326 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
it presents more favorable conditions, as is shown by the large number of raccoon 
oysters which cover about one-fifth of the entire area, a part being left bare at low 
water. These oysters are small and of poor quality, and are covered by barnacles. 
The water of this bay is very fresh in its normal condition and subject to radical 
changes in density in time of freshets. The bottom is also too soft, and its general 
characteristics render it unsuitable for cultivation. Along the northeast shore of the 
bay are three outlets to Town Creek, namely, Mud Creek, the Cutoff, and Sawmill 
Creek. The first two are small narrow streams, the last a bold stream with a swift 
current. The specific gravity of the water at the upper mouth of No Man’s Friend 
Creek was practically fresh at the surface and 1.0114 at the bottom, while one-fourth of 
a mile southeast of this position, in tiie bay, it was 1.0041 surface and 1.0138 bottom. 
The water is always yellow from the mud held in suspension. 
Sawmill Creek heads in the northeast part of Oyster Bay and winds through the 
marshes to a point where the Cutoff enters it and where it makes a junction with, and 
is called, Town Creek. The character of the bottom is favorable, being hard and sticky 
generally, and the depth ranges from 3 to 16 feet. Y ery few raccoon oysters are found 
along the shores, but oysters and dead shells covered with barnacles occur at places 
extending from shore to shore. This area has been very much overfished, and the 
u nubbings ” have been thrown back on the bottom, not only furnishing points of 
attachment for barnacles, but also rendering the bottom very foul. The specific grav- 
ity of the water is variable and subject to radical changes, caused by the freshets in 
the Peedee River ; at the lower mouth, near Oyster Bay, it was 1.0235 in January, while 
at the time of our last visit, in March, during the spring freshets, the water was prac- 
tically fresh. Near the mouth of Clam Bank Creek, in January, the density was 
1.0235 surface and 1.0244 bottom, but in March it had become practically fresh, both 
at the surface and bottom. 
Clam Bank Creek is a small stream which connects Sawmill Creek with Town Creek. 
The narrow mouth where it enters Sawmill Creek does not admit a large volume of 
fresh water, and a part of the bottom is very favorable for cultivation. While oysters 
are not found in deep water, raccoon oyster ledges extend along the shores. The 
specific gravity at the lower mouth was 1.0235 surface and 1.0244 bottom, and at Mr. 
Donaldson’s oyster house, on the first of ebb, 1.0227. In this creek also a great change 
in density was found in March. 
Town Creek is a continuation of Sawmill Creek, and, flowing through the marshes, 
enters North Inlet at its junction with Jones Creek. The bottom is either too quick 
or soft for cultivation from its junction with Sawmill Creek to a point above the mouth 
of Sixty Bass Creek; but below this point several areas of suitable bottom are found. 
No oyster beds occur in deep water, except those which have been planted, but rac- 
coon oysters are found along the shores and are left bare at low tide. These oysters 
improve in quantity and quality toward the mouth of the creek. In the mouth of 
Old Man Creek the specific gravity of the water in March, during the period of fresh- 
ets, was 1.0166 surface and 1.0194 bottom, at one-third ebb ; near the mouth in January, 
at the last of the flood, 1.024 surface and 1.0249 bottom. At last of the ebb the water 
is sometimes discolored, even to its mouth, by the muddy water from Winy ah Bay. 
North Inlet separates North Island on the south from De Bordieu Island on the 
north, and being open to the sea the density of the water is high. Its bottom is com- 
posed of shifting sands, which even extend in places up Jones and Town creeks. 
These conditions render this area unsuitable for the cultivation of oysters. 
