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of land and water, which are constantly contending for mastery; 

 but in proportion as the bed of the Gulf is sinking, these lauds 

 will rise and become habitable to man, now occupied by the wild 

 duck, the crane, the gull and sometimes by a stray fisherman or 

 duck-hunter. Grand Lake connects with Caminada Bay, which is 

 very shoal water, being in some places not moie than three feet 

 deep. It borders Grand Isle on the north. At Fort Livingston, 

 which is situated on Bonne Terre Island, and which defends Bara- 

 taria Grand Pass against marauders and smugglers, is a fort of very 

 little importance. The work is constructed of brick, with a light- 

 house, to prevent its being surprised at night in its loneliness and 

 isolation. It has no garrison; a lieutenant and a sergeant compose 

 the whole military force; and this is considered sufficient to hold it 

 against any enemy, at least in time of peace. This and the adjoin- 

 ing islands were the headquarters of the pirate Lafitte and his 

 robber crew. 



Grand Isle can only be approached at its northern border and 

 from Caminada Bay when the tide is high; for on its southern Gulf 

 shore no boat can approach it on account of shoal water and three 

 sand banks near the beach, which form breakers and in stormy 

 weather would render navigation dangerous, even if the water were 

 deep enough near the shore to allow a passage. At low tide the 

 boat casts anchor within a mile and a half of Grand Isle wharf? 

 and passengers and baggage are transported in yawls to the island. 



The beach of the Gulf shore is, as might be supposed, pure sand 

 intermixed with shells thrown out by the waves which are at all 

 times dashing against the shore. But about half a mile from the 

 beach the soil becomes a black muddy clay, similar to that of the sea 

 marshes, covered with a layer of sand swept there by the overflows* 

 which are very rare here, and are produced only by violent storms 

 and last but a few hours. In 1854 there were several fine sugar 

 plantations on the island, but the overflow of that year drenched, 

 the cane with sea water, and as salt is most injurious to the cultiva- 

 tion of sugar, most of the cane was killed, and no attempt has since 

 been made to revive its culture, which might be successfully accom- 

 plished by deep ploughing so as to bring the marsh soil to the sur- 

 face. The sea island cotton is still produced here to a limited 

 extent. Garden vegetables of all kinds are cultivated here with 

 great success, and truck farms for the New Orleans market might 

 be made profitable. 



