XXII INTRODUCTION. 
Somerset Bridge connects the island of Somerset or Sandy’s with the 
main island. To the westward of the bridge, on a neck of land which 
protects the water of Elis Harbor from the ocean swell without, rises 
“Wreck Hill,” so named from its being the spot from which the best 
view of the western reefs could be obtained, which have always been 
considered the most dangerous of all the reefs surrounding the islands. 
Elis Harbor.—A perfect little gem of an inlet, which, to be seen in its 
greatest perfection, should be visited on a bright sunny day, when its 
waters appear of the lightest emerald tint. It is an excellent collect- 
ing ground for crustaceans, holothurians, and naked mollusks. 
Mangrove Bay.— At the extremity of Somerset Island lies Mangrove 
Bay, so named from the number of those trees which formerly grew 
around its margin. The scenery is very pretty hereabouts, although 
the land.is almost level with the water. Boat excursions about the bay 
and adjoining shores reveal many interesting forms to the naturalist, 
especially among the submerged rocks near the shore. On the other 
side of the neck of land which divides Mangrove Bay from the ocean 
lies a stretch of sandy beach well worth examining, for as it lies open 
to the heavy westerly gales, some fine specimens of sponges and sea- 
weeds are often cast ashore. 
Watford and Boaz Islands connect Somerset with Ireland Island, and 
do not contain much to interest the visitor, as their surfaces have been 
partially leveled by convict labor, during the time that Bermuda was 
unhappily burdened by the presence of the worst of criminals trans- 
ported from the mother country. 
Ireland Isle.-—Probably the most important position in the Bermudas 
is Ireland Isle, which, although not much more than a mile in length, 
or a quarter of one in breadth, contains the dock-yard and other estab- 
lishments connected with the Royal Navy. The Camber is a dock shel- 
tered from the usual swell of the ocean by an excellent breakwater. 
But the principal feature of attraction is ‘‘ the Great Bermuda Dock,” 
a floating mass of iron, the largest structure of the kind in the world. 
In preparing the bed for this dock there was made an excavation to the 
depth of 54 feet below low water, and no less than 1,200,000 cubic feet 
of sand and coral débris were removed for that purpose. The geological 
teachings of this section are referred to in Professor Rice’s paper. 
The anchorage ground opposite Ireland, on its east side, where one or 
two men-of-war are generally to be seen, is known as ‘‘Grassy Bay.” 
There was an old lady living in Bermuda in 1876, aged 93,-who well 
