﻿200 



from 10 to 36 feet, and about one-half of this area is suitable for the growth of oysters. Around 

 the edges of the marshes are a series of natural oyster beds, the greater portion of which can 

 be seen above low water. 



The specific gravity at the head was 1.0225; or ^ the mouth of King's Bay, 1.0231; off the mouth 

 of St. Mary's River, 1.0233. The maximum current observed was 1.8 knots per hour. The 

 sound has a total area of 3,904 acres, and the area beyond 1,000 feet from the shore, 1,248 

 acres. Total area of natural oyster beds, 80 acres. 



Crooked River is a tributary of Cumberland Sound, into which it enters from the westward 

 It has several mouths flowing between marshy islands and joins Cumberland Sound at its 

 junction with Cumberland River. Making to the westward for a distance of 30 or 40 miles it 

 was found to be practically a fresh-water stream, and no part of it may be considered suitable 

 for the cultivation of oysters. Scattered along the edges, at its mouth, are a series of small 

 oyster beds, having a total area of 17 acres. 



King's Bay is a branch of Cumberland Sound making off to the northward and westward, 

 and about 1% miles to the southward of Crooked River, with which it connects by several 

 small branches. The bottom is soft and generally unsuitable for the cultivation of oysters. 

 Total area of the bay is 512 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 20 acres. 



Specific gravity at the head is 1.0225; a t the mouth, 1.0230. 



St. Mary's River, forming the boundary between Georgia and Florida, takes its rise far back 

 in the interior, and is a fresh-water stream. The area extending about 1 mile from the mouth 

 is the only part adapted to the growth of oysters, by reason of freshets from this river. This 

 portion, however, has a generally soft bottom. The width averages about one-fourth of a 

 mile, and the depth of water ranges from 6 to 25 feet. 



Specific gravity at the mouth was 1.0221. 



GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 



DENSITIES. 



<£A-£ / T n making a study of the densities recorded, it will be found that the data if, insufficient 



/ to draw definite conclusions or make comparisons with the densities observed in other 



States. Although the observations covered a period of five months, yet the phenomenally 

 dry season — there being scarcely any rain-fall during the above period — has left us with a 

 record of an extreme instead of a mean. That is to say, it may be safely inferred that no por- 

 tion of the water examined will be likely to contain a larger percentage of salt than has been 

 indicated by these density observations. 



As a rule, the specimens of water were taken from the surface. In the Vernon River a 



r*+Z>~£4/ series of observations were taken every hour for twelve hours; first, to note the range of the 



/ density as the tide rose and fall; and second, to note the difference in density at the surface 



and bottom of the water at the same instant. This experiment was repeated in Walburg's 



Creek, at the mouth of the Altamaha Sound, and in Turtle River, near Brunswick. 



As was natural to infer, after an inspection of the different bodies of water and a knowl- 

 edge of the source from which the water was received, the rate of change for any twelve hours 

 was very small for all but the Altamaha Sound, and likewise the difference in density at the 

 top and bottom was inconsiderable and unimportant, except in the case of the Altamaha Sound. 



While water having a density ranging from 1.0120 to 1.0200 is considered most desirable, 

 the question arises, " How long will an oyster live in water absolutely salt or fresh? " As an 

 instance coming under my personal observation, I mention the following: During the spawning 

 season of 1889, this vessel was anchored in the harbor of Charleston, S. C, and several young 

 oysters attached themselves to the rudder. I first observed them in September, 1889, when 

 the vessel was hauled out for repairs. The shells of the oysters were then about the size of a 

 silver half-dollar. In October the vessel went to sea for three days, bound for Savannah, Ga., 

 being hove-to twelve hours in a gale of wind during the passage. After a fortnight she again 



