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Delegal Creek joins Vernon River near its mouth on the east side, and separates Green 

 Island from Skiddaway Island. It is about 3 miles long, averages about 200 yards in 

 width, and ranges from 4 to 20 feet in depth. The character of the bottom near and along 

 the shore is sand and mud, and is suitable for oyster cultivation, while in the middle of the 

 stream it is generally soft mud. 



The specific gravity of the water 3 miles above the mouth was 1.0208. One mile above 

 the mouth r.0212. The oysters, which are scattered along the shore and partly ebb out at low 

 water, are small, from excessive fishing, and poor, possibly from not receiving enough fresh 

 water. The total area of the creek is 246 acres. Area of natural oyster beds is 22.5 acres. 



Vernon River enters Ossabaw Sound to the northward of Raccoon Key. It has a general 

 northwest direction, and is about 9 miles in length. For the first 3 miles it is about five-eighths 

 of a mile in width, then it narrows to three-eighths and to one-fourth of a mile. For the most 

 part the depth ranges from 20 to 40 feet. The character of the bottom varies, according to the 

 location, from very soft mud to hard sand. Above the mouth of Burnside River the bottom is 

 generally very soft and unsuitable for oyster cultivation. Below this, however, and in the chan- 

 nel and deeper portions, the bottom becomes sticky and sometimes hard. There is also a marl 

 formation opposite the mouth of Little Ogeechee River, which extends more or less to the mouth 

 of the Vernon River. With the exception of a heavily-wooded hummock, known as Green Island, 

 the Vernon River flows entirely through marsh as far as Beaulieu, and must, therefore, contain 

 a large amount of mud brought out of the marshes on the spring tides. Through the kindness 

 of Mr. H. J. Lewis, of Stratford, Conn., I was enabled to make several hauls with a steam 

 oyster dredge in the Vernon River and in the mouth of the Ogeechee River. In the Vernon 

 River, opposite Hell-Gate, the dredge brought up a quantity of dead oyster shells, most of 

 them being very old and large. In the mud and marl also brought up in the dredge, were 

 found three or four drills, but none of the oyster shells indicated that the drills had been the 

 cause of the destruction of the oysters. A considerable amount of brown sponge was found 

 attached to the shells. Several hauls were also made along the shore over the strip of natural 

 oyster beds, and no star-fish were found, although the water in this vicinity is very salt. The 

 oysters were of inferior quality, and there were many dead shells. 



The average specific gravity at Montgomery, from 151 specimens, was 1.0204; the maximum 

 1.0224; the minimum 1.0184. The change of density of this river being due to local rains, the 

 above record of densities may be regarded as the highest, or containing the largest amount of 

 salt that may be anticipated in this river. A prolonged local rain would make it extremely 

 doubtful as to oysters living above White Bluff, and for cultivation it is recommended to go 

 no higher than Montgomery and no lower than Hell-Gate. The current due to the tide is 

 strong. A series of observations at Beaulieu showed the maximum to be two knots per hour 

 on the service. 



The total area from Montgomery to the mouth is 1,728 acres; area beyond 1,000 feet from 

 the shore, 1,080 acres. Area of natural oyster beds, 20 acres. 



Burnside River is a tributary of Vernon River, coming into it on the northeastern side of 

 vSkiddaway Island. It is about one-fourth mile wide, and extends eastward about 2^ miles, 

 when it divides, the principal branch taking the name of Back River. The depth of water 

 ranges for the most part between 8 and 30 feet. 



The bottom is variable, soft mud prevailing, but it is believed that at least one-half of the 

 area is suitable for oyster culture. There is some deposit going on adjacent to the marshes 

 on the northern side, and also for a short distance on the shoal water on the south side, parti- 

 cularly near the mouth of the river. 



In February, 1889, about 4,000 bushels of oysters were planted near the shore in Burnside 

 River, adjacent to the wooded portion of Skiddaway Island. These oysters came from 

 Bradley's Creek, near Ossabaw Sound, and Walburg's Creek, near St. Catherine's Sound. 

 They were planted in water from 2 to 10 feet at low tide, and the character of the bottom was 

 part hard sand with dead shells, hard and tenacious mud, and soft mud. It was also found 

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