FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES. 
307 
HI.— FISHERIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 
The coastal region of South Carolina consists for the most part of a belt of swampy 
land from 5 to 30 miles in width, which is intersected by numerous creeks, rivers, and 
channels, forming innumerable large and small islands. The generally even outline 
of the shore is broken by Winyah Bay, Bull Bay, Charleston Harbor, St. Helena 
Sound, Port Royal Sound, and some other minor indentations. The principal rivers 
emptying directly into the ocean or into the bodies of water mentioned are the Pedee, 
Santee, Combahee, and Savannah, all of which have commercial fisheries. Charleston, 
Beaufort, and Georgetown are the principal cities on the coast and are the centers of 
the most important fisheries. 
THE FISHING-GROUNDS. 
The waters in and adjacent to the swampy belt abound in fish, crustaceans, ter- 
rapins, and oysters, and are favorite spawning- grounds for many species. The boat 
and shore fisheries are chiefly prosecuted in this region. The following account of 
the offshore grounds' resorted to by the smack and boat fishermen of Charleston and 
other places on the coast of the State will bear repetition in this report: 
Cape Romain Bank is a small rocky patch, about half a mile square, situated 8 miles SSE. from 
Cape Romain light and 4 miles S. by W. from the outer shoal buoy. It has a depth of 8 fathoms, the 
bottom consisting of lime rock and gravel with willow corals (gorgoniaus) growing upon it. Fish are 
caught on this ground from June to October, the following varieties being taken, namely: Sea bass, 
porgies, grunts, bluefish, sharks, a few sailor’s choice, and in October spotted bass, which often weigh 
from 30 to 40 pounds each. 
Inner East Bank bears SE. from Charleston light-ship; distance, 8 miles. It extends 1 mile east 
and west and one-half mile north and south, and has a depth of 74 fathoms. It is frequented by 
smacks and small boats, the smacks going there from June to December and the small boats only 
from June to September. The fishing is done with hooks and lines, and the following kinds of fish 
are caught: Blackfish, porgies, jacks (abundant), and flounders. 
Outer East Bank hears SE. by E. from Charleston light-ship; distance, 11 miles. It extends 1 
mile east and one-half mile north and south, and has 84 to 10 fathoms of water upon it, the bottom 
consisting of coral rock and yellow sand. The same smacks and boats fish on this bank that visit the 
Inner East Bank, the season being the same and also the species of fish taken. 
Eastern Hole bears SE. by E. 15 miles from Charleston light. It is about a mile in diameter, 
with a depth of 12 fathoms, and a bottom of lime rock,, sand, and willow corals. It is fished on, by 
smacks only, from October to April. Sea bass are the fish chiefly caught in the daytime, but at night 
tomcod, butter-fish, tautog, and a few flounders are also taken. 
Outer Southeast Ground bears SE. 274 miles from Charleston light, and extends 5 miles east 
and west and 2 miles north and south. The bottom is mostly coral rock, with many purple willow 
corals (gorgonians). The south side of the ground is covered with large red shells, the east side with 
bright white sand and white sand mixed with black specks, the west side with shells and sand. The 
smacks fish here from November to April and May, the catch consisting of sea bass, bastard snappers, 
red snappers, and jacks. 
Inner Southeast Bank bears SE. 10 miles from Charleston light, and extends 2-1- miles east and 
west and 14 miles north and south. It has about 10 fathoms of water and a coral bottom. This is a 
summer fishing-ground, and small boats and smacks visit it from May until August. Porgies, black- 
fish, redmouth grunts, black grunts, tautog, sailor’s choice, and cobias are taken. Porgies school 
here abundantly in August, and about 300 is considered a fair day’s catch. These weigh from three- 
fourths of a pound to 1 pound each, and are tied in bunches of five each for sale. The average daily 
catch of blackfish is 250, of grunts 300; but only a few tautog, black grunts, and sailor’s choice are 
taken. Cobias come in May and remain until July ; they drive all other fish away from these grounds. 
The average daily catch of this species to a man is three. 
