B. V. 1.-104. fi. F. V. I.-104. 



RECLAMATION OF OAPE COO SAND DUNES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The sand aroas at tho oxtroinity of Capo Cod rompri.so approxiinatoly 

 6,000 acres, less than half of which is under the protection of forest 

 covering. The city of Provincetown, with its extensive fishing and 

 shipping interests, is built along a narrow strip of reclaimed land lying 

 in the lee of the inner range of fixed dunes bordering the harbor. 

 The peculiar shape and position of the city ))ring it into immediate 

 peril should an}^ destructive force be f)rought to bear upon the adja- 

 cent dune areas, or in case of the encroachment of the shifting dunes 

 farther back l)ut in line with the winter winds, which arc by far the 

 most efficient in sand movement. The harl)or around a portion of 

 which the city is Iniilt is even more endangered, as it is surrounded by 

 the sand accunuUations which have ))een washed around the head of the 

 Cape, and the entire border on three sides is threatened with the possi- 

 bilities of sand encroachment. Many houses now stand where a cen- 

 tury ago small boats found convenient anchorage. In fact, certain 

 areas have been filled in several hundred feet during the last half cen- 

 tur3^ The value of the harlwr thus endangered can hardly be over- 

 estimated. It is the home port of a large fleet of fishing vessels, while 

 as a harbor of refuge its position, capacity, depth, excellent anchor- 

 age, and land-locked condition combine to render it one of the most 

 important on the Atlantic coast. As many as 1,000 vessels are said to 

 have been counted at one time in the harbor during the heavy gales 

 which occasional!}' occur along the coast. The entire portion originally 

 known as "East Harbor" has been rendered worthless by the encroach- 

 ing sands, a fresh-water marsh marking its original site. Not only is 

 the harbor of great commercial value, but in event of war its position 

 is such as to render it of great strategic importance. During the civil 

 war a portion of the extreme end of the Cape was ceded to the Gov- 

 ernment. Batteries were established and war vessels were at times 

 stationed in the harbor. 



Tho greater portion of the sand areas inclosing the harbor is owned 

 by tho State and designated " Province lands" (PI. I). This enables 

 the authorities to exercise a more effective surveillance than would be 

 possible were the areas under private ownership. 



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