208 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
islands are situated within the limits of the isothermal belt, that 
in the neighborhood of the equator, nearly encircles, with a warm 
watery girdle, the earth. The Gulf Stream protects it upon the 
west and north, while the strong winds, that sometimes prevail, 
seem unable to bring to the surface the colder water that fills 
the bed of the vast oceanic basins. Besides private bath houses 
along the city’s harbor front, bathing facilities are furnished near 
Fort Montague. Crossing the harbor in a row-boat, the north 
shore of Hog Island is soon reached, where the surf rolls in from 
the ocean, and bathing of a lively and exciting description can be 
enjoyed by those who experience an exhilarating pleasure in 
breasting the strong and foaming billows. Some gentlemen who 
occasionally tried surf bathing there before breakfast, spoke very 
highly in its praise, but regretted that no one had life, energy 
and enterprise enough to smooth the surface of the rocks—a work 
requiring but a few hours of labor with a hammer. 
Some indulged every morning in a sea-water sponge bath in 
their rooms. 
