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went to sea for two clays, coming into Wassaw Sound. A month latter we were anchored for 

 a week in Altamaha and Buttermilk Sounds, where the density of the water was i.ooor, and 

 sometimes less, and the fishermen used the water fc*r drinking purposes. In January, 1890, having 

 occasion to haul the vessel out again, the oysters attached to the ship's rudder were removed. 

 All of them were found to be alive, and all had grown since leaving Charleston. They were 

 not fat, being a little dark and watery, but presented about the appearance of the average 

 raccoon oyster. 



In regard to the enemies of the oyster, the Georgia coast is not wanting in the star-fish, 

 which has played such havoc with the cultivated beds in Connecticut, for they were found in 

 the deep waters of Sapelo, Doboy, and St. Andrew's Sounds; also at the mouth of the Altamaha 

 Sound. But none w©*« found far from the ocean, nor over any part of the area which I have 

 considered adapted to oyster culture. 



In the sounds south of the Altamaha the drum-fish are very numerous. 



On the southern shore of St. Catherine's Island, and on the shores at the mouth of the 

 Satilla River, there are washed up a large quantity of dead oyster shells, and almost half of 

 the shells have a small hole near the "eye" of the shell, which would rather indicate that the 

 oyster had been killed by the drills. 



In regard to the condition of the natural oyster beds of the State of Georgia, it was 

 observed that there was a general depletion caused by excessive fishing, and that the nearer 

 the market the more were the beds depleted. In fact, the area which I have indicated on the 

 charts as natural oyster beds really include all that area where oysters have grown, and 

 practically nothing but shells now remain; it also allows for a reasonable expansion of the 

 beds. As a rule it includes all the raccoon oysters attached to the edge of the marshes, and 

 in a few instances may include small areas which have been planted. 



The recent 05-ster law of this State, which is appended to this report, does not require a 

 knowledge of the location and area of the natural beds. It very properly permits any one to 

 enter ground for private cultivation on any oyster bed which is not resorted to by the public 

 for the procuring of oysters by the use of tongs for consumption or for sale. So few and so 

 small are the oysters which now remain scattered along the shores that it would be to the 

 interest of the State if its citizens were permitted to lease any area, the State selling to the 

 highest bidder the now almost depleted oyster beds. 



As a means of rapidly depleting the natural beds no more effective method could be in- 

 stituted than the establishment of factories for the canning of oysters. These in the end will 

 be of great benefit to the State, because the sooner the natural beds are depleted the sooner 

 will the citizens engage in private cultivation, and enact laws that will give inducement to 

 capital. 



It is hardly within the province of my duties to comment upon the wisdom of the oyster 

 law which went into effect on the first of last January. While it is a conservative measure, 

 yet it must be admitted that the law is a good beginning, and already the people along the 

 sea-coast are disposed to avail themselves of its inducement. Two companies have taken out 

 leases for about 3,000 acres of ground, one near Savannah, and the other near Brunswick. 

 Some of the most prominent business men in both localities, as well as the native tonger, have 

 taken stock in the companies. There is only one feature in the oyster law which I take the 

 liberty of bringing to the notice of the State authorities. That is the 1,000 feet limit. An 

 inspection of the charts which accompany this report will show that for the most part the 

 area between the shore and the 1,000 feet limit is too deep for oysters to be taken by the use 

 of tongs, hence this area, if cultivated, must be done by steamers. No oyster grower can afford 

 to use a steamer unless he has at least 500 acres of oyster ground. Therefore, if this ground 

 is not cultivated in large farms by the use of steamers, it will not be cultivated at all. 



In a table following may be found the total area examined in each locality, the area beyond 

 1,000 feet from the shore, and also the area of oyster beds. 



It will be observed that these areas do not include those bodies of water which were par- 

 tially examined and found unsiiitable for oyster culture. 



)y^a_J<y 



