448 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
‘‘ The physical features of this region present a. rolling table-land, broken or hilly on 
the margin of the streams, but scarcely anywhere inaccessible to the plow. It has a 
general elevation above the sea-level of 1,000 to 1,500 feet. The gently undulating 
surface extends to the mountains, whose rock-bound walls often rise suddenly to their 
greatest height. 
‘‘ The boundary line of South Carolina reaches the most easterly chain of the Appa- 
lachian Mountains, known here as the Saluda Mountains, near the corner of Green- 
ville and Spartanburgh Counties, and follows the summits of the ridge for 50 miles (30 
miles in an air line), until it intersects the old Cherokee Indian boundary line. From 
this point the mountain chain, here called the Blue Ridge, curving a little to the north, 
passes out of the State, and the boundary line pursues a more southerly and a straight 
course to where the east branch of the Chatuga intersects the thirty-fifth degree of 
north latitude. The Chatuga flowing westward to its junction with the Tugaloo 
River, which in turn becomes the Savannah River, flowing to the southeast, are the 
northwestern and western boundaries of the State. The mountain chain divides the 
waters of the State flowing to the Atlantic Ocean from those flowing northward, 
which eventually find issuance to the southwest through the Tennessee and Missis- 
sippi Rivers into the Gulf of Mexico. Considering the water-shed of South Carolina 
alone, the culminating point whence the rivers of this section flow is to be found in 
the horseshoe curve of the mountain chain north of the straight boundary line re- 
ferred to as uniting the Chatuga and the Blue Ridge. Hence the numerous sources 
of the Keowee, Whitewater, Toxaway, Jocassee, and other creeks take their rise and 
flow nearly due south. The main stream of the Saluda sweeps away to the east, and 
the Chatuga hurries westward. 
“The elevation above the mean level of the sea of the following points in western 
South Carolina were determined by the H. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey : 
“King’s Mountain, 1,692 feet; Paris Mountain (near Greenville), 2,054 feet; Caesar’s 
Head, 3,118; Mount Pinnacle (near Pickens, the highest point in South Carolina), 
3,436 feet. 
“ The bracing and healthy climate of this region, its beautiful scenery, the bold 
mountain outlines, the rich luxuriance of every growth, no stunted plant on mountain 
side or summit, every part, even the crevices of the rocks, covered with trees or shrubs 
of some kind, all full of life and vigor; the clear, soft streams that everywhere leap in 
a succession of cascades from crag and cliff and sparkle in their course along the nar- 
row but fertile valleys, have made it for generations a health and pleasure resort dur- 
ing summer.” 
CLIMATE. 
According to the physical charts of the Ninth United States Census, and the rain- 
charts of the Smithsonian Institution, second edition, 1877, this region has a mean 
annual temperature corresponding with that of Kansas or New Jersey. The more 
mountainous portions have, however, a merm annual temperature that corresponds 
with that of Montana, or the lower region of the Great Lakes. The mean of the hot- 
test week in 1872, taken at 4.35, p. m., was 90° Fah. The mean of the coldest week of 
1872-’73, taken at 7.35, a. m., was 25° Fah. 
