T XIII. 



THE FISHERIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA. 



A. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA 



AND GEORGIA. 



179. DESCRIPTION OF THE MOEE IMPORTANT FISHERY INTERESTS. 



DESCRIPTION OP THE COAST. The States of South Carolina and Georgia, with a coast-line of 

 250 miles, are bordered by a belt of rich grassy swamp-land separating the ocean from the higher 

 ground of the interior. This belt, comprising the famous Sea Island region, extends almost 

 without interruption along the entire coast of both States. It varies in breadth from 5 to 30 

 miles, and is broken up into an almost innumerable number of islands, separated from each other ' 

 by a vast network of channels or tide-creeks varying from a few feet to a mile or more in width. 

 These channels communicate freely with each other to form a continuous inland passage. In fact 

 the tide-creeks are everywhere so numerous along this portion of the coast that a small boat can 

 readily pass from the lower part of North Carolina to Florida without once venturing outside. 

 Many of the channels are deep enough to be navigable by shoal-draught steamers for a consid- 

 erable distance, but they are often too narrow and crooked to admit of the extensive use of sail 

 vessels. 



The general evenness of the shore is interrupted at short intervals by large bays and sounds. 

 These vary greatly in size, some being simple indentations of the coast without any tributaries of 

 importance; others are formed by the expansion of a single stream at the point where it empties 

 into the sea, while still others receive the waters of several of the more important rivers of the 

 State. The mouth of each sound is obstructed by a bar, but in most cases the currents have cut 

 out channels deep enough to admit the ordinary coasting or fishing vessel of the region. In this 

 manner excellent harbors are provided where the trading-vessels and fishing-smacks may find safe 

 anchorage during stormy weather. 



Some of the islands are so low and damp as to be nearly worthless. Others are dry, and have 

 a soil that is remarkably rich, and well adapted to the growth of cotton. Prior to the war the 

 larger islands, especially those in the southern portion of the district, were extensively cultivated 

 by wealthy planters, and a large number of their slaves were kept in the region; but since 

 obtaining their freedom many of the negroes have removed to the higher lands of the interior, 

 and some portions of the coast appear quite deserted, though in other localities a good many 

 blacks and a few whites still remain. On the South Carolina coast the only places of importance 

 are Georgetown, Charleston, and Beaufort; while in Georgia, Savannah and Brunswick are the 

 only seaports of over five hundred inhabitants. 



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