﻿

UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 



T. C. Mendenhall, Superintendent. 



BULLETIN No. 19. 



Approved for Publication, March 15, 1890. 



Bulletins are issued by the Survey from time to time as material for them accumulates. They are intended to 

 give early announcement of work accomplished or information of importance obtained, and will in many cases 

 anticipate the usual means of publication afforded by the Annual Eeports. The pages will be numbered consecu- 

 tively, and will be indexed when their number demands it, thus augmenting their value for preservation, and 

 reference. 



ON THE SOUNDS AND ESTUARIES OF GEORGIA WITH REFERENCE TO 



OYSTER CULTURE. 



r r- '■ 



A report by J. C, Drake, Ensign U. S. Navy, Assistant, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 



Commanding- Schooner "Ready." 

 18S9-1S90. 



. Division at WWto&B 



Sectional Library 

 PREFACE. 



In 18S9, while the legislature of Georgia was making an effort to frame a law for the 

 development of the Oyster Industry in her waters, it was found that the information as to the 

 capabilities in that direction was very incomplete. 



Consequently, in September, 1889, a resolution was passed by the legislature of that State 

 requiring the Governor to make application to the Federal Government for assistance in col- 

 lecting information destined to assist the State authorities in framing judicious laws. 



The request was made early in September, 1889, and referred to the Superintendent of the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey, Dr. T. C. Mendenhall. 



On September 13, 1889, the Superintendent of the Coast Survey issued instructions direct- 

 ing me to assume command of the schooner "Ready," than at Charleston, S. C, and to pro- 

 ceed to the coast of Georgia and make such hydrographic surveys and examinations as might 

 be required in connection with the investigation of the oyster beds by the authorities of the 

 State of Georgia. 



On September 23, 1889, the "Ready" was placed in commission, and, with a small hydro- 

 graphic party on board, arrived at the mouth of the Savannah River, October 2, 1889, where 

 active field work commenced. 



The general plan of work adopted by the chief of the party was to carry the investigations 

 from the Savannah River southward to the Florida line. 



The appropriation available for the prosecution of this work was small, and the time 

 limited to five months, so that at the outset it was discovered that the examinations could not 

 be made as minute and comprehensive as was desirable. 



The experience of the chief of the party in this special work, and his information on the 

 subject consisted: (1) in the knowledge he had gained while assisting Lieutenant Francis 

 4076 1 (179) 



