OYSTER INVESTIGATIONS IN GEORGIA 



By Paul S. Galtsoff, Ph. D., la charge of Oyster Fishery hivestigations, and 

 R. H. Luck, I*h. D., Temijorary Assistant 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 61 



Phj'siography of the coastal region i 62 



Open sounds 62 



Rivers _-. 63 



Marshes and creeks 63 



Distribution of natural oyster beds 64 



Salinity, pH, amount of suspended matter in water, and character of the 



bottom 69 



Localities sutiable for oyster culture 73 



Observations and experiments in oyster culture at Doboy Island 75 



Brief description of the locality 75 



Temperature and salinity of the water 76 



Tidal currents 79 



Changes in salinity during the tidal cycles 90 



Spawning and setting of oysters near Doboy Island 91 



Brush as a collector of oysters 93 



Size of oysters at 2 years of age 96 



Conclusions 97 



Bibliography 100 



INTRODUCTION 



In 1925, in rompliance with the request of the J^epartment of 

 Game and Fish of the State of Georgia, an examination of the 

 oyster beds of this State was undertaken to ascertain what practical 

 measures were necessary to restore the natural oyster beds and to 

 increase the production of oysters in the State. The investigation 

 was carried out with the cooperation of the State game and fish 

 commissioner. In February and March, 1925, the senior author 

 with the State survey boat Two Friends covered 351 miles between 

 Savannah and St. Marys, Ga., visiting the following localities: 

 Wilmington River, Tybee River, Lazaretto Creek, Oyster Creek, 

 Shad River, Skidaway River, Back River (Burnsicle Island), Ver- 

 non River, Ossabaw Sound, Bradley River, Florida Passage, Kil- 

 kenny Creek, Cabbage Creek, Bear River, Newell Creek, St. Cather- 

 ine Sound, Walburg Creek, Cedar Creek, Sunbury Creek, Ashville 

 Creek, Little Ashville Creek, Timmons River, Johnson Creek, Sa- 



Selo Sound, Blackbeard River, Mud River, Old Teakettle Creek, 

 >oboy Sound, Connegan River, Dead River, Folly River, Buzzard 

 Roost Creek, North River, Back River, South River, Rockdedundy 

 River, Wolf Creek, Altamaha Sound, Frederic River, St. Simon 



1 Appendix V to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1930. B. V. 

 Doc. 1077. 



61 



