﻿190 



While there is a considerable deposit brought out of the marshes at high tide, yet it is 

 believed that oysters can be cultivated in the greater portion of the creek. 



The specific gravity 'near the head is 1.0152; at the mouth the mean of 25 observations is 1.0146. 



Bear River begins at the junction of the Florida Passage and Buck Head Creek, and flows 

 through extensive marshes in a southerly direction, separating Ossabaw Island from the 

 main land. It enters St. Catherine's Sound on its north side, being 8 miles in length, and at 

 its mouth 1% miles wide, but narrows rapidly to one-fourth of a mile, which is its average width. 

 The depth of water ranges from 8 to 30 feet for the greater portion. The general character of 

 the bottom is soft mud, with here and there a small area of hard and sticky bottom, the soft 

 bottom prevailing generally toward the mouth of the channel. 



The natural oyster beds lie along the shores and partly ebb out at low water, and are 

 about depleted by excessive fishing, there being now more dead shells than oysters. At one 

 point, about 1 mile from the head, the natural bed extends nearly across the stream. The 

 oysters found in this river are small, but of a superior quality. 



The specific gravity at the head or junction is 1.0146; at the mouth of Kilkenny Creek, 1.0093; 

 at the mouth,'i.oo25. Total area, 1,424 acres. Area beyond 1,000 feet from the shore, 740 acres. 

 Total area of natural oyster beds, 815 acres. 



The currents are strong, from one to two knots per hour, and are increased by freshets 

 from the Ogeechee, which also change the density of the waters. 



Kilkenny Creek enters Bear River at the west side about 2 miles above its mouth. It is 5 

 miles in length, and flows westwardly for the first 2 miles with a width of 400 yards. It then 

 narrows to about 100 yards and flows northerly, connecting again with Skippers Narrows into 

 the Florida Passage For the first 3 miles the depth of water ranges from 6 to 30 feet. The 

 bottom is soft mud, except along the shores, where it is a little sticky and sometimes hard 

 with mud. The remaining portion of this creek has a depth ranging from 2 to 12 feet, and 

 the bottom changes from hard mud, sand and tenacious mud to clay, and is well adapted to 

 the cultivation of oysters. Scattered along the borders of the shore there is a series of small 

 natural beds about depleted, and containing many dead shells. 



The specific gravity 2 miles above the mouth is 1.0185; at the mouth of Cabbage Creek, 1.0191, 

 and at its mouth, 1.0193. Total area of the bottom, 352 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 

 10.5 acres. 



Skippers Narrows is well adapted to the cultivation of oysters, the bottom being hard mud 

 and sticky, with" the exception of small areas where mud deposits are taking place. The area 

 is small though, and can only be cultivated by the use of hand implements. Both Skippers 

 Narrows and the upper part of Kilkenny Creek are liable to be affected by the freshets from 

 the Ogeechee River. But for this these areas are admirably adapted to the cultivation of 

 oysters. Experiments with planted oysters have been carried on in Skippers Narrows and 

 the head of Kilkenny Creek by Mr. George Appleton, of Bryan county. Samples were shown 

 of the planted oysters of 1, 2, and 3 years' planting, and indicated that the oysters had greatly 

 improved and had rapidly grown, being" for the most part marketable after 2 years' planting. 

 A few barrels of Blue Point oysters were brought by Mr. Appleton from the north and planted 

 in this locality. The oysters so planted showed a rapid growth and appeared to retain their 

 peculiar flavor. 



NewelVs Creek is a small stream about 50 yards in width and 2 miles in length, entering 

 Bear River from Ossabaw Island. The depth of water ranges from 4 to 20 feet, and for the 

 first mile of this creek the bottom may be considered as a solid rock of natural oysters. 

 Although excessive fishing is carried on here the natural bed is not yet exterminated, but 

 the oysters taken up are very small, being generally of not more than 2 to 3 years' growth. 

 The total area of the creek is 70 acres; that of natural oyster beds, ^^ acres. 



St. Catherine's Sound separates Ossabaw Island on the north from St. Catherine's Island on 

 the south. It is about i$4 miles in width, and extends inland into the marshes about 2 

 miles. This sound is totally unfit for the cultivation of oysters by reason of the water being 



