go PROCEEDINGS S. I. ASS'n ARTS AND SCIENCES. [Vol. I 



surface collection, as are all those to be mentioned later. Among no- 

 table objects are two fine "sinew stones" or "bowstring: reducers," a 

 stone ax with ridges about the groove, found near the present Boroug-h 

 Hall, and an unusually large number of celts for a Staten Island 

 collection. 



Next in order comes the collection of Mr. Aimer Decker, who re- 

 sides in the old Cole place at Tottenville. It comprises objects mainl}'- 

 from the surface of the adjoining fields but has also many burial objects. 

 While not catalogued or scientifically kept, it will repay study. 



Mr. Isaiah Merrell of Watchogue was at one time the possessor of a 

 fine series of objects collected in that neighborhood, but when the 

 writer saw them, some years ago, they had dwindled away through 

 careless keeping to about 50 specimens. Children had almost ruined a 

 perfect hammer stone, and of a handful of fine steatite beads only one 

 remained. There were several fine celts. 



Mr. Charles Benedict of "Ravenhurst," West New Brighton, is the 

 possessor of a small but choice collection, which is notable for its sev- 

 eral fine grooved axes and a perfect stone gouge, the only one in exist- 

 ence from Staten Island, so far as known. 



Mr. Isaac Wort, of Woodrow, has several fine axes of the grooved 

 type, a fine double mortar, and many flint points, etc., but these objects 

 form only the nucleus of a growing collection. 



Mr. Charles Marlor, of Port Richmond, has a number of interesting 

 articles from the foundry site of Milliken Bros, at Mariners Harbor. 



Mr. E. A. Stnmpp, of New Brighton, also has a few objects from the 

 north shore, as have many farmers and others who own land on the 

 ancient Indian sites of of our Island. 



It is to be regretted that many notable objects have disappeared or 

 been sold from this locality. A whole pottery vessel, recently found 

 at Mariners Harbor, has passed out of this community, no one knows 

 where; the Page collection of objects, from near Richmond Valley, 

 vanished some years ago; and the Wainright collection of objects from 

 Burial Ridge is now in other hands and is lost to the Island. 



The writer begs to suggest that such of the remaining material as 

 can be obtained, either as collections or single objects, be purchased by 

 the Association before they are lost, sold, or stolen. 



The day for field work, which might have been so well improved, is 

 now practically over, for most of the sites have been or are being ob- 

 literated by factories or "South New York Destruction Companies," 

 and in a few years there will be no way whatever in which to make up 



