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Virginia Marine Resources Commission Oyster Chart Collection 1894-1977

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Virginia Marine Resource Commission Oyster Chart collection is comprised of 96 oyster charts, 5 aerial photographs, 1 fish stake chart and 1 volume of oyster charts for Maryland's oyster grounds. At the time that many of these charts were created, pre-1950, the oyster grounds were known by several names: oyster rocks, oyster shoals and oyster bars. Public rocks are those set apart by the Baylor Survey of 1894 for the exclusive use of the public. The other areas were classified as lying outside of the Baylor Survey and were eligible for leasing by private individuals. Public rocks were used by individual tongers who paid an annual license fee; tongers removed oysters from the public beds with a hand tong. The private or leased grounds were rented from the state and the oysters were removed by dredges.

  1. Library of Virginia

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