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Mackay's River comes into St. Simon's Sound about i mile to the westward of Frederica 

 River. Like Frederica River it flows through marshes, and connects Buttermilk Sound with 

 St. Simon's. It is wider than Frederica River, but shoaler in places. 



That part adapted to the growing of oysters extends from the lower mouth to about the 

 junction with Back River. The character of the bottom in this river is favorable for the 

 growing of oysters, being, for the most part, hard and sticky mud and clay. 



The specific gravity at the mouth was 1.0211; 2 miles above the mouth, t.0120, and 3 miles 

 above the mouth, 1.0060. The total area of this river is 960 acres. Area adapted to the culti- 

 vation of oysters, about 300 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 37.5 acres. 



Back River enters St. Simon's Sound just to the southward of the mouth of Mackay's River. 

 Taking a northerly course it is about 5 miles long and joins Mackay's River, being about one- 

 fourth of a mile wide. It has a depth ranging from 6 to 30 feet. The character of the bottom for 

 the greater portion is soft mud. There is some clay, probably a deposit, along the left bank 

 near the mouth. In places there is a little sand and small area of sticky bottom. 



The specific gravity at the mouth was 1.0211; 1 mile above the mouth, i.or86; at the head, 

 1.014. The total area of the river is 800 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 36 acres. 



St. Simon's Sound lies between St. Simon's Island on the north, the marshes making off from 

 the main land on the west, and Jekyl Island on the south. It is about 1 mile wide at the 

 entrance, has a depth ranging from 5 to 10 fathoms, and therefore contains a large quantity of 

 sea-water. The only part adapted to the growth of oysters is the area embraced within one-half 

 mile from the mouths of Frederica and Mackay's rivers, the remaining area being too salt. 

 This sound has a total area of 1,728 acres. 



Brunswick River is the principal tributary to St. .Simon's Sound, of which it appears as a 

 prolongation to the southward and westward. It has an average width of about 1 mile for 

 the first 2 miles, or to Brunswick Point, where it turns to the northward and narrows to three- 

 fourths of a mile, holding that direction for 2j4 miles to Buzzard's Island, where it divides into 

 two branches, the main branch being called Turtle River; here it is joined by the other 

 branch, about ij4 miles above Buzzard's Point. 



The depth of water in Brunswick River ranges from 15 to 40 feet for about three-fourths 

 of the area. The character of the bottom is hard sand, except near the shores, where it is 

 generally soft or sticky. That portion of the river east of the upper mouth of Plantation 

 Creek is considered too salt for the growth of oysters. 



The mean specific gravity off. the mouth of Jekyl Creek for eighteen observations was 1.0199; 

 the maximum, 1. 0212, and the minimum, 1.0184. The highest current observation was 1.8 knots 

 per hour. The total area of the river is 5,088 acres. Area beyond 1,000 feet from shore, 

 2,450 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 14 acres. 



Turtle River begins at the southeast point of Buzzard's Island and extends in a northwest- 

 erly direction for about 7 miles, separating Blythe Island on the west from the main land on 

 the east. For this distance it has an average width of one-half mile; it then narrows to one r 

 fourth of a mile, bending to the westward. The depth of the greater portion of this river 

 ranges between 12 and 40 feet, there being one or two extensive shoals. The character of the 

 bottom is hard, being in some places of a silica formation. Along the shores there is a 

 perceptible deposit. The area covered by the deeper water is considered favorable for the 

 growing of oysters. 



Specific gravity. — A series of observations were made off the Citj^ of Brunswick, with the 

 following results: the mean of 177 specimens was 1.0196, the maximum being 1.02 19, and the 

 minimum 1.0185. The total area is 2,548 acres; area beyond 1,000 feet from shore, 882 acres. 

 Area of natural oyster beds, 82 acres (including the areas of the natural beds in the small 

 tributaries of Turtle River). 



Colonel's Creek is a tributary of Brunswick River, into which it flows at the junction of 

 Turtle River. It separates Colonel's Island on the south from Blythe Island on the north, 

 being about 8 miles long, and averaging for the first half about 400 yards wide, and for the 



