NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



421 



southern part of the state. Some 

 specimens attain a fair size. Wolves 

 are rare, almost extinct. Bob-cats 

 and gray and red foxes are common. 

 The deer is abundant in the swamps of 

 the low-country. The opossum, rac- 

 coon, skunk, mink, and muskrat are 

 common throughout the state. The 

 alligator is common in the rivers and 

 streams of the coastal region of the state. 

 Ruffed grouse are abundant throughout 

 the state except in the immediate vicini- 

 ties of the large cities. In the coastal 

 region, the old submerged rice fields 

 afford resting and feeding places to many 

 kinds of migratory birds. Many kinds 

 of fish abound in the streams and bays 

 in the state. Among the common fish 

 are bass, perch, and brim. It is a well 

 known fact, however, that many streams 

 have been "fished dry" owing to the 

 lax laws in the state. 



The land and fresh water mollusca 

 of this state are not represented by a 

 large number of species, as compared 

 with other southern states farther west. 

 Of land molluscs there are 79 species 

 and varieties distributed among 23 

 genera, of which Polygyra has 28 species, 

 Gastrodonta 10, Gastrocopta 5, and the 

 others 1 to 4 each. Of the fresh water 

 mollusks there are 107 species divided 

 among 20 genera. There are 60 species 

 of naiades, of which Lampsilis contains 

 18 and Elliptic 34. Goniobasis, so 

 abundant in Alabama and Georgia, 

 has but 12 species. The fresh water 

 pulmonates, Lymnaea, Planorbis, and 

 Physa are represented by but few 

 species. No attempt has been made by 

 students to study the fauna ecologically. 

 See Maxyck, Contributions from the 

 Charleston Museum, No. 2 for a catalog 

 of the species of South Carolina. F. 

 C.B. 



3. Pollution 



Several cases of pollution of streams 

 by fertilizer factories and cotton mills 

 have been reported. It is held that the 

 former allow sulphuric acid to contami- 

 nate the streams and that the latter 

 permit wastes of various kinds to be 



dumped into the waters. This is a 

 serious menace to fish and it is pleasing 

 to note that state action is being taken 

 against such practices. 



4- Sea coast and marine conditions 



Oil burning ships along the coast of 

 the state permit oil to run on the water 

 in harbors and bays. This is not only 

 a nuisance but a menace to young fish. 



III. NATURAL AREAS 



The swamps in the low-country of 

 the state are the least modified and 

 many of these would afford suitable 

 areas for preservation. 



An area suitable for preservation is 

 the Combahes tract composed of 12,000 

 acres about half of this amount being 

 in a modified natural state (B2). This 

 tract includes sand areas, swamps, 

 marshes and bays formed from old 

 submerged rice-fields. It is under the 

 influence of the tides. Deciduous trees, 

 evergreen oaks covered with hanging 

 moss, undergrowth of various shrubs 

 and vines abound. The Combahee 

 River is a favorite rendezvous for the 

 alligator. Many kinds of birds abound. 

 The migratory species remain in the 

 marshes for some time to feed. This 

 tract is located 4 mi. east of White Hall, 

 S. C. on the A. C. L. Railway. 



Preserves 



L State Preserves. The State Game 

 Farm, is the only state preserve in the 

 state of South Carolina. It consists 

 of several hundred acres located at 

 Camp Styx, near Columbia. The pur- 

 pose of this farm is to raise pheasants, 

 wild turkeys, and deer to restock certain 

 areas of the state which have been 

 depleted in game. This farm is main- 

 tained by the surplus revenue collected 

 by the State Game Department after 

 paying the schools their portion and the 

 game wardens their salaries and 

 expenses. 



2. National Preserves. There are no 

 national preserves except several forest 

 preserves. One National Forest Man- 

 hahala includes part of Oconee County. 



