BIOLOGY OF THE OYSTER-GROUNDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 
353 
VII.— ANALYSES OF OYSTER-BED WATERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 
In order to compare the various oyster-hearing waters of the State, a table of 
analyses is given at the end of this report. In this table the localities are arranged in 
order of time of their examination by the Fish Hawlc. The waters of Winyaw Bay and 
its tributary creeks in the northern part of the State are given in analyses 1 to 4; those 
in the neighborhood of Charleston in analyses 5 to 10 and 135 to 176; those of the 
Stono and Edisto rivers, St. Helena Sound, and through the Coosaw River, in analyses 
111 to 134; still farther southward, in the neighborhood of Beaufort and Port Royal, 
in analyses 23 to 110; and, finally, through the region of Skull Creek to the Savannah 
River, in analyses 17 to 22. 
The difficulties in analytic work encountered on board of a vessel are unavoidable, 
and allowance must be made for the slight errors that salt-bearing air and an insecure 
balance are apt to cause. For accuracy, all standard solutions were prepared in the 
laboratory of Dr. Doremus, of the College of the City of Hew York, and forwarded to 
the vessel. In method of determinations Wancklin was followed, with modifications 
offered recently by Leff'mann and Beam in their u Water Analysis,” 1891. 
The specimens for analysis were collected at stations that would present most 
accurately the general character of the body of water. They were, therefore, usually 
taken in midstream, about a foot from the bottom. To evade organic changes, analyses 
were made within twenty-four hours after collection of specimens. Suspended 
materials, that so often occurred, had to be examined with the greatest care. Their 
character was determined microscopically, and every precaution was taken, as we 
have suggested on pages 348-349, to avoid the inclusion in analyses of decaying sedi- 
mentary organic materials. 
The results of the organic work have already been commented upon. The wide 
variations in amount of free ammonia is noteworthy, and doubtless attributable to the 
saturation of the waters by the organic salts brought down through extensive swamp 
tracts, and is entirely of vegetable origin. The extremely high percentage of total 
chlorides (occasionally 2,500 grains per gallon) is remarkable throughout. The most 
favorable conditions of saltness would be about 1,800 grains of chlorides. Of this 
total, common salt would constitute about four-fifths ; magnesic and potassic chlorides 
make up the remainder. The total solids given in the tables are at the best approxi- 
mate, owing to the lack of facilities for evaporating to absolute dryness in a laboratory 
on board ship. 
The determination of carbonates (lime) in the tables is interesting rather than 
important. The results prove, however, that the Carolina waters are apparently well 
calculated to aid the rapid growth of shell structures. 
A contrast chemically of Long Island waters with those of Carolina shows that 
the latter are decidedly salter and offer slightly poorer conditions of feeding. 
F. C. B. 1890—23 
