed very
evenly over the entire area. The bottom generally is hard, of shells and sand, though only a small
amount of the latter was found. In the Guilford Channel and its vicinity the bottom is softer and
the substratum of mud. To the southward of the bed hard sand is found, and in the channel to
the westward the usual soft mud. The oysters were single, small, and principally of a young
growth. Those adult oysters taken by us were of fair quality. Many old broken shells were
brought up Dy? the dredge but no sponge or grass. Many young were discovered and a large
number, over 25 per cent., had been destroyed by drills. Large numbers of astyris were present
with the young. The meee of oysters to the square yard, the mean of six observations, was 0.29.

Beds of the Guilford Channel.—South of the Guilford Flats, on each side of the channel into
Guilford Creek, are two narrow ledges of oysters, extending east and west and following the trend
of the channel. The northern bed is 1 mile in length, and has its greatest width, of one-third of
a mile, at its eastern extremity, and its least, of one-tenth of a mile, at its western. Its area is
585,000 square yards. The southern bed is 1? miles long, one-quarter of a mile broad at its western
and one-tenth of a mile at its eastern extremity. Its area is 630,000 square yards. ‘The northern
bed has an average depth of water over it of 11 feet. The southern has from 9 to 21 feet, the deeper
water being on the extreme western part of the bed. Both beds, though narrow, are solid, being
but little broken even about the edges. They are old and not frequently worked. The bottom is
of mud and shells for several feet, and underneath that a hard stratum. The oysters were scarce,
and no young were found.

Beach Island Bed,—This is a small Bed, lying about 1 mile NNE. of Beach Island, and south
of the narrow channel into Deep Creek. It is irr gular in shape and comprises an area of 225,000
square yards. The depth of water over it is from 12 to 17 feet. The bottom is of mud and shells,

37

the stratum being about 3 feet thick on the southern border and increasing in thickness as the
channel is approached. Where it could be ascertained the substratum was found to be hard, and
is, probably, of sand, as the bottom contiguous is of that description. It is probable that narrow
ledges of oysters exist on both sides of the Deep Creek Channel, above Beach Island, but lack of
time prevented our verifying the supposition. ‘The bed is unbroken, and the oysters single and
presenting the same general characteristics as on the beds already described. A moderate number
of young was found, and the presence and destructive effects of the drills were noticed.

Parker’s Bed.—This is a small bed lying east of Watts’ Island, and on the western side of the
channel into Pocomoke Sound. It is long and narrow, extends north and south five-eighths of a
mile, and has an average width of one-fifth of a mile. The depth of water is from 12 to 24 feet,
the shoal water being found about the middle of the bed and the deepest water on the southeastern
portion. The bed is unbroken except about the edges, and the oysters are spread uniformly over
the area, which comprises 495,000 square yards. ‘The bottom is hard and consists of a stratum, 3
feet thick, of shells and mud, over a stratum of hard sand or clay. The contiguous bottoms are
of soft sand or mud, with a hard substratum. The oysters were single, of moderate size, and
similar in quality to those on the other beds of the Sound. They were not numerous, the number
to the square yard being 0.57, but that number is larger than on any of the other beds in Poco-
moke. Some of the red sponge was found, but nothing else. Large numbers of young and drills
(astyris) were discovered, but for some reason the drills appeared to have been less destructive
than elsewhere. Those oysters found near the bed were larger than those on it, but had no young
attached to them.

The Brig Bed.—This bed lies to the northward and westward and off the mouth of Chescon-
nessex Creek. It is small, nearly oval in shape, and comprises an area of 517,000 square yards.
Its extent east and west is five-eighths of a mile and its greatest width, north and south, is three-
tenths of a mile. The depth of water is from 19 feet on the eastern edge to 48 feet on the western.
The bed is unbroken, except about the edges, where the oysters are somewhat scattered; on the
solid portions they are not very evenly distributed, being more numerous about the center of the
bed than elsewhere. The bottom is hard, and probably of sand and shells, but, owing to the depth
of water, it was impossible to use the probe successfully; the contiguous bottoms are, however, of
the character described, and it is probable that there is no difference on the bed. The oysters
were large and single and of superior quality to any on the other beds. A moderate number of
young and a few drills were found, but no sponge or grass, though some of the latter was discov-
ered among the scattered oysters. The number to the square yard was 0.27.

DENSITIES.

The density of the water on the different beds was obtained in the same manner as in Tangier
Sound.

The least density found, that of 1.0113, was across the mouth of the Pocomoke River at low
water of the spring tide. The water of the greatest density, that of 1.0174, was taken from about
the middle of the Sound, over the Bird, Buoy Spit, Muddy Marsh, and Hern Island Rocks. The
density over the beds, therefore, would be within those limits, the variation amounting to 0.0061,

The effect of the tide does not appear to be invariable, as the greater densities were found as
frequently on the ebb tide as on the flood. The depth of water and the prevailing winds have
probably a greater effect than anything else, as the density increases with the depth, and the
prevalence of easterly or southeasterly winds, backing the waters of the bay up into the Sound,
would have a like effect. As the variation noticeable during the space of eleven days, under
various conditions of weather, was so small, it can hardly be much greater at any time, and unless
much greater than shown by the records, and if representing the change in salinity, it can have
but very little, if any, effect upon the oysters on the beds. By the following tables of comparison
it will be seen that the fluctuation of density is, as in Tangier Sound, greatest at the head of the
Sound and least at its entrance, with an increased fluctuation where the influence of the Mesongo
and Guilford Creeks is felt.

On the beds above the Bird Rock the difference of density noticed was 0.0061. On the
remainder of the beds the difference was 0.0015, showing that there is a much smaller change in
the density over the southern beds than over the northern.

38

Comparison of densites—Pocomoke.

{The figures show the excess of density over that of distilled water, which is represented by 1,000.}

= E
Ff |
Bed. & Tide. Remarks. : = Tide. Remarks.

= $ |
= | EI
8 x |
E i iE
a a a

On and above. Potter’s | 1.0160 High WATSON ANG ONE? oe ae seis ein si .0047 1.0113 | Low water...-...--. Section.

and Slatestone. | quarter ebb.
Shell Bed and above .-.| 1.0170 | One-quartertlood .. 14 feet; calmsandlight .0014 1.0156 | Three-quarters flood. 5 feet.

| | breezes several days.
|

Muddy Marsh..-...- ..--| 1.0174 | Three-quarters ebb 18feetandsameasabove .0014 1. 0160 | One-quarter flood .... Strong easterly breezes,
Buoy Spleen eaeeee seer 1.0172 | One-half flood..... |15feetandsameasabove . 0004 | 1.0168 | One-half ebb.--...--. 15 feet; light breezes.
3ird and Hern Island | 1.0175 | One half ebb ...-. 4 fathoms and same as 0015 1.0160 | Three-quarters ebb . 18 feet; mouth of Guil-
Beds. above. | ford Creek.

Mesongo Creek......--.- 1.0173 | One-half ebb.-...- 17feetandsameasabove .0007 1.0164 | Low water ...-....-- Eastward station, 7 feet.
Guilford Creek ......-- 1. 0167 | High water . .....-| 9 feet; light breezes -.. .0007 1. 0160 | One-half flood. .....- Head of creek.
Patkersecceere see -. | 1.0172 | One-quarter ebb ..| 12 feet; light breezes... .0009 1.0163 | One-half flood . ...--- Light breezes.

Brig nese cece acess 1.0169 |Three-quarters 11 feet; light breezes... .0005 1. 0164 | Low water .--..----- 17 feet; light breezes.

flood.

CURRENTS.

Over the Pocomoke beds the general set of the ebb current is westerly until it reaches the
shoal between and south of Broad and Ape’s Hole Creeks, where it turns to the southward into
the main channel. The majority of the observations of the ebb current were made during moder-
ate northeasterly breezes, but the direction seems to have been but little influenced by them,
though the strength probably was; as at high and low water by the tide tables, when there should
have been no perceptible current, one was observed of from 0.1 to 0.2 of a mile an hour. The max-
imum strength observed was 0.5 of a mile per hour. The flood current sets northeast over the
beds, and has a maximum strength of 0.5 of a mile per hour, and is but very slightly influenced in
direction by the wind.

In the main channel of the Sound, below the Shell Rocks and over the Muddy Marsh Rocks
the flood current sets to the northward, following the general direction of the channel. The max-
imum strength of this current, when uninfluenced by the wind, was 0.45 of a mile per hour. No
observations of the strength of the ebb current were made in the main channel; but it is probably
equal, or of slightly greater strength, than the flood, and sets to the southward.

Over the Bird and Hern Island Rocks the flood current sets to the northward and eastward
into Mesongo and Guilford Creeks, with a maximum velocity, when uninfluenced by the wind, of
0.24 of a mile per hour. The ebb sets to the southward and westward, curving to the southward
as it becomes influenced by the main current, with a maximum velocity of 0.4 of a mile per hour.

North of the Guilford Flats the flood sets northeasterly toward Muddy Creek. The maximum
velocity observed during light northerly breezes was 0.3 of a mile per hour. South of the Guilford
Flats the current follows the general direction of the channel, the flood having a tendency towards
Hunting Creek, where the channel into Guilford Creek joins the latter. The maximum velocity
observed during light northerly breezes was 0.5 of a mile per hour,

The ebb out of Mesongo and Guilford Creeks sets to the southward and westward, following
the channel until it reaches the Bird and Hern Island Beds, where it curves to the southward. Its
maximum velocity was 0.4 of a mile per hour. The current over the Brig and Parker’s Beds sets
to the northward and to the southward; the maximum strength of the flood, when uninfluenced by
the wind, was 0.24 of a mile per hour, but a moderate breeze appears to be sufficient to cause a
marked increase of strength and change of direction. Off the mouth of the Chesconessex, where
the wind, though light, had the width of Chesapeake Bay and both Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds
to sweep over, the flood tide on the third quarter had a set to the northward and eastward of 0.4

39

of a mile per hour. North of Parker’s Bed the flood, on the first quarter, during a moderate south-
westerly breeze, was found to set to the northeast at a rate of 0.6 of a mile per hour.

The oystermen greatly overrate the strength of the currents in the Sounds, putting the maxi-
mum velocity at about four knots on the ebb and somewhat less on the flood; but I could find no
reason that would explain so great an increase over the velocities as established by ourselves, and
consequently doubt the value of the estimate.

DEPOSITS.

The fact that on nearly all the beds, and especially those in the vicinity of the creeks and
rivers and in the upper part of the Sound, there is a light covering of mud, more or less thick,
over the oysters, would lead to an inference that there must be a deposit of that character going on.
On most of the beds the substratum of the bottom was hard and the thickness of the surface-cover-
ing gradually decreased as the entrance to the Sound was approached. In the upper part of the
Sound shells were found with the mud for several feet, and of such a number and character, being
old and discolored, as to forbid the supposition that they had recently sunk in the mud or been
covered by it.

The Pocomoke River, draining an extensive tract of the Peninsula, would bring down a large
amount of sediment, which the strong ebb current would carry directly over the beds in the upper
part of the Sound. The set of the ebb is east, and, as will be seen by the chart, the deeper water
lies nearest the southern shore of the upper Sound, and those beds lying to the southward of the
channel are the hardest and least broken. The shores are low and marshy, and probably add
somewhat to any sediment held by the main current before it enters the Sound.

I infer that there is a deposit going on of maximum amount over the Old Rocks and those to
the northward of the channel, and decreasing as the entrance to the Sound is approached. The
amount in any given period of time would be difficult to ascertain, but the character will be shown
to some extent by an examination of the specimens of bottom. Whether the amount of matter
deposited is sufficient in quantity to seriously affect the beds is a matter of conjecture; I should
judge that it was not, and my opinion coincides with that of all the oystermen I was able to inter-
rogate. That it must have some effect cannot be doubted, and the evident deterioration of the
beds in Pocomoke Sound may be accounted for, to some extent, by the supposition that the effect
is injurious; but so many other and more direct causes exist for the deterioration that it is difficult
to eliminate their influence. The fact that the beds have existed and have been worked since the
first settlement of the country would lead to an inference that the effect, if prejudicial, was very
slightly so.

The scattered oysters lying on the sands and those beds in the vicinity of sand-shoals and in
shallow water, the Muddy Marsh and Beach Island Rocks particularly, are exposed to damage by
“sanding” in @ manner similar to certain beds in Tangier Sound, and which has already been
described. The large amount of grass, sponge, and sea-weed growing on the sand shoals, especially
the one to the east of Hern Island and south of the Guilford Channel, is frequently torn up by the
heavy gales and deposited ou the beds with the saine injurious effect that it had in Tangier Sound.
Heavy southerly gales will sometimes cover the beds above the Buoy Spit and Shell Beds with
mud for a short time, but not sufficiently long, it is said, to affect the oysters seriously.

EFFECT OF ICE AND GALES.

The heavy gales that occur in winter and summer, though principally during the former
season, increase or diminish the depth of water on the beds sometimes as much as three feet.
Strong northerly and northwesterly gales have the effect of diminishing the depth of water, piling
up any floating ice upon the leeward shores, and cutting away parts of those shores. Heavy south-
easterly and southerly gales will increase the depth of water on the beds, stir up the soft muddy
bottom of the channels and beds above Shell Rock; and, during the winter, in addition to piling
the ice on the leeward shores and planted beds near Ape’s Hole Creek. will pile it up on the Old—
Rocks, Buoy Rock, and Shell Rocks. Generally speaking, the beds in this, as in Tangier Sound,
are in too much water to permit their being uncovered by even the heaviest gales, or to allow the

40

ice to ground upon them at any time; but those beds in shoal water (of about one fathom), and
the planted beds, which are generally in less, are subjected to both evils. The effect of gales and
ice in Pocomoke Sound seems to be less than that in Tangier Sound, in consequence of its less
extent and smaller area.

GENERAL INFORMATION GIVEN BY OYSTERMEN.

The following information is that derived from the answers to the questions propounded to
the fishermen and others.

All the oystermen and dealers that were encountered during the season, so far as was possible,
were interrogated. That which was not pertinent to the subject, or evidently influenced by self-
interest or other considerations, has been excluded.

There has been no material change of the channel within the memory of the oldest fishermen,
nor have they ever found oysters in the deep water of the main channels of either Sound. With
regard to the improvement or deterioration of the beds, it was the general opinion that the beds
had been much extended in size, that the quality of the oysters had improved, both as to size and
flavor, but that the number on the beds had been very materially diminished, so much so, that it
was hardly profitable to work on some of the beds. About thirty years back, the large beds in
the Sound were not known to the fishermen and when first discovered and worked, the oysters
were in clusters, long and thin valved and of poor quality, though very numerous and easily taken.
Since their discovery, and especially during the last ten years, the beds have been greatly over-
worked and the number of oysters much lessened.

Formerly, the best oysters were found on the Terrapin Sands, and there were none on the sands
inshore of the*beds; now the finest oysters in the Sounds are found on the sands bordering on the
beds and are considered better than any in the general market. All the beds have been much
extended by dredging, especially the Bird Rock in Pocomoke Sound and the Great Rock in Tangier
Sound, the former being two-thirds larger than when first discovered, and the three rocks, of which
xreat Rock was originally composed, having been dragged into one continuous bed. Though thus
extended, it was the opinion that there were not as many oysters on the beds at present as were
found on the smaller areas. In Fishing Bay, at the northern extreme of Tangier Sound, though
the beds as a whole had deteriorated, during the last four years there had been some improvement
on account of a more rigid observance of “close time.”

The cause assigned for the deterioration, and even the admittance of the fact, depended very
much upon the occupation of the informant. The tongers, or those who pursued the fishery with
tongs alone, were unanimous in laying the deterioration to excessive dredging, while the dredgers,
or those owning pungies or other vessels employed exclusively with the dredge, while they admit-
ted the decrease in the number of oysters, laid such decrease to the action of natural and unex-
plained causes, arguing that the evident extension of the beds and improvement of the oysters, due
to dredging, was sufficient to prove its good rather than ill effects.

With regard to the effect of ice in cold weather, every one coincided in the opinion that the
oysters in deep water were most affected and those in shoal or brackish water were least so. In
the same depths and character of water, those oysters about the edges of “muddy rocks” and
close to muddy channels or sloughs were most affected by the cold or a severe freeze. After the
latter event the packers distinguish the deep water oyster by its dark, slimy appearance, and decline
it, though at the same time shoal-water oysters are in good order and are accepted. With regard
to the quality of the animals, those in the Sounds were considered finer than those in the creeks
and rivers, and of the different beds those from the Shark’s Fin, Terrapin Sands, and Bird Beds
were considered superior. Regarding flavor alone, those from the salt water were the best, and
generally the salter the water the better the flavor.

With regard to an increased freshness of water, due to freshets and heavy rains, it was the
general opinion that during the winter season it was not of much consequence, but that in spring
or summer heavy rains or freshets were very beneficial, especially in the spawning season, hasten-
ing its advent and shortening its duration. An inereased freshness of water alv ays fattened the
oysters. Oysters in salt water were always poor, and oysters were generally poorer after a dry

41

season. Planted oysters above Pig Point and the Old Rocks, in Pocomoke Soundghave been
known to die from absorbing too much fresh water, and those on the Old Rocks have sometimes
suffered from the same cause; but this only occurs during heavy freshets.

With regard to the depth of water and character of bottom, shallow water was preferred, and
sticky mud or mud and sand, about six inches in thickness over a hard substratum, was considered
the best, though a larger amount of mud did not matter, provided it was not so soft as to allow
the oysters to sink in it and had a strong current over it.

The oysters were said to feed on the flood tide, having their bills open then and at no other
time. No one had noticed any enemies or animals that preyed upon the oysters, and all seemed
to be ignorant of the drills and their destructive effects.

The oysters are ‘‘culled,” that is, they are separated from the old shells and other débris, while
the boat or vessel is on or near the bed. Everything except the oysters is thrown back, sometimes
striking the bed and as often the mud. The young oysters under a year and a half in growth and
less than two inches long are also thrown back.

All persons interrogated were of the opinion that at least 75 per cent. of the oysters on a bed
are taken off each year, and that no more than 50 per cent. should be removed. Off the beds near
Haine’s Point, at least 100,000 bushels, or about 20,000,000 oysters, were taken in the season of
1878. Off the Great Rock, about 100,000 bushels, were taken by one hundred boats in October and
November of 1877. The oysters on the rock at the end of November were so scarce that but a very
small number of boats could find profitable work on the bed. In the spring about 75,000 bushels
more were taken up and sent north, and as the oysters were small, they amounted to probably
15,000,000 at least. Ixclusive, then, of the fishing done during the winter months, in one season it
is estimated that 30,000,000 of oysters were removed from one bed alone.

Nearly all the oystermen advocated a ‘close time,” either from April 1 or May 1 to October
1; many considered a prolongation until November 1, and an entire rest every other year, would
be beneficial.

With regard to transplanting the oyster and its transportation, all experienced persons were
of the ‘opinion that delicacy of handling, and freedom from jars, concussions, and shocks of any
kind were desirable. Oysters when under hatches shave very frequently been killed by heavy
thunder storms and firing of guns. Any concussion or sudden shock will prove destructive if the
animals are in a confined space. Oysters taken up during the summer are much more susceptible
to injury from this cause than those obtained during the winter. —

Oysters are transplanted. at any and all seasons, but generally in the spring and autumn.
Oysters obtained by the use of the “tongs” are preferred to those dredged, and generally those
taken either before or after the spawning season are most desirable. The dredged oysters are apt
to be broken about the bills and will die on the planting grounds sooner and in larger numbers
than the “tonged” ones. Those oysters planted about the Sounds are generally obtained from
“tongers,” but those sent to the north, being in such large numbers, are usually dredged. The
size and age of the oysters to be transplanted depend on whether they are for early consumption
or not. If the former, the larger and older the better, but in the latter case young oysters, from
one to two years old, are preferred. Generally any and all oysters are taken, without regard to
age or size. The oysters for the northern planting grounds are usually taken up as soon as ice
clears away and are used during the spring. Those transplanted in the Sound are taken up later
in the spring, or during the early summer or autumn months, and used during the following winter.
Blunt-nosed oysters, with thick shells, do not thrive on the planting grounds. A change of bottom
in transplanting oysters is not considered of so much importance as a change of water. The
planted beds should be laid at the mouths of creeks and rivers having a rapid current. The bottom
best for natural beds was considered best for planted ones.

The spawning season was said to be from May until August, inclusive, though most of the
spawning was done in June and July. All opinions coincided that the oyster in shoal water
spawned first, but differed as to whether, the depth being the same, all oysters on the same bed °
spawned at. or about the same time, as many being for as against the theory. Currents were said
to have no effect upon the spawning. Oysters of one year’s growth, three-fourths of an inch long,
have been seen with the spawn in them, and oysters on natural beds were thought by the majority

App. 11——6

42

to spawn sooner than the planted ones, though there was not much difference. Oysters trans-
planted with the spawn in them, however, will cease spawning. A wet or warm spring would
hasten the time of spawning, but would not shorten its duration. Heavy freshets were very
destructive to the “spat” in Pocomoke Sound, driving it out into the bay, and large schools of fish,
especially trout and tailors, devoured a good many every spring and summer. The young were
supposed to “strike” every three years, though there was but little regularity about it, a bed
sometimes running for ten years with a young growth on it every year and then failing to produce
anything for two or three years. Sometimes one part of the bed will be covered by young, and
another part totally barren.

No systematic attempt had ever been made to increase the amount of ‘ cultch” in the Sounds,
though a few persons had placed old shells, ballast, boards, and boughs about their planting
ground and succeeded in making a good catch. It was the general opinion that the oyster
increased in size from one to two inches in the first year of growth and a little more than that
during the second; afterwards the increase was much less. Oysters from two to four years old
were considered as best for the market, and are then from 3 to 4 inches long.

Ten bushels of oysters were considered a profitable day’s work for a tonger. For a dredger
the number of bushels varied on account of their different sizes. About 60 bushels were considered
a profitable day’s work for the larger vessels and from 20 to 30 for smaller craft. The dredging ves-
sels employ from four to nine men, and the “ tonging” canoes one man and a boy. Tonging could
not be carried on profitably in depths greater than 4 fathoms in the Sound, and dredging in not
more than 6. The dredges vary in size, from 2 to 4 feet across the mouth, with from eight to sixteen
teeth. Generally they are made about 3 feet wide, with twelve or fourteen teeth, but vary a good
deal in weight. My informant found that, generally speaking, it was more profitable to fish with
the tongs exclusively, for the large oysters used for barreling by the dealers, and to dredge for
packing and canning establishments. The tongs are worked at small expense and the “ barrel”
oysters bring a much larger price, though they are necessarily selected oysters and more difficult
to obtain. The prices paid during the season of 1877~78 were about $1 per barrel for “barrel”
oysters and from 5 to 40 cents for the ordinary oysters from the beds; the ‘‘snaps,” or most infe-
rior quality, bringing the lowest price, and 40 cents being paid only for ‘“‘extra culled” oysters.
About 20 cents per bushel would allow a small profit. The flavor is not generally taken into
account, and the degree of fatness and the size settle the price. Salt-water oysters sometimes
command better prices when intended for a special market or to supply some unusual demand.

With the improved appliances in use, as at present, the general opinion was that about twenty
or twenty-five years ago one-third more oysters could have been taken in the northern part of Tan-
gier Sound than at present, from two to five times as many about Crisfield, and in Pocomoke Sound
nearly seven times as many as at the present day; that without any of the modern contrivances it
was possible then for either tongers or dredgers to take many more in a day than at present. The
general opinion of all persons in and about the Sounds, with a very few exceptions, was that the beds
were being worked much beyond their capacity, and the majority were in favor of extending the
‘“close time” as a remedy for the deterioration. Many thought that a resting time of a year or
more would be beneficial. All were in favor of enforcing the law prohibiting the dredging and
working of the beds during the “close time,” and all testified that there was no attempt toward
the enforcement of the law at present, either by the oyster police or any one else.

CONCLUSIONS.

The foregoing pages, with the record and charts, contain all the data collected during the season
for the study of the beds and the conditions affecting the animals upon them. Not regarding it as
within my province and not possessing sufficient knowledge of the subject, I have not attempted
any study of the biology of the oyster, but have confined my report to as concise a description as
possible of the beds and conditions surrounding the various forms of life upon them. The follow-
ing remarks are simply tht conclusions drawn from certain peculiar features and facts established
by the investigation and testimony and an attempt to account for them.

In reviewing the remarks upon the different beds, it will be seen that there is a marked absence
of oysters classed as “young,” or those supposed to be of the last brood, on all beds above Kedge’s

43

Strait in Tangier Sound, and above the Bird Rock in Pocomoke Sound. In Tangier, the young
first appeared in considerable quantities on the middle of Muscle Hole Bed and Piney Island Bar,
There were none in either the Manokin or Big Annemessex Rivers or on the northern part of
Harris’ Rock, though large numbers were found on the central and southern portions of the latter.
The southern beds of both Sounds were plentifully supplied. Again, on the southern beds there
was an absence of the class termed by us “young growth,” or oysters apparently spawned during
the previous season, while on the northern beds of both Sounds the proportion of this class was
very large. Over these different beds the change of density is too slight to enter into the question
and the currents too nearly similar, both in direction and strength, to have influenced the difference
in production. On nearly all of the northern beds in both Sounds the bottom is muddy or the beds
in close proximity to muddy bottoms. To the southward, however, the bottom is hard and the
beds surrounded by sand or gravel, except on the edges nearest the channels. Again, all the
northern beds in both Sounds are in comparatively shoal water and those in the southern parts
in deep water.

There are, then, two similar facts noticed in both Sounds with regard to the presence and
absence of the young and “young growth”; the former have been found in deep water and on hard
bottoms, the latter in shoal water, on or near soft bottoms. The character of the bottom can
hardly be of much importance in this case, for though a hard, clean bottom is necessary for a suc-
cessful attachment of the “‘spat,” yet the bottoms on the northern part of the Sounds must be suf-
ficiently so to obtain a large quantity, as is shown by the large number of young growth on those
beds; and that the absence of the young is not due entirely to that cause is shown by their scare-
ity on the Chain Shoal and Drumming Shoal Beds in Tangier, and Shell and Muddy Marsh Beds
in Pocomoke Sound, where the bottom is hard and moderately clean. Remaining, then, as the
only probable cause known to us, is the difference of depth of water.

It will be found upon reviewing the remarks and record that almost invariably the young are
found in deep water and the young growth in shoal. It was the opinion of the oystermen that
the oysters in the Sounds increased from one to three inches in length in the first year of their
existence. The class termed ‘‘ young growth” by us were from three-fourths of an inch to one and
a half inches long; and supposing the oystermen to be correct in their estimation of increase in size,
‘the class termed “young growth” would then be of the same season’s brood, spawned much earlier
than those termed young. The investigation of the beds was carried on in September, and in
Tangier Sound the principal amount of information was collected during the latter part of that
month and the first part of Octoher. If, then, the oysters on the shoal-water beds had spawned
in the early part of June, they would have had about four months growth when our observations
were made. In searching for spawi in the oysters during the latter part of August and first part
of September, Mr. Rice was unable to discover any except in those from deep water, and that fact,
together with the inference drawn from the preceding paragraphs, leads me to believe the oyster-
men correct in stating that there is a difference in the time of spawning of the shoal and deep
water oysters. There is but-one other way of accounting for the absence of young on the northern
beds, and that is by accepting the supposition that the ‘‘spatting” not only does not occur every
year, but that it occurs only on parts of the Sounds during each season. Such is the opinion of
many people of experience, but I am inclined, frem the results already given, to prefer the other
solution of the problem, not having found any reason that would support the opposite theory or
lead to its entertainment.* The difference in time of spawning in shoal and deep water is proba-
bly due to difference in temperature, the deeper water naturally being of the lowest. The estab-
lishment er the refutation of this supposition, as also of that of the difference of the times of
spawning, is very necessary, especially of the latter, as it would afford a sure basis for such legis-
lation for the protection of the beds as will soon be necessary.

Aside from the general absence or presence of young on particular beds, it was noticed that
a much smaller number were found on or adjacent to the muddy bottoms, or on the sands where
there was much grass or sponge. On the beds a large number of young were seldom found where
there was much of the red sponge, though there was not always a diminution of the former when
the latter was present. The absence of the young may be very readily accounted tor if the sponge

* NoTte.—Reference is made to this statement in Report of 1879.

+4

had formed previous to the ‘‘spatting,” as it would prevent the exposure of the ‘cultch.” The
sponge is of very rapid growth, and I was informed that on an unworked bed it had been known
to become three or four feet thick in a few months. If, then, it had formed and commenced grow-
ing after the “spatting” season, the young would not be as much disturbed by it as they would
if the growth had been previous to their-advent. This is another reason in favor of the theory
that the depth of the water influences the time of spawning, as the effect of the sponge on the
numbers of young was greater in deep than in shallow water.

The number of drills (astyris) was, generally speaking, in direct proportion to the number of
young, and the Pocomoke beds, especially the Bird and Hern Island Beds, appeared to have suf-
fered most from their ravages. A description and sketch of this animal, taken from specimens
preserved by me, has been made by Mr. W. H. Dall, Assistant Coast and Geodetic Survey, who
has kindly furnished me with copies. Very few star fish and welks and no other enemies were
discovered in the Sounds, and the drills are probably the only ones that do any considerable damage.

With regard to the beneficial effect, or the reverse, of fresh water, there can be no doubt that
the oysters at least appear fatter and are superior after absorbing it, though they become poorer
in flavor. In order to test the effect of fresh water upon them and to determine if the low spring
tides had any share in causing the decrease in the numbers on the beds, a dozen oysters were
selected from the same bed and haul of the dredge. Six of them were opened immediately and
inspected and found to be rather poor, of small size and dark color, but of the ordinary flavor.
The remaining six oysters were placed in perfectly fresh water for twenty-four hours, the water
being changed several times during that interval. They were then opened and inspected. They
were alive and in good order, very fat, or apparently so, and of a creamy white color and much
swollen, but of very insipid taste. As the oysters were alive at the end of a day’s immersion in fresh
water, they cannot well be destroyed by the brackish water of low spring ebbs, to which they
would not be exposed for more than six hours, though a continuance of heavy freshets might very
seriously affect them. As there is but one river in both Sounds (the Pocomoke) likely to subject
the oysters to this evil, for the main beds there is nothing to fear.

The evil effects of sudden jars and concussions are probably due to the breakage of the delicate
pedal muscle, which after the spawning season, in common with all other parts of the animal, is in -
a more or less weakened condition.

In explaining the fact that the oysters in deep water are more affected by cold water and ice
than those on the shoals, it is necessary to remember that the lower the temperature of sea water
the greater its density, and thus as the surface water becomes cooler it would sink. The freezing
point of salt water is below that of fresh. Therefore the oysters in the deep water, or, generally
speaking, those remote from the mouths of the streams, may have surrounding them water of a
slightly lower temperature, depending upon the amount of salinity, than those oysters near the
creeks and rivers that are surrounded by ice. Again, the deep water would be much slower to
lose or acquire heat than that on the surface or in less depths, which would necessarily be affected
quickly by all changes of weather.

The statement that the oysters recover and reappear after the ‘‘sanding” process, must be
received with great caution, opposed as it is to most experience. That some few may survive is
possibly the case, but that the majority recover after being covered with sand for any length of
time is very doubtful. :

The testimony of all persons in the neighborhood of the Sounds was to the effect that the beds
were deteriorating. In the absence of any reliable observations, extending over any length of time,
their opinions must be taken as correct, at least as to the fact, although perhaps only approximately
so as to the degree. Accepting, then, the statement, it is necessary to account for the deteriora-
tion if possible. P

After the original formation and growth of the beds they would at some time, the same con-
ditions continuing, cease their development, neither increasing in size, or in number of oysters,
there being a natural limit to expansion in either direction. Supposing, then, a bed to have
extended itself as far as the conditions of bottom and water or other natural limit would allow, all
future expansion could be only in the number of oysters on the bed; this is limited principally by
the amount of food and the room for development (the question of enemies not being considered,

45

as, there being no increase, if they were not in sufficient numbers to prevent the growth of the
bed and number of oysters, they would not be sufficient to cause its destruction or deterioration).

The number of oysters would then, on a limited bed, steadily increase as long as there was
sufficient room and food supplied them until they had reached their limit, a rather indefinable
one, in that direction, the quality of the oysters not being taken into consideration. Having
reached that point, the number of oysters to all intents remain the same as long as the conditions
under which they had previously lived were not changed. To cause, then, either an increase or
diminution of the number of oysters or size of the bed, a new factor must be brought in, when,
all conditions being changed, the life of the animals begins anew and progresses differently. As
there can be no doubt that both the beds and oysters of Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds have
changed greatly in character since their first discovery, in accounting for that change it is necessary
to discover the new factor or factors that have been introduced and that have been instrumental
in effecting it. Briefly, the change in the beds has been a material expansion of their limits and
a material diminution of the number of oysters upon them, and therefore the causes for such changes
must be sought among such as it is known would produce like effects.

Disregarding for the present the agency of nan in the matter, the question is, What natural
cause or causes would both expand the beds and diminish the number of oysters? A bed is
extended naturally by the drifting spat or ‘young brood” attaching themselves to any clean, hard,
and moderately rough substance contiguous to the bed. The locomotive powers of the “spat”
exist for but a short time, and, except when assisted by the current, they can only move a short
distance, and unless some suitable object soon presents itself for their attachment they will sink
into the soft bottoms and die.

The principal expansion of the beds so far as could be effected by nature must, however, have
been accomplished long ago, the beds being surrounded originally, and indeed at present, by soft
bottoms of a character which would be most destructive to the ‘*brood” unless some substance
was interposed between it and them for their reception. Natural expansion can only be achieved
to any extent in the manner described, and though probably there is and has been a slow extension
of the beds due to natural unassisted causes, their great increase in area during the last thirty
years must be assigned to other agents.

The diminution of the number of oysters may be effected by several natural causes. An
increased deposit of earthy or vegetable matter upon the beds would, if in sufficient quantities to
bury the oyster, effect the destruction of both old and young; but no such deposit has been
noticed, nor could it well occur without showing its presence in other ways, principally by changing
the channels and causing shoals, and no such changes have occurred, my investigation showing
but slight deviations in either channels, shoals, or character of the bottom from that established
by the first hydrographic survey of the locality. A change in the character of the water and
bottom which would probably follow a change of channel, and might occur without such change,
might, by depriving the animals of their proper food, cause their deterioration and destruction;
but such a change, though it would certainly diminish the number on the beds, would do so sud-
denly and the evil effects would be noticed in the oysters remaining, their quality and flavor,
indeed their vitality, being very much impaired. No such impairment has been observed, how-
ever, the oysters being larger and finer than when the beds were first discovered. That fact
alone will eliminate many quantities from the equation, for any natural cause injurious to all the
oysters on the beds would be evident at once by an examination of those found at present. If,
however, the destruction or non-production of the necessary number of young is accomplished by
means that are not harmful to the mature oyster, a cause is discovered for the diminution of all, in
harmony with the existing facts.

Considering first the destruction of young; large numbers, immense when compared with the .

production of other animals, are without doubt naturally destroyed by the falling of the “spat”
upon unfavorable grounds, the prevalence of heavy freshets which would drive the ‘“ brood” into

the bay and probably cause its loss, and the ravages of various enemies. But all these causes -

have been in operation continually since the first formation of the beds, and the animals have
survived and increased while contending with them. Therefore an increase of power for injury
must be assigned to one or all of these to account for the diminished number of oysters. Probably
the ‘‘spat” falls on more favorable ground since the beds were discovered than was formerly the

46

vase, owing to the increased amount of “cultch” due to the fishing of the beds, and aside from
that the conditions surrounding and operating upon the beds are so similar to those in the past
that the loss of the young could not be much greater from the want of attachment.

The freshets and other natural causes for diminished numbers of young have also been long
in operation and the deterioration cannot be justly assigned to them. Remaining then to be
accounted for are the ravages of enemies. Those found by us during the season were astyris in large
numbers, a few welks, and a very few star-fish, but as the oystermen were ignorant of both their
presence and destructive effects Iam unable to decide whether they have increased or diminished
in numbers. There is no doubt that very large numbers of young are destroyed by the drills or
welks; fully fifty per cent. on some beds in Pocomoke Sound, and if these small enemies have
only within late years entered the Sounds we have one of the principal causes for the deterioration
of the beds. But as there is also a marked deterioration upon those beds upon which no drills
were found, still another cause must be at work and must be sought in the non-production of the
young.

This is caused by the failure of the ‘“‘ brood” oysters, they having been removed or become
extinct, thus causing a failure of impregnation. If the theory is correct that there is a mutual
fecundation, partaken of by all oysters on the beds, the spermatozoa being formed and milted
somewhat prior to the formation of ova, then it can easily be understood that if the oysters are
so much separated that even the tides and currents cannot bring the spermatozoa within reach
of the adjacent animals, there could be no production of young. Taking for instance the most
exaggerated case in both Sounds, that of the Muddy Marsh Bed, it will be seen that the set of the
eurrent over it is not generally from any other adjacent bed, the nearest one being Parker’s Rock,
which is over 3 miles distant; the oysters on the Muddy Marsh Bed were very few, and the mass
of shells immense, affording ample surface for the attachment of the drifting “spat,” should there
be any. But supposing the oysters on the beds to have been so much diminished that they were
not sufficient for mutual fecundation, the distance and situation of other beds is such as to prevent
the current from bringing the products of generation voided on them to the Muddy Marsh rocks,
and there would be, as was noticed, an almost entire failure of young. In the same, though less
degree, would the other beds suffer, the amount of spawn voided depending not only upon the
number of mature “brood” oysters, but upon their distance from each other and the spaces sepa-
rating the beds. This theory is supported by the investigations that have been made in England,
France, and Prussia, and almost all opinions coincide that the number of young in any spatting
season is dependent upon the number of “brood” oysters upon the beds. Indeed, it seems so
self-evident a proposition that it is hardly worth while to experimentally establish it. It is neces-
sary, then, having accepted the theory, to determine what proportion of the oysters should be
taken off the beds, and what proportion is actually removed. As there is no data to my knowl-
edge derived from observations made in this country to determine the first of these two desired
points, it is necessary to turn to the experience of foreign oyster fisheries for guidance, and though
the animals and the conditions under which they live are not entirely similar, yet some information
may be obtained and a line of investigation marked out for the future.

The following is a synopsis of the deductions of Professor Karl Mobius, professor of zoology in
the University of Kiel, whose work, in manuscript, on the oyster was kindly lent me by Professor
Baird. The observatious were made over the Schleswig- Holstein oyster beds by government officials
from 1730 to 1852, and were carried on in, practically, the following manner: Hach bed was dredged
over in three or six places, according to its size, and the oysters taken were divided into three
classes and carefully counted. The classes were denominated “ marketable,” “* medium,” and “ young
growth.” The “marketable” oysters were full grown and mature, from 7 to 9 centimeters in length
and breadth, and 18 millimeters thick. The “medium” were half-grown oysters, from 16 to 18 mil-
limeters thick and of less than 9 centimeters in i-readth. The “young growth” were tbose one or
two years old. From these observations Professor Mébius discovers that there was an average of
421 medium oysters to 1,000 full grown ones. The average of all the observations differs very
little from the number given by each, and consequently shows that there was but slight fluctuation
in the proportion in one hundred and twenty-two years. The medium oysters are considered by
Protessor Mébius to be those descendants of the marketable ones that have survived their most

47

precarious years of existence and escaped their principal enemies, and are consequently likely to
reach their full growth. They thus represent the total number of embryos spawned which have
survived in the struggle for existence. ,

From his (Moébius’) experiments he decides that an oyster spawns about 1,000,000 embryos in
a season, and that 44 per cent. of the mature oysters give forth “spat.” [Other authorities are of
the opinion that only about 10 per cent. spawn; Professor Mobius’ data appear hardly sufficient
to justify his conclusion. |

From the above it is evident that inan assemblage of a thousand oysters, 440,000,000 embryos
will be voided every season, and of them 421 would survive, or 1,045,000 embryos would be destroyed
where one was preserved. But the medium sized oysters also spawn, though they send forth a
much smaller number of embryos. Md6bius estimates that the 421 in the community would pro-
duce about 60,000,000 of “spat.” It would therefore require about 500,000,000 embryos to produce
421 medium oysters, or 1,185,000 to produce one. Regarding these results, Professor Mébius is
of the opinion that no more than 40 per cent. should be removed each year, but, in my opinion, in
order to maintain the oysters at a constant number in the above case, no more than 25 per cent.
should be taken, as the one oyster in four would be replaced each year. No comparison between
the Schleswig Holstein beds and those on our coast can well be instituted, but as the beds in
Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds are of greater extent, and as the more extensive the bed the
greater the breeding power, I should consider that, until the annual number of mature oysters
produced is known, it would be safe to take about 50 per cent. from the beds, supposing them to
be in good condition. That is but an estimate, and may be an erroneous one, but certainly it is
not too small. It now remains to be seen what number of oysters are actually removed from the
beds. I regret that statistics of the oyster trade in the Sounds are not at hand for réference, and
also that the pressure of other work while I was in that locality prevented me from obtaining
them. Such observations as we were able to make, however, will furnish a basis for a somewhat
rude estimate of the number of oysters and young taken off the beds during the season.

While in Crisfield Harbor, about the 11th October, we counted fifty-seven sail oyster dredgers.
The number of bushels carried by them was estimated, and the estimate subsequently verified by
the statements of the mas‘ers of the several vessels in each class. The following table shows the
result for one day:

TABLE I.
a Average num- | Average num-
Fcc 3 Number of ber of bush- | 1 eas : Number of ber of bush-
Class. Number. TAS, els to each | Class of vessel. Number. nvsiales as a Gan
sail. | | | sail.
|

Se 2 TE | ae eet as 2S : |) = cet td LW te. 2
Schooners ..-----.--- | 37 2,075 | = 56 | Buckeyes .---.--.-- 4 | 45 1
Sloopseeeeeeee erie sei 12 | 256 | 21 | Canoesteeees ere scree | 4 32 | 8
TIS Chl ee yess oe | Oueeitl ean Gan | FALE cnsosocaneoe’ eee ace yeas ates Ti eee

17 |

— |

Cneindl (Oe onedel| ossedconscossae | 2, 408 | |

The day had been a bad one for dredging, and but a small number of dredgers had been at
work, and they had come into port much earlier than usual; consequently the average and total
number of oysters are below the usual figures. On the same day, in order to ascertain the number
of young attached to the mature oysters that were taken off the beds, I had three samples, of .a
peck each, selected from different vessels entering the harbor and the number of young on the

48

shells counted. The vessels were of different sizes and from different localities. The results are
shown in the table following:

SUATB lee

a Number of young to the S |
a peck. g
S oO |
5 ‘
Vessel. BI 5 3 | Localities from which obtained.
a 3 = rs 2
8 D 2 & D
= pees fe Fy
a Be | ow a a)
ae eae || | =e rat =
STOOD Nets ee se Roe 13 | ney abel oe ea eee 72 |
SOU Gita cs souesonsbosadeo HHcasoesosen 30 93 | 125 163 508 | The small proportion from Great Rock, the
| | | from Terrapin Sands,
TENORIO cass ea ccescossascosc0ece 398305 15 | Bb eeoee SBeSe Seceeraces 132 | Deep Water Rock, Kedge’s Straits.
SOW sssodo ncodabee doécseng séoseasssace 23 | 73 88.) sacccesae 322 | Paul’s Rock.
Schoonereeseeee ee ecee eet eorce. cence 90 76 113) lsaocaoaade | 308 | Great Rock.
SChOON GL eeepc ee seen cee eee ee eee 65 | 32 Vie HoSesoocns 192 |
SOI WINE.s soe ecusegasue dachacasasoneoes 80 55 89 57, 40 221 | Great Rock and Thoroughfare.
Buckeye...-.. SHB On SEG SO SHEER Prcas ssae 10 Il BAasouseralcoconcacee 4 | Paul’s Rock (Sands).
IANO Dascasooes Heckedovad ecanpelee 25 Cee NaSaaaol Boas boabe 196 | Great Rock (northern part).
SONNE? s sHoncuodpey saad subuoe coesedse 50 64 39 23 168 | Great Rock.
SNOOP nodaosocuooaasedes.sbesboobousc iysi50 67 Bbilleeeeenneee 205 | California Rock.
Wifi. csncacdoobeodsooesauscapsecs 2,228 | Average 202 per bushel.

The total number of bushels brought into Crisfield, as seen by Table I, amounted in one day
to 2,408, and estimating the number of oysters to a bushel to be between 150 or 200, we have for the
results of one day’s fishing from 361,200 to 481,600 oysters and about 486,000 young. During the
progress of the work in the Sounds, there were twenty-four counts made of the dredgers in sight
from the vessel. In order that some idea may be formed of the number of oysters taken by these
dredgers, an estimate has been made, based upon Table I, of the number of bushels and young
carried off the beds. In forming the estimate, all the vessels in the Sound were divided into three
classes—the first being an assemblage of all the different craft, the second only the smaller classes,
and the third, where about two-thirds were small, and the remainder large craft. The number of
sail counted was then placed in one of these classes, we having observed when among the dredg-
ers the particular class and size of vessel usually working over a particular ground. In order to
ascertain the number of bushels to each vessel, the total number of bushels brought in (2,408) was
divided by the number of sails (57), which would give 42 bushels as the average toasail. A closer
estimate is obtained from Table II, where the number of bushels assigned to each craft is that
given by their master. The total number of bushels (551), divided by the number of sail (12), gives
45 and a fraction as the number of bushels to each sail. “I have divided by 12 instead of 11, be-
cause the last number in Table II was the result of two days’. dredging.

The average number of bushels per sail for the second class, by Table I, is 16.6 bushels; by
Table II, 17 bushels. The average for the third class is, by Table I, 29 bushels; by Table II, 33
bushels. In all cases the smaller numbers have been used in calculating the number of bushels
of oysters. The total number of bushels taken from the beds in both Sounds in thirteen days was
47,842, and allowing from 150 to 200 oysters to a bushel (though the number is probably larger),
there would be removed from the Sounds in the very first of the season from 7,176,300 to 9,568,400
oysters. This, however, is far below the real number, as the entire area and number of sail were
not visible at the same time.

In order to estimate the number of oysters removed from the beds in each day, I have divided
the Sounds into four sections. The first section comprises all of Tangier Sound north of Little
Island and the Mussel Hole Bed. The second section comprises all of that part of the Sound, in-
cluding the Manokin and Big Annemessex Rivers, between Little Island and Jane’s Island. The
third section comprises all of Tangier Sound south of Jane’s Island. The fourth section all of
Pocomoke Sound.

49

Assembling the number of dredgers known to have been dredging on these different sections
and the number of bushels taken by them, I have deduced the following results:

| First section | Second section | Third section | Fourth Section

Locality. . Upper Tan- Middle Tan-;| Lower Tan-
gier. | gier. | gier. | Focomoke.
Total number bushels taken*.........-..-------------++--+- 22-22-2022 22222 15, 135 | 10, 115 | 18, 060 2, 673
Hl | |
INTC ON GERI cece sus beeen epee saber eee Souseee ae saae SeMsEE cone secon ee senuaer 4 | 4 | 6 | 3
Average per day.-----.------------------ +222 2s eee ee ee SSE See eee eaeee 3, 783 | 2, 523 | 3, 060 | 891
Average number oysters per day ....-...-----------+----+-- 02+ +--+ ++ +2 +--+ 567, 450 | 378, 450 | 459, 000 | 133, 650
ss pee See |e Se yas
Grand total taken off in one day....--.-.-..-.-+----222+2+---22220-- eee Jebacit cemete one ys | tue eeensesteans eceherbonontcs | 1, 538, 550

* 150 oysters are given to the bushel.

Though there were dredgers in large numbers at work early in September and also many dur-
ing the entire summer, yet in order that any error may be under, rather than over estimation, I
will consider the working season to be from the Ist of October to the 1st of May and allow three
days in each week for bad weather which would prevent dredging. That allowance will leave 120
working days, and in that time, by the preceding table, over 184,600,000 oysters would be removed
from the beds in the Sounds, supposing them to supply the same number during the entire season.

By Table IL it will be seen that the average number of young to a bushel was 202. That num-
ber represents the number of young oysters attached to the shells of the full-grown ones that were
removed from the beds. That the estimate is not above what is actually the case I am certain from
the immense numbers of young brought up by our own dredging operations. In making up the
estimate 20 and 30 young were frequently found on one shell, and in one case 54 were counted. In
estimating the total number removed from the beds in one day, only those vessels dredging on
such beds as were known to have a large proportion of young upon them have been considered,
and even then the estimate reaches the astonishing figure of 1,238,790. These oysters are those of
from two to five months’ growth, and may be said to have survived the most precarious portion of
their existence, their shells having become hard enough to resist the drills to a certain extent, and
they being firmly attached to the mature oyster, and in no danger of destruction from any cause to
which it would not be equally exposed. Still, many of them would doubtless perish even if undis-
turbed, for though all oysters on the beds, mature or others, would suffer if exposed to unfavorable
conditions, yet many of those conditions would affect the young and young growth to a greater
degree than the mature and more hardy oysters. I will therefore suppose that 50 per cent. of the
young taken up would never have reached maturity, and will also make another and very liberal
supposition, that by the 1st of April the young would have reached such a size as would make it
profitable to open them. That would make the working season, so far as the young were concerned,
104 days, and the number of young removed would amount in that time to 128,834,000, of which
about 64,417,000 would probably have attained their full growth. These young are a total sacrifice,
never seeing the water again after their removal and generally perishing on distant or adjacent shell
heaps.

Many more are probably destroyed by carelessness in disposing of the old shells brought up
by the dredge. The dredging is usually across the bed, and the shoal hard ridges noticed along
the edges of the beds on the western side of Tangicr Sound and on all edges adjacent to muddy
bottoms are no doubt caused by the dredgers, who, as they approach the edge of the bed, having
dragged across it, haul in their dredges just before getting over the muddy bottoms. They then
stand on, tack or ‘‘ wear,” and as soon as on the bed drop the dredges again. In the mean time
the crews have been busily “culling” the oysters, and, as likely as not, have thrown over on the
soft mud a far larger number of young attached to the shells than they have taken off on the
oysters. No account has been taken of the number of mature or young oysters removed by the
tongers, and the estimates are based upon observations made at the commencement of the fishing
season, when, the prices being low, a smaller number of dredgers would be at work; therefore, there
is every reason to believe that the estimate of both classes of oysters is under rather than above
the real number removed. We have, then, aside from the ravages of the drills, a yearly destruction
of over 64,000,000 young and the removal of 184,600,000 mature oysters to account for the deteric-
ration of the beds.

App. 1l——7

50

Whether this extensive fishing is beyond the capacity of the beds or not, cannot be accurately
stated; the only information on the subject obtainable being the statements of the oystermen that
the beds are deteriorating from that cause. But an estimation of the effect of excessive fishing
may be formed by examining its results upon such beds in England and France as have records
upon the subject. The most instructive of these are the records of the production of the beds of
Cangale Bay, on the northwest coast of France, which extend over a period of sixty-eight years—
from 1800 to 1868. The beds in the bay comprise an area of about 150 acres, and from 1800 to 1816
produced from 400,000 to 2,400,000 a year. This, however, was the period of the Napoleonic wars
and the fishing was much disturbed by the presence of the English cruisers. During this time
the beds became so thickly stocked that the oysters were in some places a yard thick. After the
close of the war the fishing improved and the oysters were removed in larger and increasing
numbers until 1845. From 1823 to 1848 it is supposed that the dredgers were living upon the
oysters accumulated during the period of enforced rest, from 1800 to 1816. In 1817 the number
of oysters produced was 5,600,000, and until 1843 there was a constant increase, the number taken
in the latter year being 70,000,000. In 1848 it was 60,000,000; thenceforward there was a constant
decrease. From 1850 to 1856 the decrease was from 50,000,000 to 18,000,000, supposed to be the
effect of overdredging. From 1859 to 1868 the decrease was from 16,000,000 to 1,079,000; the
oysters having almost entirely disappeared from the beds, though on account of the suffering con-
dition of the inhabitants of the shores it was almost impossible to prevent it. In 1870 there was .
a complete wreck of the bottom which could only be remedied by a total prohibition of the fisheries
for several years.

From the beds of the districts of Rochefort, Marennes, and island of Oléron, on the west coast
of France, there were taken in 1853~54 10,000,000 oysters, and in 185455 15,000,000. On ae-
count of exhaustive fishing, in 1863-64 only 400,000 could be obtained.

According to the testimony of Mr. Webber, mayor of Falmouth, England, about 700 men,
working 300 boats, were employed in a profitable oyster fishery in the neighborhood of Falmouth
until 1866, when the old laws enforcing a “close time” were repealed, under an impression that,
owing to the great productive powers of the oyster, it would be impossible to remove a sufficient
number to prevent the re-stocking of the beds. Since 1866 the beds have become so impoverished
from excessive and continual fishing that in 1876 only 40 men and 40 boats could find employment,
and small as the number is, they could not take more than 60 or 100 oysters a day, while formerly,
in the same time, a boat could take from 10,000 to 12,000.

According to the statement of Mr. Messum, an oyster dealer and secretary of an oyster com-
pany at Emsworth, England, made before the Commission for the Investigation of Oyster Fish.
eries, in May, 1876, there were in the harbor of Emsworth, between the years of 1840 and 1850, so
many oysters that one man in five hours could take from 24,000 to 32,000. In consequence of over-
fishing, in 1858 scarcely ten vessels could find loads, and in 1868 a dredger in five hours could not -
find more than twenty oysters.

The oyster fisheries of Jersey, in the English Channel, afforded employment to 400 vessels.
In six or seven years the dredging became so extensive and the beds so exhausted that only three
or four vessels could find employment, and the crews of even that small number had to do addi-
tional work on shore in order to support themselves.

The foregoing are a few of, though by no means all, the instances that may be quoted in order
to show the disastrous effects of overworking the beds, and in concluding the remarks under that
head it will be instructive to extract from Professor Mébius’ work his prophecy with regard to our
own beds, which is here introduced:

‘In North America the oysters are so fine and so cheap that they are eaten daily by all classes.
Hence they are now, and have been for a long time, a real means of subsistence for the people.
This enviable fact is no argument against the injuriousness of a continuous and severe fishing of
the beds. * * * But as the number of consumers increases in America the price will also surely
advance and then there will arise a desire to fish the banks more severely than hitherto, and if they
do not accept in time the unfortunate experience of the oyster culturists of Kurope, they will surely
find their oyster beds impoverished for having defied the bioconotic laws.”

The question now to be decided is how the protection of the beds and their improvement is to

51

be brought about. The protection laws of the State of Maryland, which govern the larger part of
the Sounds, are, briefly, as follows: Dredging is allowed from October 1 to May 1. Taking of
oysters in other ways from September 1 to May 1. Dredging is not allowed in the rivers and creeks
of the Sounds or in their mouths. No steam dredges are allowed. All dredgers and ‘“‘tongers” must
be licensed. Violations of the law are punished by not more than two years imprisonment nor
$200 fine. For the enforcement of these regulations there is established a State Fishery Force,
consisting of one steamer and several small sloops; one of the latter having jurisdiction over Tan-
gier and Pocomoke Sounds. The officers of this Fishery Force and the sheriffs and constables of
the different counties are empowered to make arrests and enforce the law.

The above is the amount of protection afforded by the law if carried out. In the Sounds, in
reality, there is none. Neither the State Fishery Force, sheriffs, constables, or any other persons
make arrests or enforce the law, the public opinion of the community being against such a pro-
ceeding, though every one recognized the necessity when considered in the abstract. I have seen
numbers of dredgers at work and the police boat cruising among them, and this was during the
latter part of August, when, if at any time, the oysters should have been free from disturbance.

Before deciding upon the measure of protection to be given to the beds, it may be well again
to see what has been accorded by foreign governments and with what success. On the Schleswig-
Holstein banks the ‘close time” is from the 9th of May to the 1st of October; no oysters less than
24 inches in length are removed at any time. The law is enforced, and still the beds are deterio-
rating.

In Ireland, the “close time” is from May 1 to September 1, and in some localities of the coast
from the 1st of April and the Ist of March until the 1st of October and the Ist of November. It is
unlawtul to dredge or have in possession any oysters or oyster brood during the “close time.” The
inspector of fisheries can call a meeting of interested persons to decide upon a change of ‘close
time.” Inspectors are empowered to permit the planting of oysters and to prohibit the presence
of dredges on board any boat during the “close time.” The coast guard and constabulary are
empowered to enforce the laws, and violators are suitably punished.

The deep-sea fisheries for oysters in the English Channel are governed by rules adopted by
England and France. The ‘close time” is from the 16th of June to the 31st of August. Any
boat having a dredge, or other implement used for taking oysters, during that time, is considered
as having violated the law. Competent courts of each country have power to punish offenders
and the cruisers of each nation power to enforce the law, which is strictly observed by the French
fishermen and frequently violated by the English.

In France the oyster beds are protected by stringent and effective laws, which may be briefly
stated as follows: The government assumes control over all oyster banks and fore-shores. As
occasion may seem to require, an entire bank, or part of it, may be reserved from dredging for a
certain time, decided by the local commission. The general practice seems to be to buoy off a
third or fourth of a bank each year, which portion is only sufficiently dredged to remove weeds,
mud, vermin, &c.; the remainder of the bed is opened to all licensed persons for a certain specified
time; the following year another part of the bank is reserved, and occasionally parts are reserved
for a longer period. The local commission decides all matters pertaining to the beds and their
vicinity, and is composed of the following officers: The inspector of the fisheries, the commander of
the fishery guard, two “‘Gardes-Maritimes,” one fisherman, master of a boat. The following are the
most important regulations made for the guidance of the commissions by the minister of the
marine: The beds should not be opened for fishing until the spat has acquired strength to resist
the action of the dredge; until the end of January, for example. When a bed has well established
breeding capacities, a fourth or fifth part of its total area should be set apart as a reserve, and
dredging over such part eutirely prohibited. <A fishery-guard boat should, whenever practicable,
take part in the working of each bed. When a bed is foul or encumbered with weeds or other
matter noxious to the development or adherence of spat, it should be open for dredging until
cleaned. Beds on which there is never any production of spat shall be opened all through the.
season. After the working of any bed is over, it should be carefully inspected and, if necessary,
the cultch replenished. The ‘close time” is between the 1st of May and the 31st of August, and
is strictly observed, The foregoing regulations have caused a great improvement in the beds on

52

the French coast, and the regulations of other nations have been made and enforced in time to
prevent the depletion of their beds.

As an instance of the effect of this protective policy, when understandingly conceived and
rigidly enforced, the beds in the Bay of Arcachon are a good example. In 1870, through over-
fishing, they had become entirely exhausted; but, by the strict protection afforded them, their
fecundity has once more become so great (in 1876) that the waters of the bay from June until
August are filled with the young swarm. On a bed when dry, at low spring ebbs, comprising 26.7
acres, there were taken by forty or fifty persons, in about two and a half hours, 60,000 oysters.
That part of the bed was immediately buoyed, and no more fishing. allowed during the season.

Having seen what is considered necessary for the protection of the beds by European nations,
and why it is necessary, the question is, how we can best use their experience. The best remedy
for any evil is the removal of the cause, and we have concluded that the cause of the evil in Tan-
gier and Pocomoke Sounds is over-dredging and the destruction of the young brood. Therefore,
until the rate of production and the proportion between the number spawned and the number
reaching maturity is decided, only a specified number should be taken off of each bed in the
Sounds. If observations, both as to the number removed and the increase or decrease of the
number to the square yard were continued, a basis might be found for the establishment of the
maximum number to be removed; but until that number is established no working of the beds
should be permitted between the middle of April and the 1st of November, and none of the beds in
Pocomoke Sound should be dredged over at all, except so much as it is necessary to clean them.

There should be a sufficient number of oyster guard-boats to superintend the dredging, both
in general and when for cleansing purposes, to collect statistics as to the number of young and
mature oysters removed, and to make all observations as to the number to the square yard. They
might also collect a good deal of cther useful information while on the beds. During September
and October. they should examine the beds, in order to ascertain the number of young, and those
beds having a large proportion should be reserved from dredging operations until the young are
able to resist the action of the dredge. No oysters below a certain size should be taken off the
beds, and it should be punishable to have those under the specified size in possession. Whenever
it is judged that any bed open to general fishing is being worked beyond its capacity, the oyster
guard should have power to prevent any further dredging on it. When any bed with a large
number of young upon it is open, either the packers or fishermen should be compelled, as far as
possible, to return the shells to the beds, or the hard bottoms surrounding them, within a certain
specified time, provided that the oysters were opened in their immediate vicinity. Large numbers
of young would thus be saved, and the areas of the beds increased. No one should be allowed to
take or to possess an oyster having more than a specified number of young attached to it. During
the time when not otherwise employed, the oyster guard-boats could be usefully engaged in
removing the weeds and grass from the sand shoals and the moss from the closed beds. It must
be remembered that dredging is not an unmixed evil, and that the improvement of the oysters and
the extended areas of the beds are mainly due to it; but it should be conducted under suitable
restrictions, and in this connection may be advised the use of the scrape where it is now prohibited,
and the prohibition of the heavy dredges in shoal water and on the soft bottoms.

If there is any animal known to naturalists that is an enemy of the drill and not harmful to
the oyster, its introduction into the Sounds would be a great benefit; and, finally, if in the spring
either the State or the fishermen would collect the shells from the piles about the packing-houses
and deposit them on the hard bottoms contiguous to the beds, they would furnish an excellent
“ecultch” for the ‘‘spat,” and probably make a good catch and a permanent extension of the oyster
ground. :

I have made the above suggestions with the hope that they may in some way bear fruit for
the benefit of those engaged in the oyster fishery in the Sounds and Bay. Some more adequate
protection than that now offered must soon be afforded, or loss and distress among the large
number of people in Maryland and Virginia engaged in the fishery will soon follow from the failure
(and that more or less sudden) of the oyster industry. In concluding this part of my report, I
cannot do better than to again quote Professor Mébius, whose remarks on the preservation of
natural banks of oysters are well worthy of attention:

D3

“Tn conclusion, I hereby give as the foundation for all oyster culture the most important rules
for the improvement of the natural oyster banks. ;

“First. An oyster bank will yield permanently the greatest profit if it possesses such a stock
of full-grown oysters as will be sufficient to maintain the fecundity of the bank in accordance with
its bioconotic conditions.

“Second. When the natural conditions will admit of it, the yielding capacity of an oyster bed
may be increased by improving and enlarging the ground for the reception of the young brood.
The natural banks should be improved by removing the weeds and plants with dredges and
properly constructed harrows, and by scattering the shells of oysters and other mussels over the
bottom. When circumstances will permit, all the animals which are taken in the dredge, and
which kill the oysters or use up their food, should be destroyed. It would be much more judicious
and much better for those who eat oysters if the ‘close time’ could be extended until the 15th of
September or the 1st of October, so as to allow the oysters some time after the expulsion of the
contents of the generative organs to become fat before being brought to the table. If it is desired
that the oyster banks should remain of general advantage to the public and a permanent source of
profit to the inhabitants of the coast, the number of oysters taken from the beds yearly must not
depend upon the demands of the consumers or be governed by high price, but must be regulated
solely and entirely by the amount of increase upon the beds. The preservation of the oyster beds
is as much a question of statesmanship as the preservation of forests.”

INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN OF 1879.

My assistants during this season were Master H. H. Barroll, U.S. N.; Eusign W. H. Allen,
U.S. N.; Mr. W.-E. W. Hall.

Mr. Barroll had charge of the compilation and arrangement of the statistics collected, and,
in the field, general charge of the work during the absence of the chief of the party.

Mr. Allen calculated the number of oysters to the square yard, and the ratios between the
classes; he also tested the water specimens and developed the curves illustrating the changes and
range of density.

Mr. Hall was charged with the care and arrangement of the records so as to facilitate their
study by myself and others.

INSLPRUCTIONS.

The instructions of the Superintendent, issued June 30, 1879, desired that the vessel and party
- should proceed, as soon as possible, to the lower Chesapeake Bay, and continue the investigation
begun and prosecuted during the previous season. The instructions were concise, and, being sup-
plemented by verbal ones, were expressed in general terms. It was intended that the scope of the
investigation should include as much of that called for in the instructions for the previous season
and such additional matter as the judgment and experience of the chief of the party should dictate.
The vessel sailed from Baltimore, Md., for Tangier Sound on July 3, 1879, and the field work was
completed on the 30th of October, when she arrived at Philadelphia, Pa.

PLAN OF WORK.

In devising the original plan for the work of the season it was expected that, not only would
the party be much larger than it actually was, but that it would be in the field much earlier in the
season. This original plan was, briefly, as follows: One division of the party, in a small steamer,
was to continue the delineation of the beds and the search for such new ones as might exist. The
extension of the survey was to be from Tangier Sound along the eastern shores of the bay.

The other division of the party was, in the Palinurus, to continue the study of the beds already
surveyed, the conditions affecting the oysters, and determine, if possible, the effect of changes of
temperature and density upon the production and subsequent life of the spat and mature oyster.
They were also to ascertain what was the increase in size of the oyster in a given time, and deter-
mine the number of oysters surviving in each successive period of life, or establish the natural
ratios between the different classes. It was also intended that this branch of the party should

54

obtain, if possible, satisfactory information in regard to the sex of the oyster, the method of prop-
agation, the number of embryos spawned, and the habits of the animal during the early stages of
life; or, in general terms, it was intended to make the study of the embryology of the oyster part
of the work of the party.

It was proposed to continue this branch of the inquiry throughout the year, and to make, by
means of self-registering thermometers and careful series of density observations and chemical
analyses, an exhaustive study of the character and changes of character of the water surrounding
the animals on the beds.

Another division of the party was to undertake the collection of statistics, amd was to visit
and inspect all the dredging vessels and packing houses, that some value might be assigned the
dredging factor, to which most of the evils affecting the beds appeared to be due.

The smallness of the annual appropriation made it impossible to carry out the original plan,
which was accordingly modified; and the want of funds, which reduced the size of the party and
scope of the work, also prevented our getting into the field before July 1. Thus the opportunity
for studying the embryology of the oyster and many other matters of interest relating to the
reproductive processes was unavoidably lost. It was decided, however, to attempt the execution
of the original design so far as was possible with the diminished force and time at our disposal,
but upon our arrival at Crisfield, Md., it was found necessary to again modify and change our plan,
or else duplicate an investigation that had already been undertaken and ably executed.

Members of the Johns Hopkins Zoological Laboratory had been established at Crisfield for
some months prior to my arrival, and Dr. W. K. Brooks had begun the study of the embryology
of the oyster, had made experiments in impregnating the ova with the spermatozoa, and had suc-
ceeded to some extent in raising the oyster from the egg. The study of the embryolgy of the
oyster was thus not only undertaken but concluded, so far as was possible, during that season.
The results were alike surprising, interesting, and valuable, and, having been accomplished by so
able a worker, did not need any confirmation at our hands, and as it was his intention to continue
his experiments in the future and trace the development of the oyster up to the point of attach-
ment, I wrote to the Superintendent proposing a new scheme for the season, which met with his
approval, and which contemplated the abandonment of all investigation of the embryological life
ot the oyster.

The work of the party during this season was, properly, the collection of such information as
would conduce to correct answers to the following questions:

1st. Were the oyster beds improving or deteriorating ?

2d. What were the causes for such improvement or deterioration ?

3d. How is the deterioration, if existing, to be prevented and the beds improved ?

In the endeavor to answer these questions it was necessary to investigate many problems and
to collect much information having apparently but little bearing upon the main question, but it
was my endeavor to limit the extent of the inquiry as much as possible and to direct all the ener-
gies of the party to the decision of the three points mentioned.

Though the biology of the oyster should be studied, yet only so much of it was essential to the
work he had undertaken as would assist in the solution of the problem presented, and consequently
it was desirable to leave an extended investigation in that line to others and to settle ourselves
only such points as would, as far as we could see, directly assist us in arriving at correct con-
clusions.

The investigation conducted during the summer and autumn of 1878 had shown that the beds
were deteriorating rapidly, and so far as could be seen the principal cause for this deterioration
was the over-fishing of the beds. The remaining question to be answered was, then, how the dete-
rioration was to be prevented.

The main cause was decided to be excessive fishery, which, by removing too large a number of
mature brood oysters, diminished in a constantly increasing ratio the fecundity of the bed. Other
causes operated also to some extent, but their effects were inconsiderable.

There is but one method of maintaining the fecundity of the beds, and that is by protection,
but this protection can be afforded in several ways: Hither by restricting the fishery, by enlarging
the field for the dredgers, or by insuring the maturity of a larger number of oysters, by artificially

DD

impregnating the ova of the female and protecting the resultant embryos during those periods when
they are unable to protect themselves.

To afford protection and maintain the fecundity of the bed in the last-mentioned manner has
been attemped by Dr. W. K. Brooks, and his efforts have been in a measure successful. The ova
has been impregnated, and the life of the resultant embryos has been maintained for varying
periods, the maximum being sixdays. Whether this success will be of practical benefit remains a
matter of conjecture, but should it prove practicable to thus assist nature in maintaining the beds
at their greatest productiveness, it will require extended experiments before we can feel assured
that the protection afforded in this manner will be sufficient. To confirm the opinion as to the
deterioration of the beds, and to show the best method of protecting them in the two remaining
ways, has been the endeavor of the party under my command, and to that result have our efforts
been directed.

In the absence of positive and correct information as to the life and habits of the oyster, all
legislation relating to their protection must be to a great extent inoperative and non-productive of
the desired results, and until such information has been obtained the best and easiest remedy for
the deterioration would be an extension of the known fishing ground; in other words, the discov-
ery of new and well-stocked beds; as, the number -of dredgers being, at least for a few years,
constant, they will naturally seek the most profitable field for labor, and leave the overworked
beds for the newly-discovered ones, thus giving the former a chance for recuperation. That this
is the case is evident by the record of statistics, most of the dredging vessels working on the new
beds outside the Sound and on those in the Potomac River on account of the poor returns given
by the beds in Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds.

The protection afforded in this manner would, however, be but temporary, the demand for
oysters constantly increasing, and the number of vessels working liable to increase with it; conse-
quently it may soon be necessary to legislate for the direct protection of the beds and to limit the
supply by law before it is stopped entirely by nature. It is well, therefore, for the best interests
of all classes, that such an amount of information should be collected, as to the character of the
beds and oysters and the general conditions under which they advantageously live, as would direct
protective laws into a chanel productive of most good.

The first necessary information to be obtained, and that of greatest moment, would be a knowl-
edge of the positions and areas of the beds. No law could be passed which would protect a bed
whose position and boundary was not at least approximately known, nor could any study of separate
beds or comparisons of many be undertaken without such knowledge. Again, since nature has
already selected these areas as those most favorable to the growth and life of the oyster, they
evidently are the best grounds upon which to deposit the young brood, should the experiments of
Dr. Brooks prove successful and of practical importance. Indeed, it is hardly possible to enumerate
all the advantages of knowing the positions and areas of the natural beds, and it may safely be
said that a thorough study of the oyster question would be impossible without it.

' Of next importance is the knowledge when the bed is in the condition of greatest fecundity.

In the attempt to attain this knowledge the number of oysters to the square yard of the sur-
face was ascertained during the season of 1878, as described by me in my previous report. The
results were of comparative value, and subsequent operations in each year were to show whether
the oysters on the bed were increasing or diminishing; or, in other words, the fecundity of the bed,
as compared with previous seasons, was to be ascertained.

During the last season these numbers have been again calculated in a similar manner; but,
working with a greater knowledge of the subject generally, and a more correct estimate of the desired
results, I have devised another method for ascertaining whether the bed is in its most productive
condition.

It is evident that in any large community there must be a certain ratio between the individ-
uals of different ages, and that any change in this ratio will indicate an increased or decreased
fecundity. It was not, and probably will not be for some time, possible to separate the oysters
into classes by ages, except in a very rude manner. The only indication of the age is the size of

D6

the animal, and the oysters were, therefore, separated into four classes, according to size, in the
following manner:

The first class contained all those over three inches in length, and embraced all full-grown,
mature oysters.

The second class contained oysters between 2 and 3 inches in length, and these were supposed
to be mature and fit for market, and between two and three years of age.

The third class contained oysters between three-quarters of an inch and 2 inches long, and
represented the young growth of the preceding seasons, being thus oysters from six months to two
years of age.

The fourth class contained all oysters under three-quarters of an inch in length, embracing the
most minute that could be recognized, and represented the young growth of the last spawning
season, or those of less than a year’s growth.

By obtaining a sufficient number of each class from each bed it was intended to establish
ratios between each class, which, compared with ratios on new and comparatively unworked beds,
would show whether the particular locality under examination was in a state of greatest productive-
ness or not, and by comparing the ratios of successive seasons, the increase or decrease, constant
or otherwise, could be ascertained, and the yield of the bed in ensuing seasons predicted.

In order to have another and more correct standard for comparison and to arrive at certain
conclusions as to whether the spatting in any season was general and extending to all beds, or
confined to particular localities, and in order to know accurately the number of oysters surviving
each period of their perceptive existence, numbers of spat collectors were deposited upon the
different beds. It was the intention to frequently inspeet these tiles, and by counting the number
of oysters on each tile at each examination the number of oysters surviving would be ascertained
and the age of the previously-established classes would be decided. Thus the life of a community
of oysters, free from the dredging influence and protected from all but natural enemies, would be
before us from the time of the first attachment until they reached maturity.

The study of their embryo life properly belongs to the zoological student, and the method of
propagation and the successive stages of that life must be left to him todetermine. It is valuable
to the inquiry under consideration, but not essential; as it is evident that we may neglect the
early stages of life and yet arrive at correct conclusions as to the number of mature oysters neces.
sary to support the beds in their best condition.

Next in importance to the knowledge of the absolute fecundity of the bed is a knowledge of
those conditions which would influence it, and in order that no cause for the deterioration should
be neglected, and that all information bearing in any way upon the propagation and growth of the
oyster might be collected, several matters of secondary importance have been subjected to investi-
gation and the results embodied in either this or my previous report.

Included under this head are—

Investigations into the temperatures and the influence of increased or diminished temperature
upon the mature oyster and embryo.

Investigations into the character of the water, especially as regards its increased or dimin-
ished density.

Investigations into the character of the bottom and its influence upon the oyster.

A determination of the direction and velocity of the currents and such collection of statisties
ot the oyster trade and fishery as would show its present condition and give a value to the dredg-
ing factor; and, lastly:

A collection and study of the fauna of the beds, particularly of those animals supposed to
affect the oyster.

An attempt has also been made to collect the experience of the oystermen and dealers as. to
the habits of the oysters, and as to the effect of the various changes of environment.

Having shown what, in my opinion, were the objects to be obtained and the direction which
the investigation should pursue, it remains now to describe in detail the work of the party in each
branch of the inquiry and to decide upon the value of the results.

No

Coast and Geodetic Survey Report of 1687.

CLUSTER OF OYSTERS AND SPONGE.
From wunworked beds, Chesapeake Bay.
Scale 2/3 Natural Size.

AHoen & CoLithocaustic, Baltumore.

57

DELINEATION OF THE BEDS.

The beds in Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds were surveyed during the season of 1878 and
described in my report of the operations of the party during that year. During the last season
the survey of the beds has been but an incidental part of the work, only such having been deline-
ated as time and circumstances would permit, though those lying inside the Sounds have been
subjected to an examination and survey similar to that of the previous season.

BEDS IN THE NANTICOKE RIVER.

These are small and inconsiderable, embracing a total area of 827,000 square yards.

Most of them lie on the eastern side of the channel and extend a short distance above Ragged
Point, though detached groups may be found much further up the river. The oysters and shells
are uniformly spread over each surface. Each bed is very hard, and in most cases the probe would
not penetrate beyond six inches, but when it was possible to push through the surface stratum a
substratum was found of sand. The main part of the river bottom is of mud, and bottom of that
description surrounds the beds. Along both shores the mud is firmer and of greater consistency
than in the channel, and above Roaring Point on those bottoms are placed large numbers of oysters
transplanted from the Middle Ground Bed and from other localities.

The river seems to be a favorite planting ground, and numbers of boats and canoes were
working the Middle Ground Bed during the summer in order to obtain the “ plants.”

The oysters are small, single and in small clusters, and not of very good quality.

The water being shoal, from 5 to 10 feet, no dredging could be done on these beds, and conse-
quently the number to the square yard has not been calculated.

BEDS IN THE LITTLE ANNEMESSEX.

There are only a few small beds in this river, and they are very seldom worked. Their total
area is 464,000 square yards. The oysters are in detached groups, separated by spaces of mud and
sand, and are small, single and in small clusters. The depth of water varies from 6 to 12 feet.

BEDS IN KEDGE’S STRAIT.

The bottom of Kedge’s Strait, from the sands on one shore to those on the other, is covered
with scattered oysters to greater or less extent, but they are found in greater numbers in the
channel on the soft bottoms than elsewhere. ‘The total area of the beds is 2,894,000 square yards,
and three of the beds are of considerable size.

The first lies on the northward side of the Strait, north of Solomon’s Lump Light-House, south
and southwest of the Western Islands. It extends in a WNW. and ESE. direction (that of the
channel), and is 14 miles long and from one-eighth to one-half mile broad, and is irregular in out-
line. Its area is 1,244,000 square yards.

Due west of this bed, south of Oyster Creek and NNW. of Fog Point, is the second bed. It
extends north and south five-eighths of a mile, and east and west one-third of a mile. Its area is
646,000 square yards.

Southwest and west from this bed, and northwest from Fog Point, in the middle of the Strait
and west of the shoals, is the third bed. Its area is 550,000 square yards, and its greatest length
NNW. and SSE. is three-fourths of a mile, with an average breadth of one-fourth of a mile.

The depth of water on the inner bed is from 12 to 16 feet, and on the two outer ones from 14
to 19 feet.

The oysters are spread in groups of different areas, separated by spaces of mud and sand,
generally the latter, except close to the channel-way, where there is more mud. The beds are in
almost all cases very hard; when the probe would penetrate, soft sand was found. The inner bed
is much softer than the other two, and has a larger amount of mud. The oysters were small and
dark, single and in small clusters of three or four, with no red sponge or grass. Un the outer beds
the shells were larger and cleaner than on the inner, and generally the oysters in the Strait are
larger and with sharper bills than those inside.

App. 11——8

58

INVESTIGATION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WEST OF TANGIER AND SMITH’S ISLANDS.

The only information that could be obtained with regard to the ground outside the Sounds
was that there were a number of beds of different areas lying in the Bay, on the eastern side of the
ship channel, especially about and on the shoals off Smith’s Island and Kedge’s Strait.

The ground being so little known, and the accurate delineation of the beds being so difficult
when attempted with a sailing vessel, I considered it better to employ the limited time at my
disposal in running tentative lines, off and on shore, and other lines crossing them, with a view
to discover the location of the beds and to mark these localities for a more thorough and ex-
haustive investigation in the future.

In accordance with this plan I dredged over the bottom of the Bay, from Tangier Island
northward, running the lines sufficiently close to detect any beds of importance or the presence of
scattered oysters. The distance over which the dredge was dragged was always measured; and,
when the depth of water was not too great, the bottom was probed with a view of determining
whether it was suitable for the oysters.

By reference to the projections it will be seen that these areas occur quite frequently on the
shoal ground making off in a southwesterly direction from Tangier Island; that between Tangier
Island and Cheesman’s Islands there are, in the deep water, no oysters; and that from abreast
Cheesman’s Islands as far north as the investigation extended were found large areas upon which
oysters were living, and in some cases in great numbers. The depth of water does not appear to
influence the formation or growth of these beds, some of them lying on the shoals and others in
deeper water. Generally speaking, here as in the Sounds, the original beds were formed on the
side of the shoals, and wherever there was a sudden change of bottom. -

Wherever the solid beds or ‘ Rocks” were encountered, they were found to be long and narrow
ridges, extending generally in a northerly and southerly direction, except when near Kedge’s
Strait, where they ran more to the eastward and westward; and we could, in standing across the
beds, but rarely obtain more than one or two hauls of the dredge before we were off the “ Rock.”
The major axis appears here, as elsewhere, to lie in the direction of the current, and probably all
natural extension and growth of any bed are in that direction, the spat being carried backward and
forward by the ebb and flow of the tides. The large number of beds near and off Kedge’s Strait
is probably due to the large number of spat brought out from the Sounds through the Strait.

The bottom is generally of hard sand covered with sponge and grass. Near Kedge’s Strait
some mud sloughs were found, and in some cases the substratum of the beds was of clay; but in
most of them the stratum of oysters and shells was too thick and hard to be penetrated.

The beds outside the Sounds have been comparatively free from dredging, and thus present
marked differences from those inside.

They are comparatively longer and narrower, and much more sharply defined. Very few
scattered oysters are found near them, and the beds are much more solid, unbroken, and much
harder, requiring heavier dredges than those used in the Sounds. The most remarkable difference
iS, THOT er, in the shape and growth of the oysters.

On ira undredged beds they are long and narrow, Rh the lower shells very deep, and bills
very thin and sharp. In no case did we find any single oysters of any class, but all grew in
clusters of from three and four to twelve and fifteen. The shells were clean and white, and free
from mud and sand. Generally there was found a tuft of red or white sponge attached to the
clusters, and the mature first and second class oysters were covered and the interstices between
them filled with those of the third and fourth classes; numbers of barnacles were also found, and
some crepidula, but tubicola were present only in small numbers.

The oysters found upon beds that have been much worked differ materially, being single and
broader in. comparison to their length, round and with blunt bills. They are usually dark in color,
and have a considerable amount of mud and sand on the shells. The sponges do not appear to be
as abundant, and the amount of dredging on any bed may always be known by the appearance of
the oysters brought up. Upon an overdredged and almost exhausted bed the oysters will be
large and single, blunt-billed, with dirty shells, and with an almost entire absence of sponges,
barnacles, and crepidula ; Bee the shells will be covered with tubicola and bored in many places
by the boring pholad.

No. 40.

CLUSTER OF OYSTERS AND SPONGE.
From unworked beds, Chesapeake Bay.
Natural Size.

Coast and Geodetic urvey Report of 1687.
Mimi aa S|

AHoen & CoLithocaustir, Baltimore.

59

Late in the last spring the dredgers began working on the beds immediately off Kedge’s Strait
and the one off Hog Neck, and during the present season the returns show that the beds in the
Sounds have been, to some extent, abandoned for those outside in the bay. As so little dredging
was done before my examination, I think the results of the dredging operations of the party may
be considered as obtained from unworked beds. These results will be alluded to subsequently.

Probably small beds will be found along the shores of the islands from Kedge’s Strait to the
entrance of Tangier Sound, but as the water was shoal we could not dredge very close in. As far
as can be seen at present there is no reason why the existing beds should not be extended very
considerably, and such extension will probably take place now that the dredgers are beginning to
work upon them. If suitable “cultch” is exposed, probably very large areas will soon be covered

with oysters.
Table showing number of oysters to square yard.

: - | Number of |
Locality. | observations.| Number.

|
Seeiniom I) ys Or LGaGlas, Sth. soe oonpcconsdoecnanoodcasoccusaseoscqndoacabedqqomHd sdaouaunOUes codmeEpDpnonesess 40 | 0. 37
SCHON, 2D, WEE OF IRL IIOUED) coscs cnccopaseoseneaqabS capac sossesancodb0 36 eon cousgosdos ese cesuoocdsSacegecosuccoedad| 7 | 0, 44
Socihion 8) Aes OF WANMHIG ISIOUISO cosocb esado dedoabe dou chee Sobor Spe O COR GEOG a nbd S HEED Be EBC Cee eadeae soecaneas se decetosces 1 | 0. 30
Seer 2b WOM OF OE INGO cos csesnoccadssadse choad dseddooeeatosedoous sade0e eecsasosns seaaoscosboEdesecesesce aoe 28 0. 40
0. 38

-

AV CammOLmO DS OL vial Gl OMS wer eye ree ae cera eel eee Fe a elec Toe are eee iad nie oe eraiovs Biba eie oercee esaaic mca cee mecicmc slsc|neticwie scene

The above table of the number of oysters to the square yard has been compiled from all
observations made in the bay where there was any evidence of a bed existing, such evidence being
given by the probe, soundings, and character of the matter brought up by the dredge.

The numbers to the square yard have been calculated in a manner similar to that described in
my previous report, and are, as was pointed out in that report, only of value as forming a standard
for comparison. It must be borne in mind, however, in making such comparison, that the hard-
ness of the unworked beds and the closeness of the growth of the oysters would prevent as many
being taken by the dredge as on the softer and more open beds in the Sounds.

By veferring to the table, it will be seen that the number calculated for each locality is very
nearly the same as that arrived at by combining all the observations, and that this number is about
0.4 to the square yard. Accepting that as the standard, the number to the square yard upon a
bed which has been dredged for some time should certainly not fall below 0.4, and considering the
different characters of the bottom, the number, as shown by the dredge, upon an old bed, should
be much larger, unless the bed has been overworked.

The following table shows the number of oysters of each class examined, and also the number
of bushels brought up and the percentage of shells and débris to the whole amount. As will be
seen by the table, the number of the fourth class of this year’s growth is very large, showing that
however bad the season may have been inside the Sounds it has not influenced the reproduction
in the bay.

TABLE I.—Dredging results—Chesapeake Bay.

) | | | = 5 an
|) an . Number of bushels B
Z | umber of bus 5
r = | First class. Second class. Third class. dredged. (ad
5 3B | | vier ey | ea
iS) ao | | 5 Se aa
ey ES) | | a ; ress
pz Locality. ae | | 2 E 2 3 a aa
© © | | 3 I © es S SES:
5 Sa a a rome) a a a 5 Ea 2 3 | s2
~~ | = = . a CI 3 a J onl r- ae |
2 2 B © 2 5 ) | eecics oS) 2 ae) ay ca) o Pye ae
5 I ~ a om me) a a —) | A 5 a oa oa = =a)
3 ee ew eo yee sor els gl S| a | BS
A | SS Q =) o) A | & fo) ea) 6 cs a maim | we le
: an a ¥ E Till Peale de well eetea a seen a
1 | West of Kedge’s Strait.. 52| 1,018; 88{1.49| 1,622) 4.7 | 0.17) 1,150] 2.6] 2.32] 2,674 | 23171161) 7.6] 0.32] 115
2 West of Red House .----- 12 359 3.0) 1.00 360 1.0 0.88 318 0.7 1.41 447 7.2 4.7 2.5 | 0.34 | 115
3 | West of White House ... 15 135 ab ab |) ak Oy 145 0.4 | 0.16 PBS loca 2.15 50 3.0 15 1.5 | 0.50 115
4 | Hog Neck Rock ....---. 106 1, 997 | 17.3 | 1.29 2, 579 7.5 | 1.08 2,779 6.4 1. 87 5, 200 | 42.2 | 31.2 | 11.0 | 0.26 115
5 | West of Tangier Island-- 15 37 0.3 1.30 48 0.1 | 1.06 51 0.1 3.74 191 Wa 2e|eOHD Ss lke es| OMT 115
* 200 3, 546 | 30.5 | 6.15 4,754 | 13.7 | 3.87 4, 321 9.8 11. 49 8,562 | 78.3 | 54.0 | 24.3 | 0. 31
Mean of ratios ---.. | 1.23 | 0.78 2. 29

*75 per cent of this year’s growth.

60

In the foregoing table the ground dredged over has been divided into parallel sections, and
all oysters from the beds in those sections have been assembled together.

Section 1 includes all the beds west of Kedge’s Strait.

Section 2 the beds west of that position on the chart marked Red House.

Section 3 the beds west of that position marked White House.

Section 4 the beds west of Hog Neck and Cheesman’s Island, and section 5 the beds west of
Tangier Island.

In compiling the tables I have entered only those hauls of dredge that have been taken on the
beds or where the oysters were in considerable numbers. The scattered and detached groups and
single oysters have not been considered. Section 5 is not an important one, owing to the very
small areas of all the beds encountered on it.

By examining this table it will be seen that a total of 54 bushels, amounting to 21,183 oysters,
were examined; that from 200 hauls of the dredge we obtained 78.3 bushels of oysters and shells,
and that 31 per cent. or 24.3 bushels of this matter consisted of shells or other débris, and this per-
centage does not differ materially from that found on each section.

Section 5 is not considered, as the percentage there does not entirely represent shells and other
débris of the bed, but rather the sponge and grass of the sand shoals.

Regarding these beds as in their natural condition of healthy life, it is inferred from the
deduced table that, other things being equal, a larger percentage of débris would indicate that the
bed was not giving, for the same amount of labor, its natural return; or, in other words, that the
mass of old shells brought up by the dredge was out of proportion to the number of oysters. This
percentage is of value as indicating the most profitable working grounds, and also as indicating,
when very large, that the bed has been overworked and its population destroyed, as the percent-
age of shells bears the same relation to the oysters as the unoccupied dwellings in a city do to its
inhabitants; an increased percentage means a decreased population.

It is evident that there should be a certain ratio between the oysters of different ages, and in
general terms the number of young should exceed the mature, thus allowing for the natural deple-
tion in each period of growth. Our present knowledge, however, is not sufficient to allow the assign-
ment of exact values to this ratio, and the ratios between the different classes are too irregular,
owing to the variations in the spawnings in the several seasons, to allow their acceptance as a
standard. One thing, however, may be assumed as an axiom, and that is, that the number of
young growth on a bed should always exceed the mature oysters, for if there are no young oysters
in the community there will soon be no old ones, and as there is a constant depletion of each class,
the young must sufficiently outnumber the old to allow those ravages and still adequately supply
the demand and fill up the vacant places in the higher classes.

An inspection of Table I will show—

Ist. That 75 per cent. of the fourth class were of this year’s growth.

2d. That the ratio between the third and fourth classes is the largest, and between the second
and third classes the smallest.

As the second class represents oysters of between two and three years of age, and as the ratio
between the second and first classes is large, I judge that there was a successful spatting on these
beds in 1876; and as the third class represents, on the whole, oysters of the season of 1877 and 1878,
and as the ratios between those of that class and those of the second is small, I infer that the seasons
of 1877~78 were bad spawning ones. Again, the fourth class is principally of this year’s growth,
and the ratio of fourth to third class is large, from which I infer—what was the case—that the
spatting of the last season on these beds was successful.

As already explained, the third and fourth classes practically represent the nitions of three
successive spatting seasons, and thus contain the young growth on the bed, while the first and
second classes represent the mature oysters. If, then, we compare the mature with the young, we
have at once a sure indication of the state of the bed so far as its fecundity is concerned.

In order that the areas under consideration might be as similar as possible to the extensive

‘bia 9 we
; aa’ Th &n

No. 44. ‘ Coast and Geodetic Survey Report of 1881.

ADULT OYSTER-NATURAL SIZE

From Bird Bed, Pocomoke Sound.

——l)
AHoen. & CoLithocaustic. Baltimore.

61

beds inside the Sounds, I have only used for the following table the largest three sections—Nos. 1,
2, and 4:
TABLE II.— Dredging results—Chesapeake Bay.

a Oysters.
a
2 ef TI ; ;
aE Locality. First and | Third ana | Ratios.
ais second fourth}
5 classes. classes. |
A | |
| St eS Oe ee EEE = a pi S — —— —
1 |West of TGCS Sipe Sob ae = -sonsapose seeds sosees oad obo s.seacen ascegedses05 086866 = a5 55=059sde 5006 2, 640 3, 824 | 1. 06
2 |West of Red House 765 1. 06
4 ‘Hog WEG 1800) on ogancer eeosdeaooeseseo nedcab sonodEesoEod bo ore sagqondae sosdacdaseas open saaonooceeedcS 7, 979 1.70
| 7, 935 12, 568 —
WICH OF INOS s cesocsoscnasasocscocroshoomecs eceee son couobSrus sepbU se HacoNSoosoagodacosaues ouseneD [sees eee cece pees ee eee | 1.58

Accepting this mean ratio of all young growth to mature oysters, upon comparatively
unworked beds, as the standard, it is inferred that the ratio on any bed should not fall below 1.5
or 1.6.

FECUNDITY OF THE BEDS IN THE SOUNDS.

In order to ascertain whether the fecundity of the beds in the Sounds was the same as that of
those outside in the bay, a very thorough dredging was continued during the summer and autumn,
and the oysters classified according to the plan already described, and the results are assembled
in the following table:

TABLE I.—Dredging results— Tangier Sound.

|
|
|
|

| se First class. Second class. Third class. pou Bushels dredged. re
D el es See eet eRe a ee | Me es ee tee = rect
Locality. | ag te Y ke bf e a a a; : 2 z 2 | -2 we
|}puw | Oa Oo .. Cn So... on ° on = ° TS tere manta
SCAM Soe aesis! /EMESISH (sol ee Bei Be 1) pig RNs | centimetre) ae
FS) eee = lees Neen ERS Bog se Beal a 3 Bl et | Sees
tat A 4 aU A am | A 4 me A A | fe | me | eS
aoe 4 | ed SEUSS S Sela Wa Be i hs
Middle Ground Nanticoke- CLLR he S78 A Sete 5.18 iy essouee 1.06 08) Nbesces 0. 43 AQiNSEER Sa bee eal ee See Weeesce |
Shankesp inte eee eee a Br | sa ‘ of 1.28 4892 gg 0.92 458 Fase OE UES TOES) Tal ela alee
TWD Tew aoonse coos os $| 54] 340 0.91 3115 i Osan | DNS VOR) Wea B@ Sy ; ; =
| 722 800 694 560 | 16.25 |
ivlenspBedesa se eae } 14 | tee 0.55 1.45 148) aes Oe oy 0.2 0. 49 29 | 3.50.) | Rance
Horsey’s Bar......------. D |) TS). 1. 06 IGS) Ui a Si py $5.) 1.14 25 | 0.503 a e
| 117 164 81 alice
Drumming Shoal..-.-...--- | 39] 666 | 3.0 | 2.16 | 1,439 4.2 | 0.91! 1,308 '3.0 '0.47! 607 | 12.5 !'10.2! 23) 0.18! 9290
Cow and Calf .......----: p 6 at af) 0-66 24 65, 08 23 He aN Se KiB ORME : 3
Grass Tangier ........... 65 | 417 { 1.25; 520 0) 1.06 ant rare eee ie opie Mes alee eeas:| eee
468 554 577 "75, 25
Turtle Egg Island .......-. 54| 875 2.3 | 2.40] 900 216 | 1.57 71,419 | 3.2) | 0.54] 770 | 16.0 8.1) 7.9 | 0.50
IWinil Boel ccsecssoscscueese 53 | 521 | 3.2 | 3.03 | 1,580 4.6. | 1.34 | 2,121 | 4.9 | 0.52 | 1,115 | 21.0 | 12.7 | 8.3 0.40
(ChaintShoaleeeee seer eee 47| 330 | 1.6 | 1.09| 359 | 1.0 | 3.55] 1,374 | 3:1 | 0.70] 966 | 21.0 5.7 | 15.3'| 0.72
Piney Island Bar..........-| 211 | 1,282 | 6.2 | 3.00/ 3,850 | 11.3 | 2.56 | 9,857 |22.8 | 0.41) 4,070 | 75.2 | 40.3 | 34.9 0.45) 204
Muscle Hole.......-. -.-- | 97/1,176 | 7.2 | 2.34 | 2,752 8.0 | 1.68! 3,876 | 9.0 | 0.48| 1,876 | 45.0 24.2 | 20.8! 0.46
Manokin River ....-.----.. 93 | 881 | 4.6 | 1.41 | 1,282 3.7 | 0.48 | 2,158 | 5.0 | 0.49 1,169 | 26.2 13.3|12.9]| 0.491 188
Big Annemessex River..... 41) 392 | 2.0 | 3.88 | 1,521 4.4 | 1.21) 1,846 | 4.2 | 1.03 | 1,905 | 292 10.6 | 18.6 | 0.63 | 196
amis) Bedes= ee eeeeeeeeee 108| 559 | 2.7 | 3.11 | 1,740 5.1 | 2.97 | 5,174 {11.9 | 0.62} 3,204 | 21.0 19.7! 1.3] 0.06
Terrapin Sands .-...-.--.-- 54] 426 | 2:8 | 2.26 996 2:8 | 2:18 | 2,110 | 4.8 | 0:61] 1,292 | 26.0 6.4 19.6 0.75
Jane’s Island .....-....---- 17 | 150 | 0.8 | 4.93] 784 2.3 | 3.53 | 2,771 | 6.4 | 0.43 | 1,209 | 14.5 9.5 5.0 0.34
Woman’s Marsh ...--...... 127| 952 |74 11.13] 968 2.8 | 2.30 | 2,299 | 5.1 | 0.42| 947 | 65.0 15.3 49.7) 0.7 115
(GreatiBedeas sae eee | 152] 1,408 | 8.0 | 1.89 | 2,665 7.8 | 3.02 | 8,056 |18.6 | 0.51 | 4,153 [1165 34.4 821/070 176
Little Thoroughfare .... 2| 35 | a 2 | 2. 32 a Le 3. 69 702 08 0.49 | 346 | 6.5 ¢ Sila .
Great Thoroughfare ..... S33} 2305) = | 1.90| 438 } 9.15 | 4, ns “"U}| 0.36 | 1,483 | 16.0 2 Tei eral ae y use
| | 312 | 628 4,712 1.829 | 22.5
California Bed ....... er | 82] 663 |3.3 | 0.93] 620 1.8 |1.7511,085 |2.5 |0.71| 767 | 240 | 7.6/164|0.68| 196

62

TABLE I.—Dredging results—Tangier Sound.—Continued.

° First class. | Second class. | Third class. Honey Bushels dredged. 2

ia ee es ae Ey eS as {a og

a.| a | Ss he Pe 5 eam BZ

=o B S > a a 5 a 45 Fs ea Bano

P Oey ° 2 © a) ) 2 S I + 5 a A

Locality. FATS eens a oa a; om = on | D ee a BO

eee ne | ge ae Vee cer H ee eal ecg tees

ie) a ar mH I m mt im Hm

Bf BS Be a | Bea BO ca See Se eee ccin | eee ee oma) ae ore

8 Hi a 3 g 8 Be | Ne 3 a § S ta ee Bm

= - = a = =} = t=} ar} = r=] S 3 =, = —

A A A A Zi A A ea A a a) aa) ey || pay

Jobhnson'siBedessesee ee ee 18 SOM Os2ia| dees 54 OTe ler 20) 65; 0:1 | 0:92 60 2.0 0.4 6 0.80

Dog Fish Bed...... eee (32) 218 (, 0.68 us) (dee te) (0.65 J07) ANS) 5: eee Serra eae 152
Trevise Bed ..........-.- Elf as J 214 30 Nees a8 TT Oyetet -DI SE) We ceelnccsselloatecoreseoee

3 \| 2.22 ‘| 0 702 | 0.42 | eye | eae
ShelliBedieepeer erences 31 88 j | | 0.42 37 | 0.88 |. 14 1.78 OB) EO || 833) ) SB | (SO jecoses
IEE Ul soaanoegocacsaaac 16 44 (| 0.81 36) 0.50 18 0. 44 8 5YO) NECeii a Bate seie we se Meee

359 0.69 | 248 0.91 | 228 0.74 170 |
Muddy Marsh Bed...--.... 22 59 | 0.3 | 0.20 12 | 0.03 | 0.75 ()) a Saecee 1. 67 Sie p14 325 al: (043) p135 9) MONO Tal eeeeee
Birdy Bedseseee eres ‘ 60}. 2372] 1.2¢] 0.19 iB} 0 a 0. 37 ie 3. 23 7 50.0 | 1.3] 48.7 | 0.97| 188
Hern Island Bed..-...... 39| 1805|1.0¢) 0.34] 615]. 0.200) 3.62] 2215} 0.50] 0.16 369) 23.0 | 1.7] 21.3| 0.92! 178
417 | 0.26} 107 2.22 | 238 | 0.39 91 |

ParkerisiBed eeeeeee sae 22 | 154 | 1.2 | 0.99] 153 | 0.40 | 5.85] -895 |2.0 | 0.33) 296 | 14.2 | 3.6] 10.6) 0.74) 120
BrigeBoddaceeeteee peer reer | 23] 166 | 2.3 | 0.57 89 | 0.20 1.07 95 | 0.2 | 0. 52 50) | 77.0) | 7.7 || 69)| 077) — 120

By referring to Tabie I it wil] be seen that on all the beds in Tangier Sound, from Fishing Bay
down to the Great Rock, with one exception, that of Chain Shoal, the maximum ratio is that of the
second class to the first. The inference is that there was a successful spatting season on all the
upper beds in 1876 or 1877, probably the former.

Again, the minimum ratio, as far down the Sound as the Mud Bed, is that of the third class to
the second, showing that on the beds above the Mud Bed there was not a successful attachment
in 1878, which was the case as attested by ourselves. The remaining ratios on these beds show
that there has been some attachment during the present season.

Leaving the Chain Shoal Bed for the present, the minimum ratio on all the remaining beds is
that of the fourth class to the third, showing that there has been but little attachment of young
during the season of 1879.

The remaining ratios show that there was a partial attachment of young on the beds between
Turtle Egg Island Bed and the Great Rock during 1878, and a partial attachment on the remaining
beds north of Jane’s Island during 1876 or 1877, while there was a successful spatting on those
lower beds during 1878, which conclusion was found to be correct by our observations during that
season.

Arranging these deductions in tabular form, we have the following:

Table showing the success of spatting in different seasons— Tangier Sound.

Section No. 1. Section No. 2. Section No. 3.
Year. ; | eee RCS s 17F Seer : wage
a Upper Tangier beds down | Middle Tangier, TurtleEgg | Lower Tangier, below
to Mud Rock. Island, to Great Rock. Jane’s Island. *
IVA Oen tsi asagasuda ns sudabacaAssoeceDAnaenecssas6E- | Successful passes eee eeeee ee MiSuccessiuleess a eee eee Moderately successful.
a: 4: Seeaety Seed Niece cae) Se Che. Reet Te ens | Unsuccessful eer eeneeeesee | Moderately successful Successful.
1879.2 2S Sho) Se hs ee EE Ler Bee ee Peres | Moderately successful. ..-..- | lUmsuccesstul@eeeeeeee cree | Unsuccessful.

The Chain Shoal differs from the beds of its section, the upper, in having its successful spat-
ting season in 1878, and its moderately successful one in 1876 or 1877, while during the last season
there has been but a small attachment; it thus assimilates itself to Section 3.

If Tab'e I is again referred to for the Pocomoke beds, it will be found by assembling the upper

63

beds under one head and considering the Bird and Hern Island Beds to be, what they practically
are, one bed, we have a table for Pocomoke, as follows:

Table showing the success of spatting in different seasons—Pocomoke Sound.

Bird and Hern Island Parker’s and Brig Beds.

Year. Upper Pocomoke. Muddy Marsh. Beds
WO OP Wilocacasdacoaaass facie see eeeysue Waa naan Unsuccessful ----...- iWnsuccesstulleeee- eer Unsuccessful -.--..... Moderately successful.
NST Be partes Scie eeieies cee selects nae e ee sereteias Successtul.- =. 22-522. Moderately successful.| Successful ..-...-...-. | Successful.
TRY Catia de SUAS a eee SS a Moderately successful. Successful ......-..--- Moderately successful.) Unsuccessful.

With regard to these tables, it must be remembered that the suecess or want of it is only by
comparison with previous years, nor does it necessarily mean that there has been even a moderate
attachment, but only that one year was better than another.

By combining the first and second classes and third and fourth on each bed, and combining
such beds as are similarly situated and contiguous, I-have arranged the following table for com.
parison with the similar one of the dredging results on the beds in the bay:

TABLE IIl.—Dredging results—Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds.

| : = |
| Oysters. | : Oysters.
= Tei eal Vous (Sane
Sail ee Sale
Name of bed. & Z & Z Ratio. Name of bed. 2 | & A | Ratio.
ga | &8 ga | aa |
| = ° Cid | ns ° ied |
[eae A D de
a =| | J a
oe S| | Ei a
a ie 7 | ine Pret |e 7 mB vi Sea Reae Pa eR al
SharkespiGin wets cesar eee see a eaae 871 | 871 | I O))) Demers skis oe Soeéoacostdesosdese Reusnse 934 | 3,980} 4.26
LWICLORE, OlGS =e eae mae asta see ee ek eels | 651 383 | , GEN] Ggreps GG sc sacssencooseeecasboanacooaases> | 4,073 | 12, 209 3.00
a =] |—— |
1,522! 1,254 0. 82 5,007 | 16,189 | 3.23
TRATES JV un sod ceoebencouvcuecesascoedean 250 88 O835)lavomanrspMarshee esses eae aes aer res 1,820 | 3,176] 1.74
WOMENS. WHR ooscoaecosecaasec Of RS Vases 31) 47 | 1.51|| Little Thoroughfare .....--2-2.-:.22---.--| 272 | 1, 048 | 3. 85
281 135 | 0.48 | Great Rhoroughtare saa- Peseta 668 | 5,493) 8.22
| H sesonee |i) Obibigm mes IEG scodacsadevossesocecceoaces ; 1,283] 1,852 1.44
: cone | | {| |
Drumming Shoal .......-..-.-------------.| 2,105 | 1,909 eat 0. 90 TOhIS On Se Od ewe ee tee eee | 93 125 | 1.34
t 5 9 25 | —_—|
Cowan's alt Perea aae as 222 iecmar eee etal 85 23 0. 25 2,316 8,518 | 3. 67
Grassphanoierere ey ae seeee ee aes teeta e 937 | 1, 140 1.21 t lass
Marte oo lslandigecs oe =. = ao W275) e2189)| | ey 7il') DOS Bush Bede ae yor eee BS |) 200) OW
TYROL RSG ec el aie a Ae ed sat PSH | cj 80 i AGRE ee a eR ano are se aca ae a OD 85) O82
IMiuSGlORETolole: see aeepey NORE eekd 2 BuOzBH | MONTDOmtatd oN EDn oso) od se ets eo ber riceet edad 44 Bs ae
——— ——_—_ Naf ULISen Wasa cdacocdae Seecen cose mease Bence 125 39 0. 31
8,326 | 12,340) 1.48 timtess (ex =
x | eS 607 398 0. 65
Chain Shoal ...--- Sele SAE ee eo 689 | 2,340 3. 41 || gach ots
IPinevalslandsbareessasee eee eee eee 5, 132 | 13, 927 2.71 SUNG) MUEIS)N coposes -cesb26Fe ust acbagtens wwe he lhe Ow
5, 821 | 16, 267 2.79 Jean ISG noo n6 dosaebe acasosbo04 eeeacodsaeA 283 72 0. 25
| lethedeee legos asks vernls andi edie ees ease eae eee aee 241 257 1.07
Mano kin ivy OL ee eee eee serene Tae | 2,163 3, 327 51 |
iy BR ey Se AR ier lado aici 1 Ge OG Rs oot ema ate eaten 524 329 0. 62
Ji INNGWICERER. Gosacceaseuenseksosumecsce 1,913 | 3, 751 LOG} |e MARLEEN eR R MRR TA ORC m Ae Mc mR REI aw Mit) Tes REE yh Po tl teie\=\nyesie
[Peet Wiese IPC Bamlcers Red ajec tse aye ee 307 | 1,191 3.87
sHiapris Bede o ee eerie een ae AyD a veh o/h ||| Setting ton lead ie A a ae 257 145 0.56
Stompin Spas oo ccc tdcemootossecassuoosec 1,392 | 3,402 2. 44
The ratios underlined thus ( saobabo J are the only ones considered, and show the ratio of young growth to mature oysters in each locality. 5

I find the ratio of young growth to mature oysters to be, generally speaking, a constantly
Increasing one from the head of Tangier Sound to the last section.

In my report of the investigation carried on in 1878, I called attention to the noticeable
absence of “young” on the beds above Piney Island Bar and Kedge’s Strait, and to the large
attachment on the southern beds, and the ratios in Table IL begin increasing materially on those
beds where there was a successful attachment of young during the previous season.

Referring to the ““Spatting Table,” it will be seen that on the upper section there has not been
a successful attachment since 1876~77; hence, the mature oysters from two to three years old, the

64

growth of those seasons, should be in the ascendant naturally, and hence the small ratios on the
upper section.

Apparently the ratios should be about the same on the middle section, as its successive spat-
ting season was also in 187677; but the moderately successful season was in 1878, while on the
upper section it was in 1879; and as brood oysters are constantly taken from the beds in constantly
increasing numbers it follows that the yield of each succeeding year will be less. As an addi-
tional cause, more of the beds in the upper section are worked during the summer than in the
others.

During the season of 1878 there was an extraordinary growth of young on Harris’ bed, which
accounts for its large ratio, and the increase of the other ratios over those of the first section is
due to some extent to the attachment of the season of 1878.

On the lower section the ratios are very large by reason of the successful attachment in 1878,
and the but moderate success of the seasons of 187677.

The variations in the ratios can thus be accounted for by the success or failure of different
spatting seasons, and no doubt this success or failure has its influence, but that its effects are not
invariable can be seen by reference to the ratios of Pocomoke Sound.

With the exception of Parker’s Bed, a small bed lying near Watt’s Island and which has not
been dredged as extensively as the others in Pocomoke Sound, we find the ratio of young growth
to mature oysters exceedingly small. In no ease do the former predominate. From this, accord-
ing to the deductions from the Tangier beds, it would be inferred that the seasons of 1876 or 1877
were unusually successful ones for the attachment of the spat, and that subsequently there has
been no successful season.

By referring to the spatting table we find, however, that the spatting season of 1876 or 1877
was on the whole unsuccessful, and the seasons subsequent have either been successful or moder-
ately so, and this conclusion is supported by our observations during 1878. But as the success or
non-success as shown by the spatting table is comparative only, we can only assume that whether
successful or not the attachment was not sufficient as one explanation of the small ratios found in
Pocomoke.

Consequently the variation in the success of different spatting seasons is not sufficient to
explain unusual and abnormal changes in the ratios of the young growth to the mature oyster.

It is evident that the removal of a large number of mature oysters from a bed would show
apparently an increased fecundity, by increasing the ratio of young growth to mature oysters, and
this apparent increase would be observable for at least two years, or until the young growth
becaine in turn mature, when, as the reproduction would naturally be diminished by the removal
of the brood oysters and consequently there would be a smaller number of young growth, and as
the young growth of the previous year would be in that time mature, the ratio would suddenly
turn in the opposite way, and be as abnormally small as it had been abnormally large. Once
having taken this turn, and the fishing still continuing, the ratios would constantly decrease. A
few fluctuations might occur now and then, but the general tendency would be a diminishing one.

Nature arranges her own laws of supply and demand, and the ratios she establishes between
the different classes in any community are most likely to be the necessary ones, and such are the
only ones that can be accepted as standards. We have established that upon the unworked beds
in the Bay the ratio of young growth to mature oysters is about 1.5, but as this is the result of
but one season’s observations, and those over a somewhat limited area, it would be rash to accept
that standard exactly or to draw rigid inferences from comparison with it. Therefore, in order to
allow a sufficient margin for the variations of different seasons and localities, it will be better to
consider the normal ratio as between 1 and 2, and consequently any increase or decrease of that
ratio will be an indication of diminished fecundity, and, all things remaining the same, the eventual
destruction of the beds.

Comparing the ratios of the beds in the Sounds with that established as a standard, we find
that—

1st. All beds above the Grass Tangier fall below the minimum ratio.

2d. That the groups including Tangier Grass and Muscle Hole are within the limit, as are the
beds in the Manokin and Big Annemessex Rivers and the Woman’s Marsh Bed.

65

3d. That all other groups exceed the maximum ratio.

4th. That all beds in Pocomoke, with the exception of Parker’s Bed, are below in minimum.

Instituting another comparison, that of the percentage of débris to the total amount brought
up, we find that, with the exception of Drumming Shoal, Harris’ and Jane’s Island Beds, the per-
centage constantly increases to the southward, and that in Pocomoke it is larger than elsewhere,
and larger on the Muddy Marsh and Bird Beds than on any others.

A coincidence will here be noticed in the increased ratios in lower Tangier and the increased
percentage of débris, and in Pocomoke in the small ratios and very large percentage of débris.

Table showing number of oysters to the square yard.

TANGIER SOUND.

|
| Number of hauls

of dredge. |
Name of bed. | 1878. 1879. Differences.
1878. | 1879. |
| | |
Horsey’s Bar.......------------+2+220 222222 cere ese eece ee eee ene sees eee estes esses eee] | (Tal Foepasbe (Pe cosonconooe
ABSIGHS TBC ceo ncc vocdoo coo ss eacapsesssacceDds ce erecrenoicoossaabe dnaceaboacsabdsssodsrone sdeacesasccsce | WW eeécenne OBR) |Kasscenccons
TVR ING. « ocinon ca pbcbaw Goosen uueLe or peo ee Gees IOS RET CEE Oren eee gape em ree | | 50 | 1.254 0.840 | —. 414
; SHaGHHCE ING. sea ceebs Ce oS aR Eanes Bae e Ee EH SEO E ECC So LCoS TRE AEE aEceTote aaer Beg oOr IOS R ae Eceel Arenas 80 | 1.014 | 0.328 | —. 686
IDRPATANAS SION sacodscssesdooessesesdaconososcccasadae ae ocaocussssacscuscsucdHaEsta0050eba0Rclpesesoas Off |iacdoanes 0.994 |-.---...-...
WEG CRESS. 1 ogsocependdousacds acesoenasocans seaqdoac0c0Ren bs spaguonoaacodDESapandqconassa4 10 100 1.064) 9.872 —. 692
AUS Wee TIENT Coss cca ooos soc ccoonoucacoedeRds posters papsuSsodcedescdscudsuddoad sAB0Sse02000n 13 55 | 0.3882 0.295 —. 087
Whiitl eG SoseaseoasypoudPacaoubeda 5 bS5earn dons S DES onesS S>obDO ner rOR ASP RATenEasHecssHaa SSeOsp anor BParseed| 52) 0.642 | 0.515 —, 127
Ginein SIGHT Jase Ue ase seeds aaige eeoce Oce aan tea ere eae eines fen ae ce Ieceoes | 41 1.589 0.249 —. 296
Piney Ua eynGl BNP ssosdeeseqoe dcocesesdeosdaccscasobbods aousacensenne nuenandoosbeseecosenacusese 49 198 0.687 0.544 —. 143
WISONO JEL) s45e5 Scoocebssses OMe BORE Es SEAR a SED Dich MAE pee Be Le SES eres Aa Ee tee 36 | 87 | 0.826! 0.746 —. 080
Mano king Riv olsen eee rer cee iecis sentinel ie cie in cteatsiste sent sfaleletesteia iste ste reie ete stereisictaieieineisiele 25 90 0.134, 0.320 +. 186
JES JN NGNGEISERS IRIE cass ce nedkes aqosc0 conaanaonabecas ces cotbaacsucesooouaesoocogseascebbe5ne 7 41 0.560 0. 665 +. 105
Jelbyooky? Jat le ZSCecaeSaeeneeLeOcmea abe bat eae noes Caan wae AOS Co SSeS HRB nen Meee eC Se eee eee 40 109 0.281 | 0.423 +. 142
stereo SAMMI) 535 2s conc as couosoadbdan sesso a0 206 bodaconudnadonuassaserascconsosuooHEnoanAadGE 12 51 | 0.271 | 0.423 +. 152
TOC IMIEING cases agonrcasssseaeopeceds SaocOks BO USES Sa BSS REE ORnES at ee SSeReqas Set eEe pera ae Meer ees 140 eee ORO W On| eets-= ae
AOE ERS cose SaAGOC oe ee oS O Mae a ree eT CIEE met 1 te ina ees EE ie en ene 32 110 0.240 | Q. 125 —.115
(Gne atyB Cater esis aeons So = cei eae esa sees em aude er Soci Seam me emasee e eee Stee 36 151 0.165 | 0.265 +. 100
eipilopbhorouchtate ress reese y= se eee ene metas sce seen -recuniee ance weam nega cna esque sa | 9 35 0.145) 0.104 —. 040
(Carey TUAW ESE) Soscoos ssa ce sasosE soo benese sate cesaaes> a aero oR UOUbB eS Ese Heb eoseHeBH tuoseeor 104 32 0.115 0.236 +..121
(CEO ath he sc aantdaosecuen co pScOnndone OU RsoEhe baie Chea oS ORs ede oo a Bon HaEaaee ce te aee a ere See 36 79 | 0.212'| 0.261 +L. 049
POHNSONS Presa se a eAee aces ter oc las aS ae es om ise etrsacignes SRSo dS Ao emaobepAosnsoeescer[r 4 17 0.187 (0. 074 —.113
POCOMOKE SOUND.

2 r stl aoe —— x
WpperiPocomokesBedsyses eee eee see od es ee eee oer eee aise eee eiseiab sista cmon s|beaeoeeq| TO EGecopee | 0.189 ]..----.---.
IEG Vly IMP 3a sueaue dAeBaASUS ue IRSA Se AB ROEN a Gee sae crane are diese ee ee nal 3 20 | 0.405 | 0.070 | —. 335
IInd eRe dee ROCEy ee faek Stee ane 2 a eEORs eee ROSE MEDD DEY Were Fah TES TUTE TE YOUR See | 4 58 | 9.360) 0.124 | —. 236
Hernelis angen cdiver anaes seas eee teeter cis 2) sec CPP EEE Yt eee ac ani eee aaain tt seiner. | 6 39 | 0.294 0.110 | —. 184
Por ere) Bed a aeener eee oR eee ei eee ee ol Lite wiles aie ab etl ree ae Mamet As, 21 | 0.573 | 0.303 | —.270
SE foe TESA ecb ss cin stu a ka ee la ee eA Da a tc | 23 | 0.269) 0.154 | —.115

The number of oysters to the square yard ascertained, as described in my report of the inves-
tigation of 1878, has been calculated for each bed, and the results tabulated, together with those
of the previous season, for convenience of comparison. Though a standard has been established
by the number found on the unworked beds in the bay, no comparison, except in one way, is just,
the conditions of bottom and difference of growth upon the worked and unworked beds differing
so materially. The number on any bed, obtained by the method we have used, will always be
much less than what is really the case, but they will be much less true on an unworked bed than
upon one which has been for some time subjected to dredging influences, and where the bottom is
soft and yielding, and the oysters grow singly or in small clusters instead of being cemented
together and to the surface stratum, as they are on the undredged beds. Therefore, any number
obtained from a bed which has been worked should be larger than that obtained from an unworked

App. 11——9

66

one. How much so it is impossible to say, but it is evident that a smaller number would indicate
a failure of the mature oysters.

In calculating these numbers only first and second class oysters have been considered.

It will be seen by the table that on all the beds above Kedge’s Strait there has been a marked
decrease in the number of oysters to the square yard. That on the remaining beds, with the excep-
tion of Woman’s Marsh and Johnson’s beds, and considering the Thoroughfare beds as one, there
has been an increase in the number of oysters. That on all the beds in Pocomoke Sound there
has been a marked decrease.

It will also be seen that on many of the beds the number falls below the standard of 0.4, that
on none of them is it very much greater, and that, generally speaking, the numbers are less than
the standard on those beds that show a gain upon the number established during 1878.

It would appear, then, by one comparison, that most of the beds have not a sufficient number
of mature oysters upon them; and by the other, that however many were taken off, yet nature
could more than supply the demand. These inconsistent results may be the result of several
causes. The standard may be too high; but, as has been explained, if the beds are in equally good
condition, the probability is that the dredge would bring up a larger number from the old than
from the new beds. The smallness of the numbers on the lower beds may be due to the greater
depth of water and hardness of the bottom, though they do not differ greatly in that respect from
the beds in the bay, however much from those in the northern part of the Sound.

It would not be wise to decide hastily, upon the evidence of the numbers to the square yard,
that the beds are either deteriorating or the reverse, especially as the comparison has been of but
two seasons. If, after they have been continued for some time, there should be an increased
number shown, it may be considered differently; but, as all experience testifies to the deterioration
of the beds, the inconsistency of the results shown by the table can probably be explained in
another way than by assuming the standard number to be too great, and this explanation will be
subsequently attempted.

INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ‘SPA'T COLLECTORS.”

In order to ascertain when the first attachment of young took place on each bed, the compara-
tive extent of such attachment, the influence of bottom and depth of water upon the attachment,
and, finally, the increase in size of the oyster and the number surviving each period of their exist-
ence, I placed early in July-twenty-four spat collectors on the beds in the Sounds; but I regret to
say that the collectors were removed by some ill-disposed persons almost as soon as placed.

The last hurdle, as the bundle of tiles was called, was in position on July 14, and on July 15
only four remained in position, and after the Ist of August there was but one left (No. 7, in the
Big Annemessex River).

The hurdles were composed of eight or sixteen half-round tiles, lashed on a wooden, frame, and
so arranged that the frame rested on the bottom, the tiles being thus raised about six inches above
the bottom. The tiles were ordinary earthenware ones, unglazed, and were always placed so as to
have their concave side underneath. As long as the hurdles remained in position they were fre-
quently examined in order to ascertain the advent of the young brood, and from those examina-
tions I am of the opinion that the first attachment of oysters took place about July 17, as on that
day we discovered, with the aid of the microscope, oysters on Hurdle No. 12, on Chain Shoal, and
on the 19th, in the same way, found them on No. 7,in the Big Annemessex. On July 24 they were
observable on the hurdles on the Great Rock, both in shoal and deep water. Though the attach-
ment probably began about the middle of July, yet it was only evident on the tiles, as our dredging
operations did not discover any attachment before the 12th of August, when the young brood were
found in moderate numbers on all the beds in both the Sounds.

The number found in Pocomoke Sound was much smaller than in Tangier, and the number on
the Upper Pocomoke beds and on the Muddy Marsh bed was smaller than on the lower ones.
The attachment appears to be proportional to the number of oysters, such beds as the Muddy
Marsh, for instance, having very few young; but as the bed is badly broken up, this may be owing
to the absence of proper cultch. The young appear to select the cleanest and smoothest shells for
attachment, and we always found that the ‘‘ boxes,” or those shells which had not been separated

67

completely, contained the largest number of young brood. We also found that the size of the
young depended, to a great extent, upon the depth of water. Those first detected by us were from
two millimeters to one centimeter in length, and as the shoal-water oysters spawn first, and as we
found the young of the largest size in shoal water, I infer that the attachment of the oyster occurs
very near the location of the parent.

The hurdle in the Big Annemessex was subjected to four examinations. It was placed in
position on July 9, and on July 19, when the first examination was made, there were a few oysters
on the tiles, but so small that a microscope was necessary in order to recognize them.

The second examination was on August 2, and the oysters were then quite perceptible and
easily counted. The total number of oysters on the tiles was then 1,506; deducting those on tile
No. 7, which tile was removed, there were 1,177. The number on a tile varied greatly, the max-
imum being 348 and the minimum 26.

The third examination was on the 23d of August. The oysters had increased very much in
size and in numbers. The total number on the tiles was now 1,334, showing an increase of 0.13
per cent. of the number at the second examination. The number on the lower side of the tiles
was much larger than on the upper. A tile (No. 2) was removed, and, deducting the number of
oysters on it from the sum, there were 1,202 still on the hurdle. A few oysters were injured, prob-
ably by raising or lowering the hurdle from and to the bottom.

The fourth examination was on the 10th of October. The total number of oysters was then
539, showing a decrease of 55 per cent. At this examination about two-thirds of the oysters were
of the third class, or over three-quarters of an inch in length, and two of them were over two
inches long, being thus of the second class. All, however, could be distinguished as of very recent
growth, being very long and thin, with thin, delicate shells, easily broken with the thumb-nail or
point of a penknife. The largest numbers were still found on the lower sides of the tiles. A
moderate number of oysters had been injured by rough handling.

I infer from the four inspections made of this hurdle, and from the one or two made of others
before they were removed, that the first attachment of young began, as I have said, about the
middle of July, and continued until about the 20th of August, as op the 23d of that month there
was no indication of any recent attachment. Probably it reaches its maximum number about the
end of July, and decreases afterwards. The mortality after the 23d of August was very great,
fully 50 per cent. perishing from some unknown cause, which, though unknown, is certainly nat-
ural. We did not notice any evidence of the destructive effects of drills or other animals, though
their agency would only be discovered by the evidence of the holes in the upper valves, but as
those valves were never present, it cannot be said with certainty that the destruction was not due
to them. Whatever the cause, the fact is that 50 per cent. perished in the first six weeks of their
existence. .

The tiles have shown that the increase in size is much greater than was supposed, and are the
first and only authentie evidence upon that point which has been produced with regard to the
American oyster. Again, it is conclusively shown by these tiles and some others that were dredged
up from the Woman’s Marsh beds (Hurdle No. 24), that the greatest attachment is on the lower con-
cave side, and consequently that whatever may be the movements of the embryo oyster before
attachment, during the period just prior to it they are near, if not on the bottom, and in seeking
their place of attachment they must rise. In this they are similar to the European variety. The
selection of the lower sides of the tiles and the interior of the “boxes” may be an effort of nature
to provide some protection for the voung brood, by, to a certain extent, inducing them to seek
dark and secluded points for attachment, or the large number found in- such places may be due to
the inability of the various enemies of the spat to get at them when thus protected.

It is a matter of very great regret that we have not a large number of specimens and obser-
vations for comparison, as all the future investigations in this field would be greatly assisted by an
accurate knowledge of the rate of decrease in number and increase in size of the oysters, and it is
to be hoped that the hurdle in the Big Annemessex will be allowed to remain in position long
enough to permit the meager, yet valuable, information it can produce to be made public.

68

INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURES.

It was intended that a self-registering thermometer should be placed on each hurdle, and that
the temperature to which the young were exposed should be noted at each examination. Fortu-
nately, considering the fate of the hurdles, the thermometers were not received in time to be used
as was intended, and after the disappearance of the spat collectors it was not considered advisable
to expose the thermometers to the same risks.- About the last of July, however, I had the tem-
perature of the surface water recorded every two hours, and considering that there is probably
but little variation in the limits of the Sounds, I have plotted the accompanying curve of maxi-
mum and minimum temperatures from July 29 to October 1. It will be seen that these curves are
very irregular, and that the greatest irregularities occur during the month of August, and that
the greatest difference is between the 6th and 10th of August, one of 15° in four days. On the
15th there is a change of 8°, and on the 28th of 12°.

About the 4th of August I determined to utilize the channel buoys as marks for the positions
of thermometers, hoping that they might thus escape the observation of those who were inclined
toremove them. Accordingly, we placed four self-registering thermometers on the beds; one at the
foot of the buoy on the Shark’s Fin, one on the buoy on Piney Island Bar, one on the buoy off
Watts’ Island light-house, and one on the buoy off Syke’s Island, about the middle of Pocomoke
Sound. We were enabled to make several examinations of these thermometers; but about the
Ist of September, finding that one had been stolen, I concluded to remove the others before they
shared the same fate.

The curves of maximum and minimum temperature given by these thermometers, and also the
range of variation, are Shown on the same sheet with the curves of surface temperature.

The thermometers were in place too late, and for too short a period, to allow any safe conclu-
sions to be based upon the information given by them; but it is noticeable, as an interesting coinci-
dence, that the curves of both surface and bottom temperatures show the greatest variations about
the time when the young were what is known as “spat,” or during the period of and just before
attachment; the young on the shoal beds presumably attaching by early August, and those on the
deep water or southern beds somewhat later. I regret that it was impossible for me to more thor-
oughly study the effects of the change of temperature, as I think the failure or success of the
Spatting, other things being equal, will be found to depend mainly upon the temperature to which
the mature oyster and embryos are exposed during the spawning season.

INVESTIGATION OF THE CHANGES IN DENSITY OF THE WATER.

In order to have definite information as to the change of density of the water surrounding the
oysters, and regarding such changes during the spatting season as of most importance, and as the
maximum change would be most likely to occur about the time of the spring tides, I determined
to obtain specimens of water on a certain number of sections across each Sound at high and low
water of the spring tides. The sections were located as follows, and are shown on the sketches
accompanying this report:

Section No. 1 was just above Hooper’s Strait and at the mouths of the Nanticoke and Wicom-
ico Rivers, in order that the influence of both the strait and rivers might be shown.

Section No. 2, for the same reason, was north of Kedge’s Strait and across the mouths of the
Manokin and Big Annemessex Rivers.

Section No. 3 was across the entrance of both Sounds, south of Watts’ Island.

Section No. 4 was across the middle of Pocomoke Sound, that the influence of Guilford and
Mesongo Creeks might be known.

i Section No. 5 was above the natural beds of Pocomoke Sound and across the mouth of Poco-
moke River.

Stations were selected on these sections in such a manner as to obtain specimens of the water
that passed over the beds, and the specimens were taken by means of the drop-water cylinders at
every two fathoms of depth. As soon as possible after securing them they were tested with the
hydrometer. The results are tabulated in the “record of densities,” and curves showing the various
changes accompany this report. All densities are reduced to a standard temperature of 60° Fahr.,
and 1,000 represents the density of distilled water.

69

In studying these curves, it must be remembered that only their variations are of particular
importance. The absolute density is not so much so, except for comparison with that of other
localities; but the variations are important if by them we can account for the failure either of the
propagation or attachment of the young oysters. ‘The curves will show certain irregularities, due
to either the variations in depth, or to the tides having changed from flood to ebb, or the reverse,
on one side of the Sound at a time differing from that on the other.

As will be seen, however, the greatest variations in each month are in Tangier Sound, on the
eastern side, where the influence of the rivers is felt to greatest extent. In Pocomoke Sound the
greatest variations appear to be on the western side, and I assign as a reason for this that the
influence of Guilford and Mesongo Creeks is of small importance compared with that of the Poco-
moke River, the current from which sweeps along the northern and western parts of the Sound.
The curves show that the variation is very slight, except on the September sections.

The second series of curves, those showing the monthly change of mean densities, indicate that
the maximum change on each section was about the 1st of September; that the variations in Poco-
moke Sound were much greater than in Tangier Sound; and that the maximum changes were at
the head of each Sound, and the variations diminished towards the entrances.

The third series of curves shows the same when all the observations in each Sound are assem-
bled, but with this difference—while the density in Tangier Sound was greater on October Ist than
at any other time, in Pocomoke Sound the influence of the river was still felt; and notwithstanding
the diminished temperature the density on the Ist of October was less than on the Ist of August.

The fourth series of curves shows the difference in density between the upper and lower sec-
tions in Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds in each month, and indicates that the density of the water
is considerably greater over the lower beds thau on the upper.

The maximum density found during the summer was on section 3, in October, and was 1 0166.
The minimum density was found in section 5, in September, and was 1.0005.

By referring to the curves showing monthly changes of mean densities, it will be seen that in
only one case, that of section 5, does the density become less than 1.0100, and that even on this
section it is evident that this was not the normal condition of the water. There were heavy freshets
in the Pocomoke River during the latter part of August and during September, which accounts -
for the slight density as shown by the curves. Mr. Barroll was informed by the inhabitants of the
vicinity of the mouth of Pocomoke River that these freshets had killed large numbers of oysters,
both on the natural and plauted beds. An inspection of the other curves shows that the variation
of density on successive tides was not much greater on this section than on the others, and as the
oysters elsewhere in the Sounds did not appear to suffer from the effects of these variations, I am
of the opinion that the fluctuation was not sufficient to affect the mature animal, but that in this
case the water continued fresh, or practically so, for too long a period, thus killing the oysters by
endosmose.

From the observations of density, then, it may be assumed that the density of the water, in
these localities at least, cannot fall below 1.01 for any protracted period without destroying the
oysters. Whether the changes in density affect the spatting can only be ascertained by continu-
ing the observations for a number of seasons, or by direct experiment with the spat artificially
raised.

INCIDENTAL INFORMATION.

During the summer I have examined, under the microscope, 374 oysters, of which 212 were
females and 162 males, or the percentage of females was 0.56. The oysters were not all examined
at the same time, nor were they all from the same bed, but the percentage in each of the lots
examined, twelve in number, does not vary greatly from the percentage given above. I am of the
opinion, therefore, that about 60 per cent. of the oysters in a community are females. A larger
number of observations is, however, desirable.

In making these examinations I have never seen both ova and spermatozoa in the same animal,
though I have made many careful observations in order to detect the presence of either. I have
also carefully examined the gills and mantles of a large number, and have never found an embryo
oyster within the shell; and as these observations were made during the spawning season, I do

70

not think it possible that the spat, if they are at any time contained within the gills or mantle,
could have escaped my notice.

The observations as to the sex of the oyster were continued late in the season, and though the
ova and spermatozoa in a number of oysters were in apparently good condition as late as the 1st of
October, yet those products of generation appeared in best condition in the largest number of
animals during July, and a considerable disintegration of the eggs was noticed by the end of that
month. As far as I could ascertain, the condition of both ova and spermatozoa depended upon the
depth of water, though the rule was not invariable. The generative products of the deep-water
oysters reached a state most favorable for reproduction several weeks after the same had occurred in
the shoal water; and, in general terms, neither ova nor spermatozoa in most of the oysters, in either
deep or shoal water, after the middle of August, was in a state favorable for fertilization. Large
numbers of oysters in all depths passed through the spawning season without expelling the con-
tents of the generative organs. I found this the case especially on the beds on the western side
of Tangier Sound, above Kedge’s Strait, where, on the Sth and 9th of October, we found many
oysters fattening with the generative matter unexpelled. I was informed that this was not unu-
sual, and that it injured the oyster for marketable purposes. As late as the 8th I found oysters
with the generative matter in good condition, and on the 7th of October I succeeded in securing
from oysters taken from Kedge’s Strait a sufficient amount of ova and spermatozoa to make experi-
ments in artificial impregnation, and was successful in producing one embryo oyster. Probably
had I used greater care a larger number would have resulted.

During the season of 1878 we observed large numbers of astyris in the shells of the mature
oysters and attached to those of the young. In many cases they were found in the holes which
had been bored in the shells of the latter. As we could not find any known enemy of the oyster
in sufficient numbers to account for the evident damage done, and as so many circumstances
pointed to astyris as the cause, I concluded that the boring must be done by that animal, and
alluded to it in my previous report. The specimens preserved were described by Mr. W. H. Dall,
and the description appended to that report. During the past summer we have found a much
larger number of the rough welks (wrosalpinx cinereus) than during the previous season, and
though they were not found in as large numbers as the astyris, yet their presence inclined me to
question the conclusions arrived at during the season of 1878. I accordingly collected a large
number of astyris and placed them in an aquarium jar with a number of young oysters, changing
the water constantly and inspecting the animals frequently. The observations were continued for
over a week, and at the end of that time both oysters and astyris were alive, but there was no
evidence of any boring, nor did any inspection show an inclination in that direction upon the part
of the astyris; on the contrary, they soon left the shells and went to the bottom of the jar. I
then collected a number of wrosalpinx cinereus and subjected them to the same test. At the end
of four days one oyster had been bored and one welk was found at work on the shell of another.
The rough welk is known to do great injury to the oyster in Long Island Sound, and the destruc-
tion of the young, alluded to in my previous report as due to the drills, may be effected by this
animal. That large numbers are destroyed by the welks cannot be doubted; but as it is possible
that the astyris may also assist in this destruction, a more extended investigation ot this question
than I was enabled to make is desirable.

An analysis of several specimens of the water of the Sound and bay, by Prof. C. E. Monroe,
of the Naval Academy, is appended to this report for use in comparing the localities investigated
with others whose investigation may be subsequently attempted. The specimens have been selected
from those taken on different stages of the tide and from different sections.

The only noticeable change on the beds this season was that the amount of red sponge appeared
to be uch less than in 1878. In other respects they are, to outward appearances, in a similar state,
though the dredgers report them as uch broken up and with an increased amount of débris.

INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ‘‘RECORD OF STATISTICS.”

The member of the party on duty at Crisfield inspected, during the season, 496 vessels directly
engaged in the oyster fishery, and the results of these inspections have been recorded in the record
of statistics, which record, to a great extent, explains itself.

71

2
Owing to the large number of vessels dredging, it was frequently impossible to visit and inspect

all that entered during the day. When such was the case, those inspected were selected from dif-
ferent classes and from different dredging grounds that a fair idea might be obtained of the num-
ber of oysters removed each day from each bed.

The method of examination was as follows:

The total number of bushels in the load given by the master of the vessel was recorded, with
the number of hours of labor necessary to obtain that quantity, and other matters of statistical
interest. Several samples of one-quarter or one-half bushel each were then selected from different
parts of the load and the number of oysters of each class in each sample counted and recorded.
The number of samples examined depended upon the number of bushels in the load and upon the
character of the oysters, a large number being taken when the oysters appeared dissimilar, and
when the quantity was great. At least three samples were usually examined. In most cases the
average number of each class per sample was nearly the same as that given by each examination,
and, consequently, it is assumed that a close estimate of the number of each class in the entire
load was obtained by multiplying the number of each class in a bushel, as shown by the samples,
by the total number of bushels in the load. From the record of these inspections I have been able
to determine with practical accuracy the number of oysters of the several classes removed from
the various beds by each description of dredging vessel.

After September 1, when the dredging began, we counted each day all the vessels in sight from
the “ Palinurus,” specifying the size and the ground upon which they were working, and the
masters of the dredging vessels were also requested to note the number of dredgers working in
their vicinity, which they in many cases very obligingly did. As even with these data, the number
of working days given on each bed is very small, and because no bed is dredged continuously dur-
ing the season, but at intervals, I have divided the sections in a similar manner to that described
in my previous report.

The first section includes the beds north of Piney Island Bar and the Muscle Hole; the sec-
ond section, those from the Muscle Hole and Piney Island Bar to the Great Rock; the third sec-
tion, the remaining beds in Tangier Sound; and the fourth section, all the Pocomoke beds. By this
arrangement duplication of the vessels counted is prevented and the average number of vessels
working each day is more nearly a correct estimate.

The vessels dredging on these several sections, as counted by ourselves and by their masters,
have been assembled; the number of oysters assigned to each class of vessel working in the section
has then been multiplied by the number of vessels of each class, and the total number of oysters
taken off the beds in each section thus obtained. The number of oysters taken by any vessel in
a day varies greatly, owing to the weather principally, but in assigning the quantity on each day,
the number brought in by vessels of the same class, as shown by “record of statistics,” has been
used, as a more correct estimate is thus assured than would be given by using tbe average for the
whole season. The following table has been compiled from the calculations, and shows the num-
ber of. oysters taken from each section in a specified number of days; supposing the observations
to have extended over a sufficient period, the number of oysters has been divided by the number
of days, and the average number removed in each day thus obtained.

Table showing estimated number of oysters removed in 1879.

SECTION 1—UPPER TANGIER SOUND.

|
i

D 3 Dn & a.
iamiton Oe cen DS A Ser iS 2 ich
Number of sail. 3 | S) a a &
~ & z = bai]
D S =) 3 Pao
= 3 a i) =O
leat DN a x al
Total number of oysters removed in 12 days....--./.------ leByab2lesailvessereet nee | 2, 322, 200 | 1, 934, 200 | 1,382,500 | 371, 000 | 8, 100
INN ELAS JU OOC ON Scie cobecouecsadeos sodpaa dos ceceoaeeosDeErda aseeETers HoBeSaaeaeease 192,683 | 161, 183 115, 200 30, 916

Total first and second classes TWOP Cy cease teneciccee NES on eae ame acl ara 353, 866

72

Table showing estimated number of oysters removed in 1879—Continued.

SECTION 2.—MIDDLE TANGIER SOUND.

es Zz 2g
a Z eae ne 22
x g is) Sz lez gin
Number of sail. TS S 2 | a HO
= c—] eo) Troe
% S 5 | | ZaS
| 3 a | o mom
i Nn a &
Total number of oysters removed in 17 days...----.------- By 634 sail..-...-=----- 2,463, 800 | 1,623,860 1,132,060 384, 220 6, 400
INS VENLE NCO OED fasaaee sonDoes SEE BeodUS Bd b+ Sek ocosbUaaeeoreclloocepancasesesacce ccoD- 144, 929 95, 521 66, 591 22, 600
Total first and second classes per day.....-.--.-.-.--|----------0- -s-20- eee ee | 240, 450
SEcTION 3.—LOWER TANGIER SOUND.
Total number of oysters removed in 34 days.....--.--.---- By 95 1psaileeeceese eee 2,329,600 | 1,413°610 | 1, 407, 230 | 558, 900 3, 900
|
INGOT [We Chriss coe oesEsaonebons esoces obeoos ebaciac cna seellouctoccabeos anbeencceoes 68, 223 | 41, 576 41,389 16, 438 |
Total first and second classes per day,.---+...---22--)2--- 2-2-2 -scennm ee - 109, 799 |
be! tes Eo. wall Mi oe ES £0 eed Oe eee
SEcTION 4.—POCOMOKE SOUND.
+ | |
Total number of oysters removed in 9 days...-.--.....---.) By 169 sail -.......-.- 256, 809 121, 103 | 88, 800 | 20, 108 2, 200
Average per day..----.------- SSE BERRA HSE etre mEn arate ages ae eciia es eS oeian ae 28, 534 | 13, 567 9,866 2; 234 |
es SESS
Total first and second classes per day ..-.--..--..--.---- sooessbaecasasnos soc 42,101 |
Total number of oysters first and second classes removed in one day ....--..--.--------------- +------------------ 746, 226

It will be noticed that the number of dredging vessels increases on each succeeding section in
Tangier Sound, but that the number taken by each sail, and the yield per day, decrease. Also,
that the number of sail in Pocomoke Sound is much smaller than in any other section, and that the
yield per day is also much smaller. The character of the bottom and the depth of the water mate-
rially influence the yield of the beds, those in shoal water with soft bottoms allowing more frequent
hauls of the dredges than those in deep water or on hard bottoms. But as the dredges used in
deep water and on hard bottoms are usually much heavier, this inequality is overcome to some
extent. Again, the large vessels take a greater proportion of the oysters than the small ones,
and those large vessels usually work on the deep-water beds. Considering the different sizes of
the vessels and the superiority of the crews of the larger ones, and the heavier dredges used by
them, I am of the opinion that the disparity between the yields of the Upper and Lower Tangier
Beds is greater than it should be. The beds of the Middle Section are, with the exception of Piney
Island Bar, similar to those of the upper section; yet, with a larger number of vessels working, the
yield of that section is less than the upper. These facts, I think, show that the beds in Lower
Tangier Sound are less productive than those in the upper.

The dredging in Pocomoke Sound was principally on the upper beds, and none was done as far
as we could ascertain on either the Brig or Parker’s Beds. As the middle and upper beds in this
Sound are very similar in character of bottom and depth of water to the middle and upper beds
in Tangier Sound, it would be inferred that the yield per day in Pocomoke would be about the
same. On the contrary, as shown by the table, it is absurdly small; and, considering its size, it
is not astonishing that the beds have been to a great extent abandoned.

Taking the number of oysters removed each day, and considering, for the reasons given in my
previous report, the working season to be of 120 days, I have compiled the following table, in which
is given the number of oysters removed from each section and from the Sounds in one day and in
the season. I have also given the same estimated in 1878 for comparison.

73

Table showing the number of oysters removed.

1 :
| In one day. In one season. | Numberoi young growth,
Section. | =e ee SE
| { |
| 1878. 1879. 1878. | 1879. Perday. | In the season.
ele Seis | ic |
| | | |
IOs ee aeeaceesacdases SOO SD OSCC RI SOME CED oe uaro ch ee AOB RS aAe ees | 567,450 | 353, 876 68,094,000 | 42, 465,120 146, 100 | 17, 532, 000
ENON 2 serena eee eine cmeiene Seal eielere creas Sra eisee siceaiac ietoctlonee sires | 878, 450 240, 450 45,414,000 | 28,854,000 | 89, 200 | 10, 704, 000
INIT Bodosoncnqces Dobaso Gecce OS So Dee non EROCOCOL EER AOdenSEoe aoe | 459,000 | 109, 799 55, 080,000 | 13, 175, 880 57, 800 6, 936, 000
IN OSA eosin. seisetereccinetsie ENE eee feta tae mrcialoe fate (oi atte aie ie seeistseaicio mie | 183, 650 42,101 | 16, 038, 000 | 5,052,120 12,100 1, 452, 000
ANIL GOCE doeenteescnee eee CaRO HANES soe one eRe eee eee /1, 538,550 | 746,226 | 184,626,000 89,547,120 325, 200 36, 624, 000
IBUShelseaseeeeeeeee Bae ljee hse a eGieg ashe Boeiv eee Pee oe Riese beds Ke | 7, 692 3, 232 923, 230 | 447, 735
|

Two hundred oysters are allowed to a bushel.

The estimated number of young removed from all sections in one day, in 1878, was about
1,240,000, or 148,800,000 in the course of the season.

It will be seen by the table that about one hundred million more oysters were removed in 1878
than would be in 1879, and that about the same excess exists with regard to the young. Of the
two estimates, that of 1879 is much more ac@urate, being based upon a larger number of observa-
tions, more carefully and systematically made than was possible in 1878, but the disparity between
the two is so great that the estimate of 1878 would appear valueless, could not some cause be
assigned for a decrease in the number of oysters taken from the beds. This decrease, as may be
easily seen, must be due to one or both of the following causes:

Ist. The fertility of the beds remaining the same, the dredgers may not be as numerous.

2d. The number of dredgers remaining the same, the beds may be exhausted; or, becoming so,
there would be a smaller number of oysters produced ; or,

3d. The number of dredgers may have decreased and the fertility of the beds may be greatly
impaired.

There are no statistics of the oyster fishery in the localities under consideration except those
collected by myself, and I am consequently obliged to put a greater dependence upon them than
they intrinsically merit. They are necessarily somewhat rude, but, in the absence of other informa-
tion, they can be used as giving some indication of the probable progress of the fishery in the two
seasons under consideration.

By examining my previous report it will be seen that in thirteen days we counted 1,595 vessels
working on the various beds in both Sounds. From our records of the past season I find that the
number observed by all persons was, in thirty-seven days, 2,275, or in 1878 the average number
working on each day was 122, while in 1879 it was 61, or one-half as many. Therefore, the small
yield of the beds during the autumn months of 1879, and the smail estimate of the yield for the
year, may be accounted for by the smaller number of vessels at work, and as in round numbers
the number of oysters estimated as taken in 1879 was about one-half that in 1878, I think that the
previous estimate may be accepted as practically correct. ¥

My last advices from Crisfield inform me that there is but very little dredging going on in the
Sounds, most of the vessels working in the bay and in the Potomac River. The principal cause
assigned for this is the presence of young growth on the beds, by which is meant immature
oysters under two years of age. The presence of this class in large numbers prevents the oysters
from fattening rapidly. Another reason given is that the beds are much broken up, and that the
returns are very poor for the usual amount of labor.

CONCLUSIONS.

My additional experience in the investigation and the information collected during the past
season has proved that a few of the conclusions at which I arrived in 1878, and which are contained
in my report of the operations of that season, are erroneous. Some of them have been already
alluded to, and the allusions to the remaining ones here find their most appropriate place.

I find my supposition that there is a general attachment of spat on all the beds in any
season, to be, to a certain extent, incorrect. The spatting may be general, and a majority of the

App. 11——10

74

oysters may spawn each year, but the attachment of the young is a very different thing, and
as the most precarious period in the life of the oyster is that -just anterior to its attachment, a
series of causes detrimental to the life of the embryo, while it is in its free swimming state, may
readily occur, and thus prevent such attachment. My investigation of the past season has proved
conclusively that the class of oysters termed “young growth” in my previous report were not of
the brood of 1878 but of 1877 or 1876. The character of the young found in both seasons, the
determination of the time of earliest attachment, and the growth and appearance of the oysters
on the tiles, have led me to this conclusion. As the voung do not attach before the middle of
August, they could hardly reach such a size and shape by October as would prevent their recog-
nition as of the same season’s growth. From the inspection of the oysters taken during the last
season, many being found with the generative matter unexpelled, I am of the opinion that a com-
bination of natural causes may prevent the expulsion of both the male and female cells, and there
would consequently be no impregnation during that season. As I mentioned in the report of 1878,
many persons of experience are of that opinion, and I now concur with them in thinking that not
only the attachment of young may not be general nor occur each year, but that the emission of the
products of generation may also be frequently confined to partial areas, and that by a combination
of circumstances Rod can be a total failure of impregnation on all beds of any locality.

I also find by additional experience, that the yottng oyster is not fit for marketable purposes
until at least a year and a half or two years old, and consequently the total number of young
removed, as estimated in my previous report, would be a total sacrifice, and, as will be seen by
the table showing the number of oysters removed, this sacrifice probably prmaninrail in 1878 to
148,800,000 oysters.

By reference to the tables showing the success or failure of the several spatting seasons, it will
be seen that there is little or no regularity of either success or failure, but as we have only been
able to investigate the spatting of three seasons, it may be found by subsequent observations that
two similar seasons of success, moderate success, or failure, will follow each other; but so far this
has not been the case and in the period of three years we have, comparatively to the other seasons,
one at least of successful attachment. I can see no reason for supposing that there is any regular
recurrence of the spatting seasons, and am inclined to believe that the success or failure is due to
two causes: variations of temperature and variations of density; but I had no means of ascer-
taining the changes either of temperature or density in the years preceding those in which I have
been engaged upon this investigation, and in both seasons I arrived in the Sounds too late for the
temperatures or determinations of density obtained by the party to be, with reference to the spat-
ting, of practical value.

Oysters will and do live in very dissimilar temperatures and in waters of very different densi-
ties, as is shown by their existence in the waters of North America from Nova Scotia to the Gulf,
and on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts. That the mature oyster is a hardy animal, readily adapt-
ing itself to new conditions and environment, is shown by the ease with which it is transplanted
from the warm waters of the Chesapeake to the colder ones of New England; from the dense and
salt waters of the ocean and bay to the brackish waters of the creeks and rivers or vice versa,
and from soft bottoms to hard or the reverse; but, naturally, this hardiness is not a quality of the
immature oysters or the swimming embryos. '

The influence of increased or diminished temperature upon the formation of the ova and sperma-
tozoa must be very serious, and, judging by analogy, it would seem probable that the formation
would be more rapid during a warm spring than during a cold one. Whether the formation has
been late or early when once formed, a sudden change of density or of temperature may so affect the
oyster or the generative matter that the latter would not be expelled. Only upon this hypothesis
can be explained the retention of the products of generation noticed in so many oysters, and which
is said to be so common, for none of the other conditions are subject to violent changes, such being
peculiar to the density and temperature alone.

Professor Brooks states that he found both ova and spermatozoa ripe and fit for fertilization
about the middle of May, and as the oysters were taken from shoal water, probably one fathom
deep, the shoal-water oysters were probably spawning throughout June. Both Professor Brooks
and myself found the ripeness of the oysters to depend upon the depth of water from which-they

75

were taken, and this is without doubt caused by the difference of temperature. Professor Brooks
also states that there was a great deal of cold, rainy weather during June, and two hail storms.
The rainy weather would affect the density of the water by increasing the volumes of the various
creeks and rivers, and the changes of density would probably affect the production and emission
of the generative matter. It is an interesting coincidence at least, that the oysters found to be
fattening with the products of generation unexpelled were either from beds in comparatively shoal
water, or from the shoal parts of deep-water beds, and that those oysters should have been ripe
and spawning during the month of June. Again, it may be that the lowness of the temperature
prevented the deep-water oysters from ripening as soon as usual, and the mildness of the succeed-
ing autumn may have prevented the destruction of the ova and spermatozoa, thus rendering
possible the fertilization achieved by me in October, as the oysters from which I procured the ova
and spermatozoa were taken from deep water. .

Probably the influence of changes. of environment, especially of density and temperature of
the water, is most severely felt by the embryo when in their free swimming state, and, in connec-
tion with the want of success of the spatting season in the Sounds, it is noticed that the tempera-
ture curves show a maximum change about the time when it is supposed that the young would
attach in largest numbers, or when they were swimming about in the water. It is also worthy of
notice that Professor Brooks, about this time, met with the minimum amount of success in his
efforts to artificially raise the embryo.

In consideration of the foregoing, J am of the opinion that the success or failure of any spatting
season is dependent upon the equability of the temperature; that the higher the temperature
during the spring months the earlier will be the advent of the spawning season, and that an
increased temperature will also hasten the development of the spat, and of the young oysters after
they have become attached. I also infer that sudden and extensive changes of density will like-
wise affect the advent, duration, and success of the spawning. though to a lessextent. Subsequent
to the attachment of the animal, changes of the conditions surrounding it are not of so much
importance, though naturally such changes will more severely affect the delicate organism of the
young oyster than that of the older and more hardened adult.

During the first six months of its existence the oyster is exposed to the greatest danger from
the numerous enemies which surround it. The thiu, delicate shells, from one-sixteenth of an inch
to one inch in diameter, are readily bored by the drills or torn off by the crabs, and the immense
number of both leaves no room to doubt their destructive effects. As an instance, the inspection
of the spat collectors in the Big Annemessex River shows that during the early months of their
existence about 50 per cent. of the young oysters were destroyed. Naturally, as the animal pro-
gresses, it becomes more hardy and better able to resist the attacks of enemies and changes of
environment, and thus we find on the unworked beds, where the oysters are practically in a
natural state, that the decrease in passing from young growth to mature oysters is about 30 per
cent., or about one-third of a given number perish in passing from the first to the fourth year of
their existence.

Here our information ceases, but enough has been gathered to indicate the ratio which nature
has assigned as necessary between the young and the mature oysters. For every 1,000 of the
latter there should be 1,500 of the former, if the number of brood oysters necessary to maintain the
fecundity of the beds is to be kept up, and though this ratio is based upon data which are not quite
sufficient, yet, as I have said, it is all that has been afforded as yet, and may be accepted within
certain limits. Certainly, whatever it should be, the number of the rising generation of the ani-
mals should never be less than that of the older, or there should always be as many young as
mature on any bed, and a greatly increased ratio of young to mature oysters would show either
one of two things—either the mortality in passing from youth to maturity was much greater than
shown by the dredging results in the bay, or that a very large number of mature oysters had been
removed by other than natural causes.

In considering these several beds the question of food and other necessary supplies has not
been considered, as it is evident that where an oyster bed is formed and exists naturally, all the
conditions for its successful life are probably present, and any failure of an important supply would
be followed by a speedy extinction of all the oysters on the bed. Such determinations of the quality

16

and quantity of the food, character of,bottom and water, and other matters, are only of interest
and desirable for the purpose of comparing one locality with another. Such was not the purpose
of this investigation, and consequently the determination of those points has been but incidental
to the work.

Probably the fecundity of a bed is increased, to a certain extent, by working upon it. The
dredges or other implements used open the bed and spread it, thus giving more room for develop-
ment, and allowing a greater amount of food to reach the animals, and as the mortality is great in
all thickly-populated tracts and in any closely-united community, it is evident that no removal
of brood oysters could be effected without destroying the fecundity of the bed, did not this very
removal influence the mortality among the young so as to allow a larger number to come to matur-
ity. But the removal of brood oysters may become so great that the most.violent exertions of
nature to supply others are unequal to the demand, and it must be evident that as soon as the
number of brood oysters is thus diminished, the fecundity of the bed is impaired.

This impairment constantly increases, influencing, as it does, both old and young. As the
number of the latter decrease, so will the number of the former, and as that number is again and
again diminished, the number of young produced by them must constantly diminish. Thus the
cause for the destruction of the fecundity of the bed and the gradual extinction of the animals
upon it can be readily understood and as easily comprehended as the fact that the fecundity or
productive power of a bed depends upon the number of mature spawn-bearing oysters upon it. It
is not meant by this that none but the mature oysters are capable of reproduction, as such is not
the case, oysters of even six or nine months’ growth having been observed by me with ripe ova
and spermatozoa in them, but the main dependence must be placed upon the adults in the com-
munity, as the spawn of the young growth is not considerable when compared with that of the
other class.

Without a knowledge of the number of oysters on a bed it is impossible to say what number
should be removed, and as an attainment of the knowledge of the numer on the bed is almost
impossible, all that can be done is to keep the ratios between the young and the mature as nearly
the same as on the natural beds; this should be the aim and result of all laws having the protection
of the beds in view.

Referring to that portion of this report relating to the fecundity of the beds in the Sounds,
it is seen that in some cases the ratio of young to mature oysters is greater, and in other cases less,
than it should be, and that in a few cases the ratio seems to be within the prescribed limits. As
has been shown, the decreased ratios must be the result of a want of reproduction, while the
increase may be due to the removal of the mature oysters.

If we take the total number of the oysters examined in the Sounds we will have a ratio express-
ing the general fecundity of the beds, and this ratio between 70,866 mature oysters and 36,824
young ones is 0.5. Assembling all the oysters counted on the beds in the bay we would have as a
ratio L.5.

Practically, none of the mature oysters had been removed from the beds in the bay, while
large numbers had been taken from those in the Sounds. The estimates for each show, approxi-
mately, how many have been taken, and if by examination we find that the number of young
oysters taken off the beds in the Sounds greatly exceeds the number of mature removed, it may
be assumed that the restoration of both classes to the beds would be immediately shown by a
change in the ratio of young growth to mature oysters. By the estimate of 1878 we find that
184,600,000 mature and 148,800,000 young were removed, but as the number of young removed
would be less and less during the season on account of the mortality among them, and as we have
found that mortality to be about 50 per cent., I will consider that the removal of the young during
the season of 1878 and 1879 probably did not exceed 74,400,000. Therefore the total number
removed was 259,000,000, of which 71 per cent. were mature, spawn-bearing oysters, and as 65
per cent. of the oysters at present on the beds are mature, the addition of the 260,000,000 removed
would raise this percentage to 68, which would make the ratio of young to old even smaller.
Consequently the small percentage of young is not due to the removal of that class during the
previous season.

The two beds of which we have the most exact and complete statistical records in this season

e

717

are the Woman’s Marsh and the Great Rock, and, by means of the record of statistics, I estimate
that the following number of oysters have been removed from them:

Table showing number of oysters removed from Great Rock and Woman’s Marsh.

Removed in a year.

: i Total both | Percentage
Name of bed. classes. | of matte!
Mature. | Young. | |
| |
i z CF 5 => aes i? a iat tenes Riad 5 i Oe ¥ "a | (jae ead lee ai ar a
Ginanth IROWE coconcos sssoccoapsacos aban bcces ooo dsaeoo ses couancoos secnbe osconseDboadcaBoSoaagaaE | 10, 176, 000 | 5, 640, 000 | 15, 816, 000 | 64
WWOnnRiHS WET ccaccnsusutongouccesaouacssaa Gn sooedospenos conencocDesonescoseneécncnas span 1,740,000 768,000 | 2, 508, 000 | 69

From Table II, dredging results in the Sounds, I find the percentage of mature oysters to the
total number on the two beds mentioned is on the Great Rock 24, and on the Woman’s Marsh 36.
Hence, if there had been no fishing, we would have on the Great Rock 44 per cent. of the oysters
mature and full grown, and on the Woman’s Marsh 52 per cent. mature. We find by making a
similar calculation for Piney Island Bar that the percentage of mature oysters removed is 70, and
that by the dredging results 20 per cent. of those on the bed were mature; hence, 45 per cent.
would represent the percentage on Piney Island Bar had there been no fishing. The ratios on
these beds would then, were the oysters removed still present, be 1.2 on the Great Rock, 0.9 on
the Woman’s Marsh, and 1.2 on Piney Island Bar.

It will be seen by the above that there has been a severe fishing of many of the beds in the
Sounds during the last four or five years—that is, exhaustive of mature brood oysters—and that
consequently the large ratios of young to mature oysters is not the result of a large attachment of
young, but rather of the removal of the older oysters, and hence the change from a large ratio to
a very small one, or vice versa, may be regarded as a safe indication of the deterioration of the
bed; for, as explained in the previous part of this report, the ratio will remain abnormally large
until the young growth reach maturity, when it will become abnormally small, and will so remain
for a few years, when it will again become very large, and this process will continue for some time
until the beds are practically unfit for dredging, as is the case in Pocomoke Sound. Thus not
even the ratios are sure indications of the increase or decrease in the number of oysters, but they
must be considered together with other facts before we can arrive at just conclusions.

By reference to the closing paragraphs of that part of the report relating to the fecundity of
the beds, it will be noticed that the amount of débris increases on the southern Tangier beds, and
that on most of the beds of the Sounds it is much greater than it was in the bay. An increase of
the percentage of débris, as already pointed out, is an indication of the deterioration of the bed,
and is due to the destructive effects of the dredging, which not only removes many oysters, but
so disturbs many others that their destruction is an almost assured fact. To a certain extent this
is a necessary incident of the fishery, and cannot be helped; but overworking the beds increases
this evil as well as others, as is evident by the percentage on many of the Pocomoke beds.

Referring to the table showing the number of oysters removed in 1878, and comparing it with
the table of number of oysters to the square yard, the following may be noticed:

1st. In the upper part of Tangier Sound the numbers to the square yard are very large, which
is probably due to the shoalness of the water and the soft bottom, which allowed a larger number
of oysters to be taken. In addition, the mature oysters are smaller than on the southern beds, as
shown in Table I, dredging results; thus a greater number would be taken in the dredge, and the
number to the square yard increased.

2d. Though the numbers to the square yard are very large, yet there is a serious decrease from
that established in 1873.

By reference to the ‘Table showing number of oysters removed,” I find that the largest num-
ber of oysters were removed from this section in both seasons, and, supposing the number of
dredging vessels to have been constant, instead of diminishing one-half, the number of oysters
removed in 1879 would be greater by 14,000,000 than the number removed in 1878, or, in other
words, the fishing is proportionally increasing. As this fishing is confined principally to the

78

mature oysters, it can be readily understood why the number of these oysters to the square yard
should be much decreased.

In the second section we find the numbers to be nearly the same as those outside; that there
is a gain in the rivers where there is the minimum amount of dredging, and also on two beds
which were worked very little in 1878-79, on account of the young growth which had attached to
them. The proportional increase of dredging, as shown by the numbers removed in each season,
and supposing the number of dredging vessels to have been the same, would be, on this section,
11,000,000; these were taken principally from the western beds and Piney [sland Bar, and on those
beds there is a diminished number to the square yard.

Again, we find by reference to the tables, that on the southern beds in Tangier Sound the
number to the square yard is much smaller than on the beds in the bay. This is due probably to
two causes—the condition of the bed, or the depth of the water, hardness of bottom and size of
the oysters, and to the removal of too large a number of mature oysters during previous years-
As I have pointed out, where the number on a worked bed falls much below that on an unworked
one, it must, other things being equal, be accepted as an indication of a decrease in the productiv-
ity of the bed. That much is assured; but on this section there appears to be an increase in the
number of oysters to the square yard over the number found in 1878, and that increase must be
accounted for in some way.

The table showing the number of oysters removed proves the number taken from this section
to be a constantly decreasing one, for in 1878 there were taken by twice as many vessels four times
aS many oysters as were removed in 1879. This may be due to two causes, and probably is due,
to some extent, to both. The productivity of the beds may be impaired, or the fishery may be less
earnest and exhaustive than in the past. We can only account for the increased number to the
square yard by assuming the latter to be the case, the beds having probably enforced a resting
period by the material failure of the oysters.

The numbers to the square yard and yield in Pocomvke Sound need no comment. Not only
are the numbers below the standard and decreasing, but the yield is also decreasing, as it natu-
rally would under such circumstances.

Naturally, as soon as any bed ceases to give an adequate return for the labor expended upon
it, the dredging vessels will seek other aud more profitable fields for exertion, and the desertion of
any bed may be accepted as an indication of its decreased productive power. As has been men-
tioned under the head of statistical information, dredging vessels have, to a great extent, left the
Sounds for the waters of the bay and Potomac River.

Considering the abnormal ratios between the mature and young oysters, the increased per-
centage of débris on the beds, the smallness of the number to the square yard, and the decrease
of those numbers on most of the beds, together with the large number of oysters, young and old,
annually removed, I am of the opinion that though the fecundity of the beds in Tangier Sound is
not yet destroyed, it is very much impaired, and that not only are the beds rapidly and surely
deteriorating from the excessive fishery, but that their total failure, like unto that in Pocomoke
Sound, is but a question of time.

So far as it is possible to nrake any more exact prediction than the above, | am of the opinion
that, the fishery still continuing, thi: failure will occur first on the beds at the entrances of the
Sound or those in sections 1 and 3, and of the two the failure of the lower beds is most likely to
first occur, and of all the beds the Woman’s Marsh will be the first to give out.

As stated at the beginning of this report, the beds may be protected either indirectly by enlarg-
ing the areas for the dredgers or insuring by artificial means the maturity of a larger number of
spat; or directly, by limiting and restricting the fishery. I alluded in my previous report to the
manner in which this latter form of protection was afforded abroad, and suggested a manner for
affording it at home. The necessity for the adoption of some such measures seems so urgent that I
earnestly hope they will shortly be undertaken.

The extension of the dredging ground can be easily attained by depositing the shells from the
shell heaps about the packing houses on the bottoms contiguous to the natural beds; but such
deposit should always be made in the direction of the ebb and flow of the tide, in order that the
drifting spat may be carried over the newly-exposed cultch. The bottom is of minor importance

719

so long as it is of sufficient consistency to prevent the oysters from sinking into the mud. A sticky
clay bottom is preferable, though the beds may be extended over sand shoals.

In searching for new beds they will probably be found about the mouths of estuaries and
rivers, and where there are sudden changes of bottom. In the Chesapeake, depths of from two to
four fathoms will be most likely to reward a search, and where there are large beds in the creeks
and rivers it is likely that there has been a natural expansion through their mouths, and beds wil]
probably be found off of them. The search must be carefully conducted, or the beds, which appear
to be long, narrow ridges, will be missed. The dredge should be dragged across the tide, as the
beds usually extend in the direction of the current. A sudden change of depth of two or three
feet, and from soft to hard bottom when on an oyster ground, is an unfailing sign of the presence
of a patch or bed.

Considering the success which has attended the investigation of Professor Brooks, and the
new light which it has thrown upon the embryo life of the oyster, I think that perhaps the
most efficacious means of maintaining the productive power of the beds would be in bringing, if
such be possible, the artificial impregnation of the eggs and subsequent care of the young to
such a state of perfection as would be of practical utility. Professor Brooks is, of course, the
best person to devise the method of successfully continuing his experiment, and I hope that he may
be able to do se and that he will meet with complete success. As pertinent to his work, which
is mainly conducted by means of aquaria, I would suggest that the study of the effect of changes
of temperature, so far as they affect the embryo, can be best and most easily done while engaged
upon the attempt to artificially raise them; or, in order to arrive at certain conclusions with regard
_ to the effect of changes of density or of temperature, the investigation, if conducted on the natural
beds, must be extended over many seasons in order to insure, by a coincidence of temperatures or
densities and results, the elimination of other affecting conditions. The study of the temperature
seems So important that any suggestion with regard to it is of value and should claim attention.

I would also recommend that some person inspect and count, at intervals, the oysters on the
spat collector in the Big Annemessex River. It is securely moored and buoyed with a spar buoy,
and probably will remain in place.

With regard to the direct protection of the beds in the Sounds, I can only renew my previous
recommendations. :

The deterioration of any bed will be evident by an abnormal ratio of young growth to mature
oysters; by a small and decreasing number to the square yard; by large and increasing percentage
of broken shells and other débris, and by the appearance of the oysters, as has been described.

When all these indications are present, if the dredging is not totally prohibited it should at
least be so limited as to insure the number of young growth remaining at least one third greater
than the number of mature, and great changes from this ratio are to be avoided and guarded against.

APPENDIX A.

Areas of oyster beds.
Square yards.

Fishing Bay Beds (solid)....... Plsrse par steemn tele ares odie he 3, 600, 000

Hishine Bay, Beds(seattered) 2. 5..22-2-2 5-22. hen eee se 25, 605, 000
WieresPoimt: (Sole), cvs yes cleo sees sees se nek see Sects 1, 845, 000
Shankésebimy (SOM d\irscise ae wcrc en momo a aes cess eee 8G0,000
Nanticoke (Sold) Pee a eee oe a eee oes 5st) 3,465,000
ClomprPoimt (Solid) ep esesss<eedec ks ose e nen ees Ah eee sree 382, 000
Horsey’s Bar (solid) ............ weep GREEN ears: Dee eh tah 202, 000
ANAC TESM(SOMUC ence peers hia iac) 5 Ss Ge eiees chloe 2 AMS PE eR 675, 000
Drummiree Ss noala(SOld) er cel. seat eagles eae 2, 430, 000
Cowgands@alii(Solid) 44552224688 nese ast ae eee Ga. 8 eo: 292, 000
Bed east of Bloodsworth Island (solid) ........... 0... -2.... 4, 027, 000
Wedary (SONG) pepen tse ve isiten: woes 82 eee ear oh See RID a Seeks 337, 000
Mortlerb sopistamea(SOliG)) jac rers 3) njo eee aati teu as arse os bse 1, 620, 000

IGE (ORG) coe che samen aetna. oll abe ne eee 1,845 000

80

Areas of oyster beds—Continued. Sarno cyapih.

Chain Shoal (solid).... ......-...-- ee eee ren Moma tee 1, 192, 000
WUE Ish (OIG) sobs soadseo sbasb condos cooes boooabec ..-. 3,060, 000
Piney Island" Bar, (solid) 235-2 1.ceer a eee eee eee eee 6, 975, 000
Manokin River bed (solid) ...... .......... ae gehen se levi 6, 142, 000
BigeyAnnemessexa(SOlG) ere eteteerers (elt rt eet ere eee 2, 835, 000
EVArris) (SOU) ser RS et ects oot ale sista ace oon tne) revere Mere cece tye raat 3, 420, 000
errapiny Sands\ (solid). 3. 2-1-1 eo eee eee ierrs = A NE MU arate 1, 417, 000
Paul’s (solid) .... ...... FR RE Stee HP I wiper ToK sei ed deras o 765, 000
Womans) Marsh (Solid)in. cee re seeminiae sehen emer oe 6, 975, 000
Bed off Jane’s Island Light (solid) .......... ... See ee NE ae 1, 800, 000
Great Rock (Solid) \ N20 Sots cece ecateseere ei er ee eae ae ere 8, 505, 000
little, Lhoroughtarex(solid\o-c— oe eee ee eee eee 720, 000
Great (Phoroughtare (Solid) (2. 322922 es ene ke ee cee 1, 597, 000
Oak Hammock i(Solid)y oi... i28 6st aioe) ees Sele eieue ree deen ae 630, 000
California (solid) ........ Sw cata are Matte tana Steere o tah ey ae eos eases 3, 915, 000
JohMsSon’s (SOMA CeO oa ok ete ererels eseenclere Ss eeleneneeve ete totete eters 1, 395, 000
Brig: (Solid) P02 hs Sassen ate tances tae Seve ete eres Ustevencha rey: 517, 000
Parker’s:(SOl@) 0 aeons ae crete nero Serer ate ee ae stananit 495, 000
Beach Island (solid) .................. Sols aras CASE (ore ee cay SCR EST 225, 000
Hern Tsland (solid) oe en sec er eee eee MOO OOO
Bird (Sold) 2S ey eros ere Sey ee rea ee cE nar ee 3, 285, 000
Guiltordé@reek (solidi oe eae soso ey eee eee eee ere 1, 642, 000
Messongor(solid) eres eros et oe arcrse iia tte ee yaar ter 180, 000
Muddy, Marsh (solid))@cs0 1. oe sacr ete ss eee eer eee 1, 912, 000
Buoy Spiti(Solid)).2 28s vest otoe sremetcrsiorcie cies Seren ore eee epee 427, 000
~ Small bed south of Shell Bed (solid) .................... seers 225, 000
SINGIN (Sa) OBE E se SeiGds oGenbanouodadoon, eouunocddocs sobs 5% 877, 000
Mrevise: (SOG) isos .ke ce ee als ele ie <P oars Ss et eye eae 697, 000
Drum Bay Point: (solid): ec cist. -) sie ye ee ere ae 337, 000
Dog AMish (Sold) eyes ccc) eerie History Neleuaest Payer eam 720, 000
Pilati (SOW) vices cote te ener singe creas ayer Miami Coe Leth Ls 742, 000
Small bed north of Trevise (solid) ........... ...... oboe es us 135, 000
Slate Stone (solid) ..... BO ion ec NN AN A BAL a bibs Ware 967, 000
Potter's (SOliG) 2 sie ie Ohare ele = lay aarp ake en a 900, 000
New Plantation! (Solid). 5 5-o-gn )-eeeee Seaaratevepetey 180, 000
Buoy. (Solid) 5 oo asc ee a elo ee rine reel Ee ee een es 967, 000
Old Rocksi(SOlG) Pay yacr cysts ere aseicl tee ee ener 1, 057, 000

TANGIER AND POCOMOKE—SUMMARY.
Total area in both Sounds occupied by oysters .............. 425, 012, 000

Total area in both Sounds occupied by solid oyster beds raeyhenee ~ 92, 520, 000
Ordinarily scattered....-2 2.5... :-.--- BIOS eles eos .. -. 313, 345, 000
Thinly scattered ............ Tas ofexstats o:\ ep eaueiccuerc ae Beer 19, 147, 000
Nautical square miles.

Mangier Sound) (Solid) ia pasnees cee eee eee enone ee 17.101
Maneier Sound) (scattered), <-i7s0y mice meskes etre eer ne oe 44, 926
Pocomoke Sound! (solid) ese. Nase et ee eee Cee ei ae: 4. 519
Pocomoke' Sound (scattered): -).- 5. )ee eee ei eee ae 29. 599
il avayes Tay (HONG cond ondes Gocco souesy cosns8 code daae5- 0. 875
ishing eB aya (SCabtered)) Bac 0 ler. eee eee eer ere 6. 225
Total area both Sounds covered by oysters, or scattered oysters, =

in square OUEST GANS Soe sel Abas Sococe boos son8 by sleesys 103. 255

“ Nore. —Those areas designated as « solid” are those where the number to the square yard was above 0.1, or
more than one oyster to ten square yards.

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No.63 | Coast and Geodetic Survey Report, 1881

ASTYRIS: variety WINSLOVI
CHESAPEAKE BAY, NEAR CRISFIELD, MD.
Reported to be injurious to young oysters

20
SCALE: “>

81

APPENDIX B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE “DRILL” REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT OF THE OPERATIONS DURING
THE SEASON OF 1878.

IBYe Who lal, IDAming AESBs Co ey Cy Hwirywywises

Only a few specimens were preserved, and hence it is impossible to speak positively in regard
to its distinctness from the allied forms Astyris spizantha (Rav.) and A. lunata Dall (Ex. Say).

It differs from the former, so far as the specimens go, in color, pattern, and solidity, having
also more whorls and a more slender form.

It differs in form very much from southern specimens of A. lunata, but more specimens of each
are needed to determine the limits of variation in these small shells. They belong to a group
known to be extremely variable.

It may for the present be denominated by the varietal name Astyris var.. Winslovii in com-
memoration of its discoverer.

Though known to be carnivorous, no species of the genus Ast, Yes has been recorded until now
as an injurious animal.

APPENDIX C.

Table showing number and class of dredging vessels seen from the Palinurus during the season of 1878.

E ee
8 = 4A q
a Pe eS
Co) Q 2 mb
a % Ground on which at work. 3 oS
© H : : H H
oH oO o Oo
° 2 a 2 2
& g Q | g
8 5 & 5 5
A 4 | A A
1878.
Sept. 18 57 2) | ROCOMOKE|SOUMG aera tes-1m ain ialnleierelelel= === = einininlslel-l2)=)> ya eeeesaeconse
| 19| 43 23 llsoaaoe GID). sqedues onacue cooenetonocescasanou0aseudeD CO se sea Bones
20 51 1 | Southern part Tangier Sound...........-..-..-- 2, 142 432, 684
20 61 2h ocomoke Soundersee esses ese eae stineaeeniee 1 OB |leacacucesces
}
23 | 123 | 1 | Southern part Tangier Sound ...-..-...--....-.. 5,166 | 1, 043, 532
| 25| 85 sl ee Cote re ae re Bane aK enaeat hee cena ee 3, 570 721, 140
26 | 104 MW ioscsbe GIO) = Ssadasnd sacunE dos usoandansesedesenecosad 4, 368 882, 336 |
29} 65 1 | Middle part Tangier Sound ...-....-.--. epasses: 2, 730 551, 460
30 20 ue Mano kinehivieteensercecereerteciee crises reeeeie BBP) llesocganosace
Oct. 1 37 el mOnwthemGreatbpRocke eres tera reece cesar 1, 554 313, 908
3 26 Ie MOneHarrisebednessscee arise eee cm ere arescece 1, 092 220, 584
3 20 1) On Derrapin Sands=-2--- = --)- 24-0. sec - cen sone 840 169, 680
3 16 27\nOneMusclevloles=smee eee eee ete eeeeeeeeeeee 266 58, 732
3 14 15) On) Piney sland eBare aac 3-5 <ei-eeeeee ieee 588 118, 776
3 25 2h Man okinehiveleresesase secre recece etter ceee UUs paoaeacuoece
3) 63 2 | On and above Chain Shoal .........-....-------- 1B UE) ecopegoeccoe
4) 115 2h eAtboveDieliswislan deearmsteieeniesi aise eee eres SC apoabotcodas
4 17 ne OneMusclesHolepB editerrete er aaasee eset eee 282 56, 964
4 6 1 | On Terrapin Sands...............-----+-- aaRCanE 252 50, 904
4 30 1 | Southern part Tangier Sound.....-........---.-| 1, 260 254, 520
4| 79 1 | Harris’ Bed and Manokin River .............--. 8, 318 670, 236
4| 112 QheNorthyofaittleslslandeeeece ct sme seeee cece Tschy ule saaeersacens
7 | 210 3) | UpperPangier Sounds sa. -cccercie cen sa --aecer GO) ecsaoacssonc
14) 210 BYeopoue Oa ee eee eee EEE EE eee eee ey GUE ledsoeasnoase
|

The classification of the dredging vessels is the result of, and dependent upon, actual obser-
vations. It was noticed that those vessels usually at work in a particular locality were generally
of a certain rig and tonnage, and where there was a dissimilarity in that respect, we recorded,
when in the locality, the proportion of large and small vessels and of differentrigs. In compiling
the table the dredging vessels have been separated into three classes.

The first class represents large and small vessels; the average “take” of this class was 42
bushels per vessel.

App. 11——11

82

The second class represents small vessels; the average “take” of this class was 16.6 bushels .
per vessel.

In

the third class, two-thirds of the vessels were small and’ one-third large; the average

“take” of this class was 29 bushels to the vessel.
By actual count, we found the average number of young to a bushel to be 202.

APPENDIX D.

With the assistance of Mr. H. J. Rice, the following interrogatories were prepared and used
during the season. The information obtained from the oystermen, which has been incorporated in
the previous pages, is the result of the answers to the questions.

al
2
3

NAME AND LOCALITY OF OYSTERMAN.

. Please state your name and your P. O. address.
. In what place or places do you take oysters?
. How long have you been engaged in the business?

THE BEDS: THEIR LOCALITY, CONDITION, &€.

4, Please give the location and the names of the beds in your neighborhood with which you
are acquainted.

See nn sas oO

1

. What is about the size of each bed?
. On what kind of bottom are these oyster-beds generally formed ?
. Is this bottom subject to change in any manner?

. What are the causes of such change or changes?
. Does mud or sediment ever accumulate upon the beds?

. Is it injurious in any manner to the oysters ?
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
ie
18.
19.
20.
21,
22.

From whence does it come?

Can such deposit be prevented ?

State average depth of water where these beds are found.

State the greatest and least depths.

Are the largest and best beds found near by, or distant from, the channels?

Does a change of channel affect them in any manner?

Has there been any change in any of the channels in your vicinity?

Have such changes, if any, affected the beds; and, if so, how?

What is the direction and amount of current over these beds?

Do you know of any beds that are “running out;” if so, how and from what causes?
Where are these beds?

Do you know of beds which are improving in any manner; if so, in what does this im-

provement consist? What is the cause of this improvement ?
23. What is the general direction of the gales which are prevalent here in winter?
24. What in summer?

25
26
27

. Which of these gales increase, and which decrease, the depth of the water over the beds?
. Do the gales in winter affect the ice-fields in any manner; and, if so, how?
. Do they ever seriously affect the beds, or change the neighboring shores; if so, in what

manner, and to what extent?

28
them?

29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.

. If the water should be blown off from any of the beds during such gales would it injure

How long can the beds remain uncovered without injury?

How long have you ever known any to remain uncovered ?

Is this a common occurrence?

Is ice ever piled up on the beds during such times, and on what beds?

For how long?

Has this piling up of ice any injurious effect upon them; and if so, what effect?

30.
36.

83

What thickness of ice do you generally find over the beds?
Does an increased thickness of ice affect the beds either in deep or shallow water; and, if

so, what is the effect?

37,
38.
39.
40,

41.

Is it greater or less in deep than in shallow water?

Does long continued cold weather affect them?

Is the effect greater in shoal or deep water?

During such cold spells does the ice ever rest upon the beds; and, if so, what is the effect?

THE OYSTER ON THE BEDS.

Are the oysters in your locality found mostly in large or small compact beds, or scattered

over a great extent of surface and lying far apart?

42.
43.
44,
45.
46.
47.
48.
49,
50.
ol.
52.

How does their quality compare, as far as you know, with those of other localities?
Are they with you better flavored inside or outside of the Sounds and rivers ?

Are they affected in any manner by long continued dry or wet weather?

What is the effect, if any, of long continued dry weather?

What is the effect of a large amount of fresh water pouring over the beds?

Do the oysters grow better in deep or shallow water?

Are they found in the channels, or where there is mud?

Have the oysters in your locality any particular enemies ?

What are their enemies?

How destructive are these enemies to the oysters, and in what way?

Are there any means of destroying these enemies without incurring too great expense, or

injuring the oysters, and what are such means?

53.
o4.
05.
56.
o7.
58.
59.

60.

61.
62.
63.

Do you know the nature of the oyster’s food, and what is such food ?
Does it feed at any particular time, and what is such time?

What is the length of time it is occupied in feeding?

Will freezing kill the oysters of a bed?

If so, how long must they be frozen before they are destroyed?

Which of the beds in your locality produce the finest-flavored oysters?
How large do the oysters grow in your locality?

Do some of the beds produce larger oysters than others?

If so, which ones?

What causes this?

As far as you are aware, what is the greatest size which oysters will attain under natural

conditions?

64.

Are oysters attached to any objects, or to each other, or do they grow up separately and

flat on the bottom ?

65.
66.
67.
68.

At what time of the year do oysters spawn in your neighborhood?

Is there any difference in the sex of oysters, or are they hermaphrodites?

What are your reasons for thinking so?

If they are of different sexes, can you distinguish the male from the female before being

taken from the shell, and how?

69.

Is there any change in shape or color in either sex during the breeding season; if so, what

is such change?

70.

71.

72.

73.
74,
75.
76.

ithe

78.
79.

Is there any change at any other time?

At what age does the female commence to breed?

At what age does the male?

Is there any age after which oysters do not breed?

At what age do oysters produce the most young?

How do you know this?

Does the act of spawning seem to affect oysters injuriously in any manner; if so, how?
Do all the oysters of a bed spawn at or near the same time?

Have you ever seen young oysters floating or moving about in the water?

If so, were they in considerable numbers?

84

80. Is there any marked difference in the time of appearance of the young in different years ?

81. Are the young especially liable to be destroyed?

82. If so, by what?

83. Can this destruction, if any, be prevented; and, if so, by what means?

84. What is the average growth of an oyster during the first year?

85. Have you ever known any disease to attack the oyster pened great numbers were
destroyed or rendered unfit for use ?

86. If so, is such disease common, and at sine times does it aioe the oysters? What is the
common local name of the disease?

87. What are the supposed causes of such disease?

88. Are about the same number of young found each year upon each bed?

89. Do some beds produce young some years and not others; and during these resting years
do other beds produce young, and then rest in their turn?

90. Do all the beds rest periodically and at the same time?

91. Do currents or unusual conditions of the water appear to have any effect upon the time of
spawning?
THE WORKING AND CULTIVATION OF THE OYSTER.

92. In your neighborhood how are the oysters taken from the beds—with dredges or tongs?
3. Does it improve or injure a bed to work it over with tongs or dredge?
94. Which of these two implements should be used for the best interests of the beds?
95. Are any beds improved by the use of one and not of the other; if so, of which?
96. Does the depth of water make any difference?
97. What kind of boats do you use in oystering?
98. After the oysters have been taken from the bed are they immediately culled, or do you
wait until the fishing is over; and are they culled on their beds?
99. Are the small oysters thrown back or not?
100. What is the size of the smallest which are kept?
101. For the best interests of the beds, what proportion of oysters should be taken off each
year?
102. So far as you know, or can judge, what proportions are taken from the different beds in
your locality?
103. Is there a limit to the thickness of the layer of living oysters upon a bed; if so, what is
such limit?
104. About what is the average thickness?
105. Should a bed be allowed to rest for certain definite periods ?
106. If so, how long?
107. Will oysters fatten best upon the same beds upon which they are produced?
108. If not, what is the character of the bottom upon which they will fatten best?
109. Are oysters planted to any great extent in your vicinity?
110. What kind of oysters are best to use as plants, or does it make any difference which are
used?
111. At what time are they taken up to plant?
112. At what age?
113. How are they taken—with dredge or tongs—and which is preferred on
114. Are they injured at all by rough handling, either for market or for planting?
115. What kind of places are most suitable for planting beds ?
116. Do oysters breed on planted beds?
117. If so, do the young: oysters thrive as well as on the natural beds?
118. If not, why?
119. Are oysters taken from your locality to other places to plant?
120. If so, where?
121. About how small are the oysters in your neighborhood when they first spawn?
122. Is there any difference in this respect, or in the time of year when they spawn, between
those on the natural and those on the planted beds?

85

123. Does a wet or dry season affect the time of spawning, or the coming to maturity of the
spawn ? \
124, Is there any difference as to the amount of young growth found on the beds in different
years ? »

125. What is the reason for this?

126. Have any means ever been tried in your locality to propagate the oyster by artificial
means other than by planting; if so, what means?

127. Do you ever attempt to increase the amount of ‘cultch,” or objects upon which the young
can become attached, by placing old shells or other rough substances in the water upon the beds?

128. Is there any law for the protection of oysters in your locality; if so, please give reference
to date of law ?

129. If so, is it carried out?

130. Are there any means by which protection is afforded to the oyster, to allow them to
increase upon the beds, other than such law, if this exist?

131. Do the oystermen try to uphold all laws and all methods for the protection and increase
of the oysters?

132. What is your method of fishing for oysters—with tongs or dredge?

OYSTER ECONOMY.

133. At what age are the oysters upon the beds in ‘your locality best for market purposes?

134. What size are they at that age?

135. Do the oystermen try and select only such oysters from the beds, or do they take every-
thing that will sell?

136. What is the size of the smallest marketable oysters ?

137. How old are they ?

138. Are oysters divided into classes according to their market value?

139. If so, what are these classes, and how recognized ?

140. Do oysters from particular beds command better prices than those from other beds
near by?

141. If so, what are the names of the preferred beds?

142. What is considered a profitable day’s work with a dredge?

143. Can you catch that number now ?

144. What kind of a boat, and how many men are employed with a dredge?

145. What is the size of the dredge?

146. In what depth of water can it be used most profitably?

147. Do all the men on board a dredging-boat share in what is taken, or are they paid regular
wages? ,

148. If paid regular wages, how much per day?

149. What is considered a profitable day’s work with the tongs?

150. Can you catch that number now?

151. In what depth of water can the tongs be used most profitably ?

152. Do oystermen fish exclusively for any one grade of oysters, such as those which will do
for barreling, or for canning, or do they catch promiscuously all and everything ?

153. What kind of a boat is used in tonging, and how many men in each boat?

154. Which is most profitable, to tong or dredge exclusively ?

155. If dredging is injurious to the beds, is it more or less so in deep than in shallow water?

156. Why? ;

157. Would it not be most profitable to catch one grade of oysters exclusively, and that the
first grade?

158. Is a very fat oyster more profitable for barreling, or for canning, than one not very fat?

159. Are oysters sold by the load or by measure?

160. What is the price paid at present time?

161. What is the highest price you have ever received for oysters ?

163, What is the lowest ?

a

163.
164.
165.

86

When was this?
What do you consider a profitable price for oysters?
Can an oysterman catch as many to-day, in the same number of hours fishing, as he could

when you first began to fish?

166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.
174.
175,
176.
177.
178.

What is the reason for the difference in the catch ?

How many could one catch at that time?

What was the price then ?

Does the price vary on account of flavor or fatness ?

If so, which commands the better price? —

To what market do your oysters go?

Do the oystermen dispose of their catch to the dealers or to traders ?

How long can oysters be carried in an oyster vessel without injury ?

In what shape can they be carried best?

Must any particular care be taken when transporting them ?

About how many persons are engaged in oystering in your neighborhood ?
How many vessels do they employ ?

From your experience, what do you consider would be the best means of improving the

beds and the quality of the oysters in your vicinity, for the best interests of the oystermen and of
the general public?

179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.

FOR THE, OYSTER PACKERS.

In what shape do you put up oysters ?

What is your process?

About how many do you put up in a season ?

From what part of the country do you procure your oysters ?

What do you pay per measure or load ?

How many oysters are there in a load?

Where are most of your oysters sent?

With barrel oysters is there any particular manner of packing them in a barrel ?

Can you give any information from your books as to the number of bushels purchased

and the number of gallons obtained from them each year?

APPENDIX E.

The following analysis of the water of the Sounds and Bay was made at my request by Mr.
Charles E. Monroe, Professor of Chemistry at the United States Naval Academy. As in all prob-
ability the chemical character of the water in the locality under consideration is not subject to
frequent or great changes the constituents of the water as determined by Professor Monroe may
be accepted as the normal ones.

The analysis furnishes data for comparison, and in transplanting oysters from this locality it
will be of advantage to the oyster culturist to consult the table and avoid the transference of the
oysters to conditions of marked dissimilarity.

ANALYSIS OF WATER FROM TANGIER AND POCOMOKE SOUNDS AND CHESAPEAKE BAY.

By C. E. MONROE, Professor of Chemistry, U. S. Naval Academy.

| Total solids at 120°. | Chlorine. Sulphuric acid.
| A wae i]
Locality. Separate | Separate Separate |
determi-| Mean. | determi-| Mean. | determi-| Mean
nation. nation. nation. |
|
Secti Station C— |
Secon TOO ae yey | OH een | EZ]
High water ./.--2--.----0-520 2-22 ee erect cence reeset es cece ee cnc eeeee 18, 000 | 1 9, 400 5 1, 518.0 , 525. 3
17, 340 | 9, 080 1, 507.8
Mia ened la WOON Pattie steer entrain Ur kee RNC 5 cM Se ee ae 17, 339 9,090 |” ,
Low water .-:2-<2---<-0- : 17, 338 | 9, 100 | 090 | 1,457.0 | 1, 482. 4

87

Analysis of water from Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds and Chesapeake Bay—Continued.

fr)

8

| Total solids at 120°. Chlorine. | Sulphuric acid.
2 Caio ae meee ere Sas
Locality. Separate Separate | | Separate
determi-| Mean. | determi-| Mean. | determi-| Mean.
nation. nation. | nation.
Section 2, Station E— . |
oe ae | 20,904] 5 ano | 10,820] agp | P7084) 4 ae
Ign Water .....-----2--2-------- eee tt eee wee eee ee ee eee 20, 800 ? 10, 840 , 1, 694. 8 ,
. , 19,850] 14 g45| 10, 460 apy eek ce,
CLIO) SHES SEB ESO BOSOFEE GBoOEE SoCGa Grae GE Baas SEO oO RAO cr Esecee Harae ; | 19, 830 , 10, 500 } 1, 645.6 | , 654.
Section 3, Station B— |
High wat. ; BT Speen | OES sit cay lf eee ell al ar
TEIN WEUOL? cadoacs dos ssoaadanasebocassceanonensonbaoun! 6 soedSsoscusseaqRac 23, 129 ’ 11, 920 | 9 | Lost. 9
Low wat 5 BEES erm | C2] aon cap | EEO | ae
ONO GEUOS coocacoosoce seossedceds5 consaseqoedseceecrbeEddeseeaaaeoSoe50Ec 23, 454 , 12, 100. 2, | 1,994.6 | , 995.
Section 3, Station F— Sa Oe OE | \ icant
f 2 L 2, 12 , 960.
Hi ghtwater pst: caer ee ee ser eMC Saeed haat: ; cacpn| 2220) ae cen] em re cs
| 23, 670 | 12, 160 2, 002. 0
Toohey ater a cae ears eerste tee ora ese Pee ace Bie eeice ates oo eetieste mee | p 23, 674 | : 12, 180 :
Highwwaterss { 23, 678 ~ | 12,200 | 2,006.0 | 04
Section 4, Station C— | |
High water f Zo eUe | tioge toon e aeaee facta 020) eee | 1054
BTR WA LOL asia oe oils cinta otc ieiote ciel eisteln sistetnictslate/ate sto sletwarnis ce eisluis clasic'er lisreisie ereiei= 23, 180 : | 11,960 | 2, 02 1,955.4 95
22, 210 | 11,680 | 1, 923. 2 |
99 99, |
Mowawater pi h cdot weve tue a ees wales neta hs Ua ath ee BE ; Saens|| 28 | alae | BSB) eee || hee
Chesapeake Bay— oven Bea Ape |
: , 80 | 1,578.0
i nd 1 f Aleleemeeecee incre ceiacinecciosciseeecse 18, 35 9 595
Stations 18 and 19, bottom water § 18, 410 8, 358 9, 760 , 780 | 1,541.6 1, 595
Atlantic Ocean—
Latitude 41.18 N., longitude 36.28 W .........--.---- 20. scene ee eee e eee eee [eee e eee BELEN ibeoangscae PAN), GRY) lnaoencosee 3, 029.

NOTE BY PROFESSOR MONROE.—No determinations of organic matter were made, as it was
found that the amount was so small that it could not be readily determined in the small sample

furnished.

No determinations of Ca were made, the time given for the analytical work not permitting it.
It will be seen from the analysis that the water consists of ocean water more or less diluted with
fresh water, and that the proportion of fresh water is greater at low tide than at high, except in

the case of station B, section 3.

Another feature to be noticed is that the proportion of sulphates in the water analyzed to that
in the Atlantic water is greater than that of the chlorides; this point is important.
As both samples of water from section 3, station F, were taken at high water I have desig-

nated them as A and B.
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C. P. Patterson, Superintendent

JAMES RIVER

:\WPORT NEWS TO DEEP WATER LIGHT
HOWING APPROXIMATE LIMITS

OF OYSTER BEDS

As determined by

|FRANCIS WINSLOW,Master U.S.N.Assist.

Commanding Schooner Palinurwus

August, 1878

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No. 45
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U.S.COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY
C, P. Patterson, Superintendent

JAMES RIVER

FROM NEWPORT NEWS TO DEEP WATER LIGHT
SHOWING APPROXIMATE LIMITS
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As determined by
FRANCIS WINSLOW,Master U.S.N.Assist.

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August, 1878

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LS. COAST AND GEODRTIE SURVEY

C.P, Patterson, Superintendent
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TANGIER SOUND
CITART STLOWING APPROXIMATE POSTTION
OF OYSTER BEDS

delormined by
FRANCIS WINSLOW, Master U.S.N.Assist.
Commanding Schooner Valinurus

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ULS.COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY
G.P. Patterson Superintendent r

aE aeons Lae Lower part of

NGIER SOUND

AND POCOMOKE SOUND

CHART SHOWING APPROXIMATE POSITION
OF OYSTHR BEDS
As determined by
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September 1878
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