﻿199 



has a width of about i mile for the above distance, and has a westerly direction, with marshes 

 on both sides. It is broken up by extensive sand shoals, partly bare at low water, so there is 

 about one-quarter of the above area available, and this part lies in water varying in depth 

 from 6 to 30 feet, and has a bottom which is generally hard. Total area of first 3 miles, 2,560 

 acres; area beyond 1,000 feet from the shore, 1,296 acres; total area of natural oyster beds, 

 26 acres. 



At low water the specific gravity at the mouth was 1.0226; 2 miles above the mouth, 1.0207; 

 4 miles above the mouth, 1,0187. 



Cumberland River enters St. Andrew's Sound from the southward, separating Cumberland 

 Island on the east from the marshes of the mainland on the west. It has a general southerly 

 direction, is about 5 miles long, and connects with Cumberland Sound. Beginning at a width 

 of 1 mile at the mouth, it gradually diminishes to one-quarter of a mile at its junction with 

 Cumberland Sound. The depth of water over three-quarters of this area ranges between 12 and 

 25 feet, and the character of the bottom varies from soft mud to hard mud and sand. The 

 shoal portion consists of hard sand; in a few places soft mud deposits. 



The deep water is generally considered suitable for oyster culture, and the oysters found 

 along the shores, partly ebbing out, are of a superior flavor, and present a more healthy 

 appearance than those from any other locality examined. 



The specific gravity of the water in this sound was about uniform throughout. Off the 

 mouth of Floyd's Creek the mean of thirty-four observations was 1.0229, the maximum being 

 1. 0241, and the minimum, 1.0225. The total area of the entire river is 3,500 acres; area beyond 

 1,000 feet from the shore, 1,380 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 92 acres. The maximum 

 current observed was 1.5 knots. 



Floyd's Creek is a tributary of the Cumberland River, coming into it 2 miles above the 

 mouth and extending in a westerly direction for about 4 miles, having a width of 200 yards, 

 and a depth varying from 10 to 30 feet. It flows entirely through marshes, and the general 

 character of the bottom is hard except along near the shores, where it varies from soft to sticky 

 mud. This creek is considered well adapted to the growth of oysters. 



The specific gravity at the head was 1.0217; 2 miles from the mouth, 1.0227; at the mouth, 

 1.232. The creek has a total area of 480 acres, and a total area of natural oyster beds of 13 acres. 



Brick Hill River is a tributary of Cumberland River, into which it empties on the east side 

 opposite the mouth of Floyd's Creek. It winds in a southerly direction entirely through marsh 

 for aboiit 6 miles, where it again connects with Cumberland River. For the first 3 miles it 

 averages about 400 yards in width; beyond this it narrows to aboi;t 200 yards. The first 3 miles 

 is considered suitable for the cultivation of oysters, the character of the bottom varying 

 from soft mud to sticky mud, and the depth of water from 7 to 25 feet. 



The specific gravity at the lower mouth was 1.0225; 3 miles above, 1.02 17. The total area of 

 the river is 512 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 20 acres. 



Mud Creek connects with Brick Hill River at its mouth, and is a small stream of about 100 

 yards in width and 2 miles long. It is deep, but the bottom is muddy and is not considered 

 suitable. Along the edges is a narrow strip of natural oyster beds. 



The specific gravity at the head was 1.0217. Total area, 160 acres. Area of natural oyster 

 beds, 16 acres. 



Cumberland Sound lies between Cumberland Island on the north and Amelia Island on the 

 south, and extends to the northward and westward, separating Cumberland Island from the 

 marshes of the main land. It is about 9 miles long, joins with Cumberland River, and is almost 

 entirely surrounded by marshes. It is about 1 mile in width at the entrance and averages 

 this distance for the first 4 miles. Beyond 2 miles from the entrance the sound becomes very 

 shoal, with the exception of a narrow deep channel, which is the only area on which oysters 

 may be cultivated The character of the bottom ranges from soft mud to hard sand with an 

 occasional small area of clay. About one-fifth of the area of this sound has a depth ranging 



