REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 121 



system of wiiuliug- cieeks and ri\'ers, separating the sea islands from 

 one anotlier and from tlie mainland. Oysters are fonnd in most of the 

 creeks and rivers ^vhich are suited to their growth, but they oecur 

 mainly as fringing ledges along the borders between the levels of high 

 and low tide. In only a few localities do they grow naturally in the 

 stream bed, and their cultivation or improvement by tiausplanting has 

 not hitherto been attempted, except upon a very limited scale. 



The water that circulates through these oyster-bearing channels is 

 derived from several sources, the sea on one side, the rivers from the 

 interior, neighboring springs, and land seepage on the other. That 

 coming from the sea has the high salinity or density of the ocean, while 

 the rest is fresh. As is naturally to be expected from the positions 

 and relations of these numerous bodies, their contents, resulting from 

 the mixture of different waters, present a great diversity as legards 

 saltuess, and the density in each is subject to great and frequent varia- 

 tions through the tides and seasonal changes. Moreover, the larger 

 rivers bring down an immense quantity of sediment, which, becoming 

 widely disseminated, tills many of the channels with highly discolored 

 water, especially during times of freshets. From this source, and prob- 

 ably from others also, the channels have derived, over a large part of 

 their extent, a very soft, muddy bottom, not capable of supporting- 

 heavy objects of any character. 



The reason for the peculiar distribution of the oysters, above referred 

 to, which obtains also in Georgia, in some parts of North Carolina, and 

 on the outer coast of Virginia, has not positively been determined, but 

 it may possibly be due to the high specific gravity of the water. The 

 heavy sediment and solt character of the bottom may also have some 

 influence in that respect. The solution of this question is of great 

 practical importance, as the result will have much weight in determin- 

 ing the methods of oyster-culture best suited to the State, and it is 

 proposed to give lurther attention to the matter at the first convenient 

 opportunity. The problem involved is as to whether the si)at derived 

 from mature oysters planted on the bottom will attach themselves in 

 similar situations; in fact, as to whether such beds would be self- 

 sustaining, as they are, to a greater or less extent, in all the principal 

 oyster regions farther north. The present indications are that in the 

 South Carolina waters whose salinity is above a certain standard the 

 spat or embryos, which are liee-swimming during the earlier part of 

 their existence, float only at the surface, and therefore have the means 

 of attaching themselves only between the levels of high and low tide. 

 In any case, however, a. very simi)le and effectiv(5 means of cultivation is 

 presented in the transplanting of the raccoon oystei's from the tide 

 ledges to suitable bottoms in deeper water, where they rapidly attain 

 abetter shape and quality. The raccoon ledges are a source of seed, 

 which, if i)rop('rly protcc^ted, can be. nnnlc the basis of an extei-^ive 

 industry, and one probably of great profit. 



