﻿180 



Winslow, U. S. N., in a similar work for the State of North Carolina, covering a period of 

 three years; (2) in a personal inspection of the larger oyster farms in Connecticut, and from 

 conversations with the oyster planters; and (3) in the information gathered from reading the 

 reports of the Shell Fish Commissioners of New York and Connecticut, the articles by Prof- 

 John A. Ryder, of the U. S. Fish Commission, and by Prof. W. K. Brooks, of Johns Hopkins 

 University. 



As assistants in this work, I was enabled to secure the services of two of my associates 

 in the North Carolina survey — namely, Mr. John D. Battle and Mr. W. F. Hill, and also those 

 of Mr. W. N. King, jr., a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Mr. Battle and Mr. 

 King assisted with the field work, while Mr. Hill was principally occupied with the office 

 work, plotting, and drafting. It gives me pleasure to testify here to the abilities, zeal, and 

 good judgment displayed by these gentlemen. 



The labors of the party have been lessened and rendered more agreeable by the cordial 

 assistance of the people living along and near the section in which the investigation has been 

 prosecuted. The native oysterman, the tonger, and the packer, as well as the most prominent 

 men, have afforded assistance and extended courtesies which are gratefully appreciated. An 

 enthusiastic interest was manifested by Dr. A. Oemler, of Savannah, Ga., an authority on the 

 biology and propagation of the oyster, through whose efforts I was enabled in many ways to 

 expedite the survey. Upon the approval of the Mayor, the health officer of Savannah, Dr.W. 

 F. Brunner, placed a naphtha launch at our disposal, by which we were enabled to double the 

 field working force. Not less than 1,500 miles of sounding lines were made in this launch alone. 



While the following report should be regarded as incomplete, and by no means exhaust- 

 ive, still it is believed that the statistics gathered will be sufficient to point out to the State 

 authorities what further legislation is desired in order to encourage the oyster industry. 



METHODS. 



The locations of the oyster beds in the mouth of the Savannah River were accomplished 

 by the application of the methods of ordinary hydrographic surveying. That is to say, a 

 sufficient number of the old triangulation stations having been recovered in the vicinity and 

 signals erected thereon, the position of the sounding boat at any time was obtained by measur- 

 ing with a sextant the angles subtended by three or more of these known signals. 



Moving southward from the Savannah River, it was soon discovered that it would be 

 impracticable to continue this method of locating positions and make sufficient progress to 

 enable the party to examine the entire area within the allotted time. Very few of the old 

 triangulation stations could be recovered, and to establish new ones would require carrying 

 the triangulation southward from the stations near the Savannah River as a base. 



At the village of Thunderbolt, the oyster depot for Savannah, I was enabled to consult the 

 most intelligent local oystermen, whose information, coupled with a personal reconnoissance 

 of the surrounding waters, indicated to me that nearly all the natural beds lay along the 

 borders of the marshes and on the slopes of the banks, and that almost invariably a portion 

 of the natural growth was visible above low water. Thus having learned in general terms 

 the localities to be carefully examined, an inspection of the Coast Survey Charts showed that, 

 with observers trained in marine surveying, any position desired could be indicated on the 

 charts to within a few yards, and with sufficient exactness to answer all the requirements of 

 this survey. The narrow streams with their numerous and well-defined lines and curves, the 

 minute topography, showing the innumerable small drains, the character of the marshes, 

 clumps of shrubs, hummocks, Indian mounds, all served as marks by which to plot approxi- 

 mately the results of the survey. 



Thus, on a boat running between known topographical points, an experienced seaman 

 was continuously at work feeling the bottom with a pole, and the observer indicated graphi- 

 cally on a Coast Survey Chart (scales of 3-0^00 an d totoo) spread out on a board before him, 

 the characteristic soundings obtained. The observer would also make notes as to the 



