324 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The total area of this section, including bays, creeks, and sounds, is about 2,600 
acres. The approximate area of natural oyster beds through the inland passage is 
about 15.5 acres. The numerous bays, sounds, and flats which lie north of the inland 
passage, and which were not examined, would largely increase the acreage of natural 
oyster beds and furnish a large supply of seed oysters. 
Bull Bay . — This bay is about 6 miles long from Bull Bay Light to the western point 
of Raccoon Key at the mouth, and will average miles in width. It is very shallow 
except in the numerous narrow channels. Shifting sands cover the larger portion of 
this area, and, beingopen to the sea, it is subject to constant changes. It has more than 
ordinary interest, because two of the largest oyster companies in the State are engaged 
in cultivating oysters there, namely, the Bull Bay Oyster Company, which has planted 
the reef on which stands the lighted beacon in the northern part of the bay, and the 
Edisto Fish and Oyster Company, occupying the small reef, lying about one-fourth of 
a mile west of that place. The former company since it began operations has planted 
in all about 35 acres ; the latter about 10 acres, the greater part of which is left bare 
at low water. The shifting sand is slowly but surely encroaching on these grounds, 
and will eventually wipe them out. The Messrs. Magwood Brothers, the managers of 
these companies, are aware of the changes going on and are fearful of the final result. 
Density observations were made across this bay at intervals of 1 mile from the 
mouth of Bull Creek to the planted grounds, and it will be observed that the least 
specific gravity was found on the latter. The water in this bay is also discolored with 
mud in suspension. About a bushel of material was obtained from the planted 
grounds, but the bulk consisted mainly of dead shells. Only about 30 oysters were 
found in the lot, and these were in a very poor condition, being thin and watery. 
Couchs are very destructive to the oysters and the beds require constant watching to 
prevent their depredations. Many living oyster drills were found in the rubbish 
taken, but there were little or no signs of the shells having been bored by them. 
Raccoon oysters and dead shells occur all around the margin of the bay. While we 
were in this locality Mr. Magwood, the manager, took to Charleston a load of oysters 
obtained not from his planted grounds, but from what is known locally as the Horn, 
situated to the northward of Cape Romain. These oysters were much finer than the 
planted oysters here, and evidently came from the brackish water of the Santee 
River. Except Winyah Bay and vicinity, this was the highest point to the northward 
that was examined. 
The specific gravity of the water 1 mile from the mouth of Bull Creek, at one-third 
flood, was 1.0236; 2 miles from the mouth, 1.0226; 3 miles from the mouth, 1.0215; 4 
miles from the mouth, 1.0216; and at the Bull Bay Oyster Company’s grounds, 1.0196, 
surface and bottom, at one-third flood. The area of the planted grounds is about 45 
acres; area of natural oyster beds around the bay, about 13.3 acres. 
Referring again to the yellow tinge of mud found in all the waters between Sullivan 
Island and Bull Bay, including the latter, it is a noteworthy fact that as the steamer 
Fish Sawlc proceeded up this coast from Bull Bay to Winyah Bay the water was thick 
and yellow all along the coast, close to shore, the yellowish tinge growing fainter off shore 
until it merged gradually and imperceptibly into the green seawater. As the steamer 
passed through the different gradations of color in our progress toward Winyah Bay, 
density observations were made, which showed a great variation in the specific grav- 
ity to a point 8 miles from Georgetown Light, where it was practically fresh. This 
was caused by the immense volume of fresh and muddy water discharged through the 
