Cruising Through the New Jersey Pine Barrens * 



BY J. FLETCHER STREET 



The bird observer who has failed to make the acquaintance 

 of the Httle rivers of South Jersey, has not only neglected an 

 unusual opportunity for study, but has also foregone the pleas- 

 ure of days and nights out of doors amid surroundings peculi- 

 arly idyllic. 



To me, most interesting of all these watery thoroughfares is 

 the Great Egg Harbor River. Flowing as it does from innumer- 

 able springs and winding its way by easy curves and reaches 

 through mixed forests of pine and deciduous growth, or sweep- 

 ing out along a boggy clearing, it affords one in his pursuits 

 much diversity of experience. 



Early in the month of May while under a spell of incipient 

 bird fever, an agreement was reached with a fellow enthusiast 

 to explore this alluring stream. Lacking definite instructions 

 we consulted a map of the Geological Survey and selected Wins- 

 low Junction as a possible satisfactory starting-point. Prepara- 

 tions were readily made, and upon one of those rare days of 

 early spring the expedition launched forth. A morning train 

 carried us to our destination and left us with our boat and bag- 

 gage at the station platform, keen for the venture but more or 

 less perplexed as to the next move. 



Winslow Station stands a good half mile from the village and 

 is separated from it by pasture land and meadows. How cir- 

 cumscribed the life and thought of a community may be had 

 never before been so forcibly impressed upon us. All our in- 

 quiry evoked little information as to how to reach the stream 

 which we knew to be only a few miles distant. Finally some 

 one suggested bearing on to " Inskeps. ' ' The direction seemed 



* A portion of this course has been made memorable by Henry Van Dyke's 

 ** Between the Lupine and Laurel." Cf. also Cassinia, 1903, p. 74. 



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