120 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
SOUTIL CAROLINA. 
During the winter of 1890-91, the steamer Fish Hawk, Lieut. Robert 
Platt, U. S. Navy, commanding, was detailed to investigate the coast 
waters of South Carolina in the interest of the development of their 
oyster resources. This inquiry necessitated the determination of the 
position, extent, and characteristics of the natural oyster beds, and of 
the bottom areas not now producing oysters but suitable for their cul- 
tivation, as well as the study of the natural history of the oyster, as 
displayed in this region. Surveys of a similar character, previously 
made by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey on the coasts of North 
Carolina and Georgia had greatly stimulated the oyster industry in 
those States, and had demonstrated the practical utility of sueh an 
investigation. In arranging for the work in South Carolina, however, 
it was deemed expedient to increase the scope of the observations, so 
as to provide for a careful study of the biological features of the region, 
with special reference to the feeding of the oyster, chemical analyses 
of the water, and a more detailed inquiry than had been customary 
respecting the physical characteristics of the latter. 
The hydrographic work, including the delineation of the natural oys- 
ter beds, the determination of suitable bottoms for oyster-planting, and 
the specific-gravity observations, was placed in charge of Mr. John D. 
Battle, formerly associated with Lieut. Francis Winslow, U.S. Navy, 
in the oyster survey of North Carolina, and with Ensign J. C. Drake, 
U.S. Navy, in that of Georgia. The services of Dr. Bashford Dean, 
of Columbia College, New York, were secured for the more special bio- 
logical researches respecting the oyster and its food and the chemical 
and physical considerations, subjects to which he had previously given 
much attention in connection with the investigations of the oyster- 
grounds of New York State. The general natural history of the waters 
was studied by Mr. James E. Benedict, of the U. S. National Museum, 
and Mr. W. C. Kendall. The officers of the Fish Hawk participated in 
all the branches of the work, and their hearty codperation, especially 
in regard to the hydrographic part of the survey, was essential to its 
SUCCESS. 
Operations were begun December 23, 1890, in the neighborhood of 
Winyah Bay, in the northeastern part of the State. The creeks in that 
vicinity had already been examined by Mr. Battle, in the interest of an 
oyster company, and the privilege of using his results being obtained, 
but little time was spent there. The steamer then proceeded to the 
Savannah River and worked thence northward to the northern part of 
Bull Bay, near Cape Romain, completing the survey March 30, 1891. 
The coast region of South Carolina consists chiefly of very low land, 
marshy to a great extent, which in many places extends inland a con- 
siderable distance. It is indented or cut through by a number of 
sounds, bays, and river mouths, which are connected by an intricate 
