OVSTKK IN VKSTIUA'L'IONS IN (JKOKGIA 73 



111 certain streams (Kockdeduiidy River, North River), the water 

 was still very muddy, carrying over 300 milligrams of suspended 

 matter per liter. 



All the observations north of Doboy Island were made between 

 February 28 and March 12, 1925. The salinity of the water varied, 

 depending on the distance from the ocean and local conditions, from 

 2.18 (Ogeechee River) to 20.1G per mille (Sapelo Sound). The pH 

 value of the water was from 7.0 to 8.1; and the amount of material 

 in suspension, with the exception of Mud River, the water of which 

 carried 206.7 milligrams of chiy per liter, varied from 13.1 to 81.4 

 milligrams per liter. During the survey the temperature of the 

 water recorded at various stations varied from 10.1° to 19.4° C. 

 (about 50° to 67° F.). 



It is a well-known fact that a substantially firm and unshifting 

 bottom is a prerequisite for the successful cultivation of oysters. 

 Unfortunately, our method of determining the consistency of the 

 bottom is very primitive; it consists in trying the bottom with a 

 sounding pole to which a metal disk is attached and in expressing 

 the impression — gained by gently forcing the pole in the mud — in 

 arbitrary terms: Ooze, very soft, soft, sticky, hard, etc. In 1910, 

 Moore (1913) made an attempt to introduce an apparatus for meas- 

 uring the consistency of bottoms. Unfortunately, his instrument is 

 very heavy and can not be operated from a small boat. During the 

 present survey the bottoms were examined by using the sounding 

 pole, and samples of various representative types of mud were col- 

 lected and preserved for further analysis. 



By taking into consideration all the ecological conditions observed 

 during the survey of 1925 (character of the bottom, salinity, pH, 

 temperature, currents, and distribution of setting) it is possible to 

 arrive at some conclusions as to the suitability of the various sections 

 of Georgia coastal waters for oyster culture. Because of the brief 

 period of observation, such conclusions can not be regarded as final, 

 but can be used as a point of departure for further investigations. 

 Before giving a list of the localities which the senior author thinks 

 are suitable for oyster farming and which he believes can be profit- 

 ably developed into productive grounds, it is desirable to analyze 

 in a more general way the different classes of coastal waters with 

 reference to their adaptability for the purpose. The question arises 

 in which of three classes of waters — in the sounds, in the mouths of 

 the rivers, or in small tidal creeks and marshes — one should expect 

 to find conditions most favorable for the cultivation of oysters. 



LOCALITIES SUITABLE FOR OYSTER CULTURE 



The sounds are characterized by their sandy and shifting bottoms ; 

 their waters are exposed to heavy seas from the ocean and readily 

 become choppy when tides are running against the wind ; and the 

 salinity is rather high. All these factors make the sounds unsuit- 

 able for oyster culture ; and though there are several localities in the 

 sounds where oysters grow and where the bottom is suitable, it would 

 be unwise to recommend any oyster planting there. The one ex- 

 ception which should be mentioned is the inside part of Cumberland 

 Sound along the shores of Cumberland Island and around the marsh 



