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The specific gravity of the water at the mouth was 1.0170. Total area of the river, 350 acres. 

 Area of natural oyster beds, 7.5 acres. 



Darien River is considered unfit for the cultivation of oysters by reason of its waters being 

 too fresh. 



South River begins at the mouth of Rockdedundy River, and extends in an easterly direc- 

 tion along the north side of Wolf Island Marshes for a distance of 3 miles, where it empties 

 into Doboy Sound. It has a depth of water ranging from 8 to 20 feet for the principal part of 

 its area, and an average width of 200 yards. The bottom is generally favorable for the growth 

 of oysters. 



The specific gravity at its mouth is 1.01S0; at its head, 1.0170. The total area of the river is 

 320 acres. Area of natural oyster beds is 20.5 acres. 



(Note.) — Wolf Creek and Beacon Creek, both coming out of the marshes of Wolf Island, 

 were not examined. 



Little Mud River is the first tributary to Altamaha Sound on the north side. Extending 

 to the northward about 2 miles and separating Wolf Island from Rockdedundy Island, it joins 

 the mouth of Rockdedundy River. It has an average width of about 300 yards, disregarding 

 the shoal at the mouth of the river. The depth of water ranges from 6 to 20 feet. The bot- 

 tom is suitable for the growth of oysters, being for the most part hard and sticky mud with 

 a little sand. The water in this river is liable to become very fresh when there is a rise in 

 the Altamaha River. 



The specific gravity 1 mile above the mouth, 1.0076; at the junction with Rockdedundy 

 River, 1.0171. The total area is 321 acres. The ai-ea of natural oyster beds, 14.5 acres. 



Samples of oysters from this river, taken from a small bed only recently discovered, were 

 of a superior quality both in shape and size. 



Altamaha Sound lies between Wolf Island on the north and Little St. Simon's Island on the 

 south. It is about 2 miles wide at its entrance, but the sound is obstructed by a series of 

 shoals and marsh islands, among which the narrow channels run most circuitously. Oysters 

 will not grow in this sound higher up than 2 miles from the mouth, or from the western side 

 of Egg Island to the mouth of the sound. The above area includes about 1,200 acres, of which 

 one-half is beyond 1,000 feet from the shore. Natural oyster beds make out around the north- 

 ern and eastern edges of Egg Island, and also along the shores north and south of Egg Island, 

 extending to the ocean. 



Making out from the northeast point of Little St. Simon's Island there is a narrow reef of 

 oysters. This reef is formed along the side of the channel, and about one-half of its area is 

 visible above low water. It averages about 60 yards in width, and extends into the ocean for 

 about one statute mile. The oysters are all of an inferior quality, and those visible above low 

 water are of the " raccoon" type, and at least three-fourths of the mass is composed of dead 

 shells. 



This reef is formed on hard sand bottom, and the continuous catch and growth of young 

 oysters on it presents a remarkable phenomenon in the life of the oyster. The reef is directly 

 exposed to the heavy northeast seas, and during a portion of the stage of flood tide it would 

 seem natural to suppose the reef to be covered with entirely salt water. On the other hand, 

 during a part of the ebb, the water over this reef must be very fresh, so fresh that fishermen 

 tell me that they are able to drink it. 



With the aid of a steam oyster dredge I was enabled to make a more extensive inspection 

 of that portion of the bed which does not ebb out. It was about half-flood when we arrived 

 on the bed, at which stage all the oysters were about covered with water. Put over the steam 

 dredge and hauled along the edge of the oyster reef, bringing up principally dead oyster 

 shells which were well covered with barnacles. The few live oysters found in the bulk were 

 very poor in quality, but fair in shape and size. Four or five hauls were made successively 

 along a distance of half a mile, and in bottom ranging from 7 to 20 feet. With these hauls 

 three star-fish, of the kind so destructive to the oyster, were caught. The star-fish were full 

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