21G REPO^RT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



cape. The iiairowest part of the '' Feck," which is scarcely 100 feet 

 across, has beeu under water in very receut time, and is now protected 

 against the sea by a stone breakwater. 



Beyond (to the westward) of this narrowest part of the Neck and 

 near to its own works, the Pacific Guano Company has, within a few 

 years, sunk wells as far as 70 feet, getting only brackish water, and the 

 inhabitants of the Neck state that their surface wells have become 

 brackish in dry weather when sunk below the level of mean low water 

 in the harbor. The Pacific Guano Company having given up the effort, 

 and established its supply from the spring above mentioned at very 

 considerable cost, no other efforts have been made toward obtaining a 

 deep supply, so far as I know. 



Owing, perhaps, to its almost insular position. Bar Neck has always 

 been a dry place, most of the summer showers ]>assing it by, either in 

 lavor of Naushon Island on the south, or of the Buzzard's Bay shore 

 on the north; so that, considering the expense of distillation, exi)eri- 

 mental borings became, in ordinary prudence, a necessity. There being 

 no stratiiied rock to be expected within a reasonable depth, a contract 

 was made by the Commissioner with the Boston Artesian Well Com- 

 l>any, for driven-tube wells, to be undertaken during the summer of 

 1884, and to be carried far enough to settle the practical question of a 

 fresh water supply from underground. 



Early in May of this year, and before the arrival of the fish com- 

 mission party, I employed a well-driver from the neighboring village 

 of Falmouth to try for water near my house. He found '^ stiff driving" 

 for 2 feet at 7 feet below the surface, (on the 10-foot eontour, see map A) 

 and below that a '' <iuicksaud," extending 7 or 8 feet further, and con- 

 taining a plentiful supply of water. A pump was attached and the 

 water, which is soft and clear, but of a rather disagreeable taste, has 

 been in use all summer, with no sign of dimiiuition in quantity (see 

 " A" on the map). It contained on the 20th of May 15 grains of chlo- 

 rine, corresponding to 24.7 grains of salt to the imperial gallon. Below 

 this stratum of water there appeared to be another layer of clay, and 

 encouraged by this partial success, the Commissioner authorized me to 

 try for water elsewhere on behalf of the Government, in the hope of 

 finding better water below the lower bed of clay. Three attempts were 

 made at the points marked B, (', and D, but all were unsuccessful ow- 

 ing to the clogging of a strainer with which the lower end of the pipe, 

 above the driving point, was provided. Just at this time (the latter 

 part of May) the agent and workmen of the Boston Artesian Well Com- 

 pany arrived, and began operations at the point marked B on the map, 

 before the 1st day of June. 



The method followed by this company differs somewhat from that of 

 its predecessor, the Av ell-driver from Falmouth. An ordinary 2^-inch 

 iron pipe, without point or strainer, is driven by a heavj'^ maul or ham- 

 mer into the ground as far as it will go. A second smaller pipe, car- 



