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The Public Oyster Grounds Of The Rappahannock River, Jay D. Andrews, Dexter S. Haven

Reports

The Rappahannock River includes some of tho best oyster grounds in the state. The public grounds comprise a poorly used natural resource of great potential value to the state. At present oystermen gather the "wild" crop which, unf'ortunately, represents only a small portion of the oysters which could be raised by intensive management.

In a single phrase, the Rappahannock can be described as a river where oysters "grow fast but set poorly". The chief factor limiting production is the lack of adequate set of young oysters each year. It is not likely that biologists will learn in the near future …