Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-03
OYSTERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Prospects for Cultivatine Them in the Water
of That State.

Prospects for Cultivating Them in the Waters
of That State.
The United States fish commission has re-
Gently completed an investigation Of the coast
waters of South Carolina with reference to the
prospects for oyster culture along that shore
In all I27 square miles of water area were sur
veyed by the steamer Fish Hawk, and the ex-
perts engaged in the work are of the opinion
that about one-fourth of this could be made to
produce the luscious biyalves Within this
same area there already exist us acres Of nat
ural oyster beds, which would afford plenty Of
''seed." Incidentally to the inquiry chemical
analyses of the water made, and efforts
we're directed to finding out what food oysters
planted in tina: region would have to depend
upon.
THE COAST REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
consists chiefly of very low lands, marshy to a
great extent, which in many places extend in
land considerable distance. 1t is indented or
cut through by a number of sounds bays and
river mouths, which are connected by an in
tricate system of winding creeks and rivers.
separating the sea islands from one another and
from the mainland. Oysters are found &C.
curing naturally in most of the creeks and
rivers which are suited to their growth, but
they occur mainly IN beds which form fringing
Lodges along the borders between the levels of
high and low tide. In My few localities do
they grow naturally in the beds of streams and
their cultivation by transplanting has not thus
far been attempted save on very limited scale.
WATER AND SEDIMENT.
The water that circulates through these oys-
ter-bearing channels is derived from the sea-
the rivers and springs. Accordingly it varies
very much as to saltiness and density. The
larger rivers bring down great quantities of sed-
ment which makes a bottom muddy that
oysters could not live on it. requiring. as they
do, solid bottom. At the same time there are
extensive areas of solid bottoms on which it
ought to be practicable to plant young oysters
taken for the purpose from the natural beds or
lodges. These lodges of ''raccoon" oysters, as
the naturally growing bivaives are commonly
termed. afford source of such ''seed' which
may be made the basis of an extensive and
profitable industry.
TIDAL PONDS.
Furthermore, the marshes and fats along the
coast channels are well adapted for the estab-
lishment Of tidal ponds, which could readily be
constructed by excavating the soft material to
a slight depth. or in some places by building
dykes In this manner the Oyster-producng
territory could be greatly extended. and such ii
plan would give the FISHERMAN entire contr oil
over his stock. This system Of oyster culture
has not yet been introduced into this country,
but it is thought high time that it should be-
The extensive flats and marshes which compose
so large part of the lowiands along the coast
offer excellent opportunities for this style of
cultivation. The chief natural enemies of the
oyster in the waters of South Carolina are the
conchs, drum fish and sheepshead, the first
mentioned being the most dreaded. Star fishes
and the little mollusks known as "drills" also
exist, but they appear to do little il any dam
age. The planted area of oysters in South