1891
June
Description of Eel Pond Marshes (No 7)
North Truro, Mass.
similar character save that it is longer and
narrower and filled with pools and ditches of
rather deep water. Then, with a creek which
winds through the middle like a great 
snake, render the place practically inaccessible
except by way of the creek to one furnished
with a boat. The greater part of this marsh
is covered with flags. Curiously enough it
harbors but few Rails and Bitterns while
there are said to be no Gallinules seen in
autumn when a straggler is occasionally seen.
The Red-wings are quite as numerous, however,
as in the Eel Pond marsh. A pair of
Black Ducks used to breed here regularly
each season but the old birds with their
young were shot early in August two years
ago and none have been seen since.
  The Eel Pond was formerly resorted to
in autumn by immense numbers of
Blue-winged Teal and Sheldrake (M. serrator)
and Golden-eyes still visit it daily during
the winter. Despite its slight depth and
comparatively sheltered situation it is said
never to freeze entirely over, a fact which
no one with whom I talked was able
to explain.
  Geese are also killed every season in this
pond. Brant pass over it in migration
but none except occasional stragglers were
alight.