OYSTER-CULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 
319 
mouth, of Church Creek. Raccoon oysters not only occur along the shores, but the 
wide bays and flats are covered by a series of oyster beds which are left bare at low 
water and which, it is estimated, will cover one-eighth of the entire area where they 
are found. These oysters disappear as one approaches New Cut, and none are found 
from this point to the Stono River. The bottom is generally much softer in this part 
of the Inland Passage. The total area is about 2,450 acres ; area of natural oyster- 
beds, about 150.5 acres. 
Stono River is about 16 miles long from Rantowles Creek to Stono Inlet, which is 
formed by the junction of this with Kiawah River. For the first 7 miles it takes an 
easterly direction and then a general southerly direction to the inlet, with an average 
width of about 400 yards. The bottom corresponds in depth and character with the 
Coast Survey soundings; much of it being hard enough to support the weight of the 
oysters, is therefore favorable for planting. This river was examined on flood tide ; 
but few oysters were observed in the upper part, but 1 was informed by the pilot who 
conducted the Fish Hawk through the passage that raccoon oyster ledges occur along 
the shores in its more southern part. The specific gravity of the water at the head, 
at five-sixths flood, was 1.0179; at Buzzard Roost Point, on the first of ebb, 1.0194; 
at the mouth of Legare Creek, early ebb, 1.0229; and at the mouth or junction with 
Kiawah River, one-fourtli ebb, 1.0234 surface and 1.0232 bottom. The total area of 
the bottom is 2,580 acres; approximate area of natural oyster beds, 14.5 acres. 
Kiawah River takes its rise in the eastern part of Seabrook Island and, flowing 
in an easterly direction, separates Johns Island on the north from Kiawah Island on 
the south. It is about 7 miles long and heads in a series of mud flats, The bottom is 
generally hard and the depth ranges from 2 to 24 feet. The specific gravity is high. 
At the mouth, at one-fourth ebb, it was 1.0234 at the surface and 1.0232 at the bottom ; 
3 miles above the mouth, five-sixths ebb, 1.0237 surface and bottom; while at its head 
in the flats it reaches a maximum of 1.0242, surface and bottom, on the first of the 
flood. Raccoon oysters extend continuously along both shores and small beds are 
numerous on the flats near the head. The total area is about 900 acres; area of natural 
oyster beds, about 33.8 acres. 
Folly River was not examined, but it presents the same features and conditions 
which occur in Light house and Schooner creeks, and furnishes a circulation from 
Light-house Inlet through to Stono Inlet, the specific gravity being, no doubt, very 
similar to that found in those creeks. I am informed on good authority that the rac- 
coon ledges are found here along the shores and on the flats also. A fair idea of the 
bottom can be had from the Coast Survey charts. The total area is about 700 acres. 
Stono Inlet is small, and being open to the sea the specific gravity of the water is 
high, and a shifting bottom may be expected in times of storm. It is deemed imprac- 
ticable to utilize its bottom for oyster cultivation. 
Schooner and Light house creeks head in a series of mud flats in James Island and 
separate this island from Morris Island. Schooner Creek flows easterly and enters 
Charleston Harbor on the south, while Light-house Creek takes a southeasterly course 
and enters the small inlet of the same name, which is only a continuation of the creek. 
The depth of water ranges from 2 to 30 feet, and the bottom is generally hard and 
sticky except in the channel near the middle, where it is softer. It will be observed 
that the specific gravity of the water is lower in Light-house Inlet than at any point 
between there and the mouth of Schooner Creek. The water there was also slightly 
