JSo. 200.J 
127 
that these beaches are subject to considerable variations by storms, the 
materials being tumbled along either eastward or westward, according 
to the direction of the wind. 
Sands' Point, on which a light-house has been long built, was wash- 
ing away so rapidly some years since, that it became necessary to pro- 
tect it by building a strong sea-wall along the shore. A reef of rocks, 
(the remains of ancient lands,) extends out some distance from the shore. 
The wall has afforded a protection against the encroachment of the sea, 
and about an acre of land has been added to that belonging to the United 
States, in consequence of the alluvial action of the surf depositing the 
sand and shingle in the eddy on the south side of the point. Mr. Ma- 
son, the keeper of the light-house, communicated these facts, and many 
others of much interest. The broad and extensive sand beach south of 
Sands' Point, a mile or more in length, was, since his remembrance, a 
salt marsh covered with grass. Mr. Mason is nearly 80 years of age. 
The materials swept from Sands' Point and deposited on the edge of the 
marsh, have been drifted and washed over its surface. 
At and near Kidd's Rock three quarters of a mile eastward of Sands' 
Point, the wasting of the cliffs from the effects of the waves is very 
evident. The cliffs present mural escarpments towards the Sound, but 
the hills slope down gradually on the other side towards the salt marsh. 
This elevated land was formerly an island, but alluvial causes have 
formed a salt marsh where the water was sheltered from the sea. The 
wasting of the cliffs has caused the formation of long beaches, one con- 
necting Kidd's Point with Sands' Point, and the other connecting with 
the high grounds S. E. of the marsh on the W. side of Hempstead Har- 
bor. A small inlet through the N. end of this beach allows the tide to 
communicate with the marsh. Boulders and blocks are seen imbedded 
in the strata forming the mural escarpements, and the shore below is 
also'strewed with them. They also extend some distance from the coast, 
indicating that a considerable breadth of land has been washed away. 
The boulders protect the shore for a time, but the smaller ones and the 
shingle are gradually ground up by the action of the surf, and washed 
away, and daring storms and high tides, fresh inroads are made. The 
beach between Kidd's Point and Sands' Point covers a part of the marsh, 
the ooze and marine peat of which, may be seen at the foot of the beach 
at ebb tide. This indicates that high land or else a beach was once far- 
ther seaward, to afford protection for the formation of that part of the 
marsh. Only a few acres of high land remain at Kidd's Point, and if 
it should continue to be washed away as heretofore, (and much expense 
