30 South Beach, 



dogs are seated on the beach they generally look seaward, 

 too, and will often sit watching the horizon for a long time. 



About thirty species of mollusks may commonly be col- 

 lected upon the beach, though many more have actually 

 been found there. The large collections of shells and 

 little stones, which are held together by the silken cords 

 with which the edible mussel attaches itself to all objects 

 within its reach, are fruitful places for research when cast 

 upon the shore, and there may be found the greatest 

 number of prizes. Also the large native sponges, that 

 come rolling in with the waves, contain many shells and 

 other animals that find in them protection and a home. 



In a few days thousands of shells of one species will some- 

 times be cast ashore, and next week it may be a school of 

 fish or a countless multitude of crabs. Thus have I seen 

 the shore for long distances so covered with the recently 

 cast up shells of the sea, or skimmer clam, that it was 

 impossible to walk without crushing them. The mole-crab 

 is also occasionally thrown ashore in great numbers, 

 forming a definite line along the beach where they have 

 been left by the highest wave. 



It was the large shells of the skimmer clam that were 

 tied to sticks by the Indians, and used as hoes. 



In September there are many kinds of fish in the 

 creek — young bluefish, killifish, and pipefish — each kind in 

 schools, and on the unprotected shore there is a certain 

 little fish with a silvery band on its side that swims in the 

 shallow water, going in and out with the waves. It comes 

 so close to the dry beach that I have succeeded in cap- 

 turing it with my insect net, which I slapped down upon 



