137 



Field Meeting at Lowell Island, Thursday, 

 August 12, 1880. 



The third field meeting of the season was held this day at 

 Lowell Island, near the entrance to jMarblehead harbor. 

 The steamboat, "White Fawn," left Phillips wharf at 9 

 and at 11 a. m., to convey the members and their friends 

 to the island. 



As usual, the party separated npon arrival, each to 

 choose his own method of enjoyment. Some made for 

 the bold, rocky points ; sonie tried "hick" at fishing-; and 

 those interested in the pursuit of natural history found in 

 the rocks, or on the beaches, or with a dredge and line 

 from a boat, many specimens to occupy their attention. 



Catta, afterwards Catt or Cat, and now Lowell Isl- 

 and, lies about four miles in a southeasterly direction 

 from the City Hall in Salem, to which municipabty it 

 belongs, although somewhat nearer in position to Marble- 

 head. From Gerry Island, at the mouth of xMarl)lehead 

 harbor, it lies due cast and is about one mile distant. 

 It is thought to have been heavily wooded before the set- 

 tlement. "As we passed along," says Higginson, of the 

 harbor, June 29, 1629, "it was wonderful to l)eh()uld so 

 many islands replenished with thitke woods and high 

 trees." In 1738-9, "woods" are mentioned on it, and 

 the tradition is, that it was finally denuded at the 

 Revolution to afford British cruisers a more unbroken 

 view into the harbor. During the operation of the Bos- 

 ton Port Bill and the British occupation of Boston, 

 coasters were searched at Marblehead, and sent on v/ith 

 an officer on board, to Boston. Feb. 9, 1775, His Maj- 

 esty's ship Lively, 20 guns, arrived at Marblehead harbor 

 and anchored off the fort. May 31, she sailed for 

 Boston, and her place was taken by the sloop-of-war 



