312 
BULLETIN OE THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The entire area of the river is about 12,274 acres: area, of natural oyster beds, 
about 22.8 acres. 
Pocotaligo River , the eastern branch of Broad River, was examined at its mouth to 
a point a mile above where the topography of the chart ceases, and which is a distance 
of 3£ miles. Its general course is south and its average width about 200 yards. The 
water is very darkly discolored, like swamp water, from its mouth to the highest 
point examined. The bottom is favorable, being hard and sticky for the greater part, 
and the depth ranges from 2 to 17 feet. The specific gravity at the mouth at half 
ebb was 1.0172 surface and 1.0179 bottom; at the mouth of Haulover Creek it was 
1.0148 surface and 1.0149 bottom, and at the highest point examined 1.0145 surface 
and 1.0144 bottom. As one ascends the river the raccoon oyster ledges become less 
frequent and the type poorer until they cease altogether about 3 miles above the mouth. 
At two different places, namely, the mouth of Haulover Creek and a mile above it, 
small single oysters were taken in deep water, but they were like the raccoon oysters, 
poor in quality although of good shape. They have the usual attachment of barna- 
cles, which have been found on all the oysters taken from deep water presenting the 
same conditions. I think it more than likely that the poor quality and condition of 
the oysters taken from deep water here is caused in part by the coloring matter in 
the water. Total area of part examined is about 300 acres: area of natural oyster 
beds, about 3.2 acres. 
Whale Branch . — This winding stream separates Port Royal Island on the south 
from Barnwell and Chisholm islands on the north, and connects Broad River with 
the Coosaw. It has an average width of one-fourth of a mile and a distance through 
the Coosaw of 8 miles. For the first 5 miles it takes a northerly direction, and thence 
extends east to the Coosaw, of which it is a continuation. The depths range from 7 to 
18 feet. The bottom from the ferry to the Coosaw River is generally hard and sticky, 
and therefore favorable, but the water, like that of the Pocotaligo, and coming from 
the same source, is darkly discolored on the ebb tide even below Port Royal Ferry. 
The only oysters found were along the shores and around the several islands, but 
these were of poor type and quality. The specific gravity of the water at the lower 
mouth, Broad River, during early ebb was 1.0210, surface and bottom ; at the railroad 
bridge, 1.0193 surface and 1.0194 bottom; at its junction with the Coosaw River during 
early flood, 1.0198 surface and 1.0200 bottom. The total area is about 1,024 acres ; area 
of natural oyster beds, about 11 acres. 
Archer Greek is a narrow passage connecting Broad River with Battery Creek, 
and separating Port Royal Island from Paris Island. It is about 3 miles long and 
ranges in depth from 3 to 10 feet. The specific gravity at the upper mouth was 1.0228 
surface and 1.0230 bottom, at half ebb. The total area of the creek is 150 acres ; area 
of natural oyster beds, about 3.2 acres. 
Beaufort River heads at the junction of Brickyard and Albergottie creeks, and, 
flowing in a southerly direction for 13 miles, enters Port Royal Sound at the southern 
point of Paris Island. For the first 8 miles, or to the mouth of Battery Creek, it has 
an average width of three-eighths of a mile, and from this point to the mouth a width 
of seven-eighths of a mile. The depths range from 3 to 30 feet, and there is a strong 
tidal current. The bottom agrees well in depth and character with the Coast Survey 
soundings, much of it being favorable for oyster cultivation, but shifting bottom may 
be apprehended in the broad part near its mouth. The usual growth of raccoon oys- 
