G. F. Eaton — Prehistoric Fauna of Block Island. 119 



the North Atlantic, and even here is found within compara- 

 tively narrow limits. On the American coast, it occurs as far 

 southward as Sable Island, Nova Scotia, where its presence is 

 attested by specimens in the National Museum, collected there 

 by Mr. P. S. Dodd. This, however, is the southernmost point 

 at which it is known to occur." 



Great Salt Pond. 



The large size of the oyster- and other shells in the deposits 

 is worthy of note. Oyster-shells measuring seven inches long 

 and of ordinary proportions were of common occurrence in the 

 deposits, and most of the clams and scallops also were well 

 grown. Barnacles three-quarters of an inch in diameter were 

 found in the shell-heaps. These had evidently been brought 

 from the pond, attached to scallops, for the bases of the barna- 

 cles showed the imprint of the scallop-shells they had grown 

 upon. From the earliest time of which tradition speaks, the 

 Great Salt Fond yielded an abundant supply of oysters, clams 

 and scallops, which leads to the supposition that it was more or 

 less open to tidal flow. But about twenty years ago, the breach 

 had apparently filled up, for at that time the last boatload of 

 oysters was shipped from the Island. 



In the "Fisheries of the II. S." 1887, is found the follow- 

 ing statement: "A narrow roadway that is often overflowed 

 separates this pond from the sea. By many this pond is 

 supposed to be sustained by springs flowing from the sur- 

 rounding hills ; others claim that it is supplied from the 

 ocean by the water filtering through the narrow beach, 

 and that its brackishness is caused by a partial evaporation 

 of the salt. Enough salt is retained from this cause, 

 as well as from the overflow from high tides and storms 

 to sustain oysters and other shell-fish up to about half growth, 

 at which time they die. A breach through the beach into the 

 sea is much needed, and this question is now agitated by the 

 inhabitants. With a small outlay thousands of bushels of fine 

 oysters could be made to add to the yearly income of the fish- 

 eries." 



Recently a deep "gut" has been dredged through the 

 narrow beach on the west side of the Great Salt Pond, in order 

 to make a harbor for medium-draught vessels, and the supply 

 of fresh water from the springs at the shore of the pond is 

 so small comparatively, that the water of the harbor is now 

 practically as salt as the pure sea water. It remains to be seen 

 whether the oyster fishery, which was one of the chief means 

 of support of the prehistoric inhabitants of the Island, will be 

 revived by the Block Islanders of the present day. 



