CSo HISTORY OF THE BOUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



south-west of the village, on a small wooded island, connected with the 

 main by a solid stone causeway which leads to the dock and to a well- 

 built hotel called the Neptune House.' This establishment is well lo- 

 cated, on account of its close vicinity to the Sound. At high water, the 

 scenery presented in front of the hotel is altogether unrivalled : the 

 harbor, in the foreground ; the long surface of the waters, stretching five 

 miles across to Long Island ; the winding streams of the creek on each 

 side, and Davenport's Neck and Island around, help to fill up the land- 

 scape ; and, in addition to the healthiness of the spot, give it advan- 

 tages possessed by few of our watering-places. This commodious hotel 

 has been lately newly furnished throughout, and placed under compe- 

 tent management. The grounds contain twenty acres of land, part of 

 which is a beautiful grove. The adjacent island, commonly called 

 Locust Island, was formerly owned by the family of the late consul, 

 John William Schmidt ; but it has lately been purchased by Mr. J. H. 

 Starin of New York, and is now called Glen Island and become quite 

 celebrated as a place of resort for excursionists. During the past sum- 

 mer several thousand people landed daily and enjoyed its many attrac- 

 tions and amusements, which are provided to suit the tastes of all. 



The neighboring waters abound with bass and black-fish, and which 

 last, at the proper season, are taken in large quantities. According to 

 the old rhyme the proper season is indicated by the chesnut leaf, for 



' ' When chesnut leaves are as big as thumb nails, 

 Then bite black-fish without fail ; 

 But when chesnut leaves are as big as a span, 

 Then catch black-fish if you can." 



The size of the black -fish varies from seven to eight pounds, although 

 some have been taken in this vicinity weighing eighteen pounds. The 

 adjacent bays and creeks are the common resort of innumerable flocks 

 of wild ducks. Immense numbers of these birds are killed annually, 

 either for sale or domestic use. The favorite method for shooting is 

 technically called "lining," which is performed in the following manner: 

 A number of sportsmen form a continuous line of boats, at convenient 

 distances from each other, directly across the line of flight. The mo- 

 ment the ducks rise the firing commences at the head of the line, and is 

 continued in succession by the whole chain of gunners. In this way, 

 hundreds of ducks are annihilated, unless they happen to dash through 

 an opening in the line of boats, when they are sure to escape. 



Three hundred ducks have been shot by one individual placed in the 

 line. The species commonly killed by this destructive method are the 

 long-tailed duck, commonly called the squaw or old-wive, (Anas Glaci- 



