OYSTER-CULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 
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2 miles above, 1.0199, at surface, and 1.0200, at bottom, about tbe same time of the tide; 
at junction with Morgan Creek, one-half flood, 1.0199 surface and 1.0210 bottom; and 
in Dewees Creek, at the mouth of Seven Reaches, at one-half flood, 1.0201 surface and 
1.0207 bottom. The total area of passage to Dewees Creek is about 184 acres; area 
of natural oyster beds, about 9.6 acres. 
Dewees Creek . — Only a portion of this creek was examined, while Grays Bay and 
Hamlin and Copahee Sounds were not surveyed, but we know that they have a salt- 
water circulation and that the only fresh water which tempers this area must come 
from the drainage and seepage of the surrounding marshes and woods. Hence the 
specific gravity will average high and, no doubt, will vary but little from the obser- 
vations taken through the inland passage south of these sounds. I am informed by 
the Messrs. Magwood, managers respectively of the Bull Bay and the Edisto Fish and 
Oyster companies, that the characteristic ledges of raccoon oysters are found not only 
along the shores of the creeks, but also in the shallows of the numerous sounds and 
bays between this creek and Bull Bay. The area can be arrived at approximately 
and will add largely to the acreage of the natural oyster beds in the State. 
The specific gravity at the mouth of the Seven Reaches at one-half flood was 1.0201 
surface and 1.0207 bottom. An idea of the bottom can be obtained by reference to the 
Coast Survey charts. I do not see why the deeper portions of these bays and sounds 
where the bottom is hard and stable could not be utilized, and in course of time they 
probably will be, notwithstanding they are so far distant from a market and are now 
surrounded by uninhabitable marshes for the most part. The total area of the creek, 
Grays Bay, Hamlin, and Copahee Sounds is about 2,500 acres. The area between 
Dewees Creek and Bull Bay consists of a series of bays, sounds, inlets, creeks, and 
passes, through which there is a narrow intricate inland passage. The same conditions 
exist here which are found in the area between Dewees and Breach Inlet. There is 
but little variation in the density, either at the surface or the bottom. The bottom 
through this passage corresponds with the soundings of the Coast Survey, both in its 
character and depth, and is variable, being generally hard along the shores and soft 
in the channel. 
The specific gravity at Bullyard Sound, one-half mile from the lower entrance, at 
one-half flood, was 1.0200, surface and bottom ; near the upper entrance, 1.0200, surface 
and bottom; at the junction of Wliiteside and Capers creeks, 1.0214, surface and bot- 
tom; at the lower mouth of Santee Pass, two-thirds flood, 1.0200, surface and bottom; 
at Yidels Landing, at two-thirds flood, 1.0202, surface and bottom ; Santee Pass near 
Mark Bay, three-fourths flood, 1.0214 surface and 1.0213 bottom; Santee Pass, at the 
Edisto Eish and Oyster Company’s planted grounds, 1.0223 surface and bottom. This 
company is transplanting the raccoon oyster to deeper water here with fair success. 
A specimen of their stock which had been planted about one year was secured. In 
Price Creek, at the lower mouth of Bull Narrows, the density was 1.020G surface and 
1.0209 bottom; 1 mile above Price Creek and Bull Narrows, at three-fourths flood, 
1.0202 surface and 1.0211 bottom; in Bull Creek, at the mouth of Bull Narrows, 1.0194 
surface and bottom; at the mouth of Bull Creek, at low water, 1.0197 surface and 
1.0198 bottom; and at high water, 1.0190 surface and 1.0218 bottom. It was note- 
worthy that all through this inland passage the water had a yellow tinge of mud in 
suspension, the cause of which will be spoken of later, and I think can be traced in 
part to the muddy water from the Santee and Pedee rivers. 
