442 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[June 7, 1903, 
An Inexpensive Outing* 
BY WILLIAM H. AVIS. 
There appears to be a dearth of information regard- 
ing the cost of outings afield or afloat. An erroneous 
opinion prevails that such pleasures are only within 
reach of the very wealthy, and that those of limited 
means are necessarily excluded; it is my hope here to 
prove this opinion a fallacy. Like everything else, how- 
ever, outings may or may not be expensive. Imaginary 
wants are apt to prove expensive as well as unnecessary. 
The principal essential being to live as close to Nature 
as possible. This in itself brings a sportsman's outing 
within easy reach of nearly all of us, for one can live 
close to Nature with less expense than he can live at 
home. 
A month's fishing, cruising and camping expedition is 
within the means of thousands who live in close proximity 
to Long Island Sound, and similar waters. Two persons 
can start in a rowboat from Throgg's Neck, carefully pick 
their way along the Connecticut shore, and cruise as far 
east as Watch Hill, R. I., and the expense need not ex- 
ceed $60 apiece in money. Added to the recruited health, 
rest and recreation gained from associating with the free 
outdoors, such a trip would yield a mass of useful in- 
formation'. 
On an outing of this kind and duration, one need not 
run unnecessary risks afloat in rough and boisterous 
weather. Twice in every twenty-four hours the tide flows 
ebb, and under most conditions this should be the time 
for navigation. As the prevailing summer winds blow 
from south and southwest on the Sound, this would nat- 
urally favor the cruiser going east. 
Excepting that exceedingly beautiful portion of Long 
Island, extending from Eaton's Neck in a westerly direc- 
tion, the southern shore of Long Island Sound is sandy 
and dull and uninteresting ; harbors, too, are scarce. Here 
the heat is of the sweltering kind, as the winds are mostly 
off the shore. The numerous harbors and groups of 
islands of the north shore, with off-shore breezes elimi- 
nated, naturally conduce to make the Connecticut side of 
the Sound the choice waters for small-boat cruising. 
A large first-class rowboat, with two pair of oars, can 
be hired for $5 per week, and this and the price of a good 
tent would be the greatest expense. A very fair tent can 
be bought for $10; but a much better one of the same 
size and perfectly waterproof can be had for $15. A large 
waterproof bag, for the protection of bedding, clothing, 
books, writing materials, etc., need not exceed $2 in cost, 
and $3 invested in tinware, cooking utensils, etc., ought 
to furnish an outfit for two. Now invest $3 in a rubber 
blanket, and $5 in two coarse, heavy horse blankets ; then 
$3 more in fishing lines, hooks, • sinkers and a clam hoe. 
When there is no chance to build a fire, a $3 oil stove 
would not come amiss, and $1 invested in a five-gallon 
water cask completes the outfit. If one owned a camera 
it might add interest to take it along. Clean straw or hay, 
purchased en route as needed, would make the sweetest 
bed. 
With the exception of clothing and a few necessaries, 
easily supplied from among the effects at home, the ex- 
pedition is ready to start. One should not forget, how- 
ever, to take along one light, fair grade of summer suit, 
clean outing shirts, ties, outing cap and light shoes — just 
to appear presentable while visiting ashore. 
With everything ready for a start, $55 have been ex- 
pended, and there are yet $65 in the treasury. This means 
over $16 per week for four weeks' living expenses for two 
persons; the sum is far more than sufficient. Indeed, the 
writer and a companion once made a two months' cruise 
up the St. John's River, in Florida, and our living ex- 
penses did not equal a quarter of that sum, and there 
was a bountiful supply of everything. 
This paper will not dwell on details, but will just give 
a general outline of what a trip through the Sound in a 
small boat would reveal — noting some of the places of 
interest, and the best fishing and camping places known 
to the writer. 
From Throgg's Neck to Little Captain Island is a trifle 
over sixteen statute miles, and with the tide ebb and the 
wind southwest, two average oarsmen ought to easily do 
the distance in three or four hours, and there would be a 
limit of six hours. A piece of canvas rigged on a pair 
of oars and utilized as a sail would eliminate the rowing. 
Little Captain Island contains but a few ^jfjes of land, 
but is an excellent place to camp. There is no^ater there, 
however, that I know of. But Great Captain Island is 
close by, with a well of pure, cold water right near the 
lighthouse. 
By chart Little Captain Island is one and one-half miles 
off shore, and a mile from Greenwich Point, >5fhich lies to 
the northeast. One would be repaid to camp here two or 
three days, so as to take in the places of interest, for this 
is, perhaps, by far the most beautiful place on the Sound. 
Greenwich, a mile and a half to the north, on the main- 
land, is the first shore town in Connecticut east of the New 
York line. It is a delightfully beautiful place, and many 
of the wealthiest families of America have residences 
here. The western suburb is known as Belle Haven, and 
it is a veritable paradise in the summer season. Elegant 
and costly mansions nestle in settings of the highest art 
of landscape gardening, and most of them are literally 
smothered in shrubbery and the choicest of flowers. There 
are few, if any, fences, and beautifully white, hardened 
roads wind hither and thither, in the most intricate and 
mazy way. Here one may walk for hours amid bowers 
and banks of flowering shrubs and plants of every known 
variety and never tire, so pleasing and novel are the 
sights. There are Italian gardens, great beds of flower 
coloring, in designs of baskets, urns, anchors, fans, etc., 
and the air is redolent with the sweetest perfume. Smart 
equipages and automobiles roll almost noiselessly over the 
clean roads, and, ever and anon, entrancing glimpses of 
the Sound, trembling blue under the summer sun, steal 
upon the vision, 
Fair indeed, and beautiful beyond compare, is Belle 
Haven. Here nature carelessly dropped a wondrous, un- 
polished gem from her treasure store. Wealth, culture 
and refinement plucked it from its rough bed, pressed it 
to the wheel of progress, and lo! Belle Haven — most en- 
trancing suburb of the fairest town within the borders of 
the old Nutmeg State — was born. 
Other features of interest in Greenwich are: The old 
Putnam house, on Putnam avenue (the place where Gen. 
Putnam saw the British soldiers reflected in his shaving 
glass) ; the place where it is claimed the old stone steps 
were, down which Putnam rode with the British in pur-' 
suit; the old Indian burial place at Cos Cob-^-an eastern 
surburb of Greenwich — and much more of interest, for 
which space is too limited to mention. 
Greenwich Harbor is a beautiful, well protected sheet 
of water, and many of the world's most noted, most costly 
and swiftest yachts call here. This is the port of E. C. 
Benedict's famous Oneida — the yacht on which ex-Presi- 
dent Cleveland has taken so many outings. Mr. Bene- 
dict's magnificent palace, which is built on the site of the 
old Tweed Club House, is said to have cost $5,000,000. 
It presents a wonderfully beautiful appearance from the 
water. There are two yacht clubs, the Greenwich and the 
Riverside. 
Fair fishing is to be had off the rocks and on the reefs 
in the harbor and its vicinity. Blackfish, sea bass, cunners, 
flatfish and weakfish are caught -in the summer time. 
Clams are plentiful and easily dug at low water, and 
oysters can be purchased from the oystermen in the 
harbor. 
The distance from Little Captain Island to the Norwalk 
Islands' Lighthouse is eleven statute miles. There are a 
number of good fishing spots between, among them being 
the rocks and reefs in the vicinity of Shippan Point; 
Smith's Rocks, between Shippan Point and Long Neck; 
the waters in the vicinity of Green Ledge, and numerous 
paces among the islands themselves. 
One ought to be able to select a camping site to his own 
l'king among the Norwalk Islands. Four miles east of 
Sheffield Island, on which the lighthouse stands, is a large 
island named Cockenoe's Island. Many persons camp 
here, but perhaps it might be well to select a site further 
in the harbor, so as to be in touch with South Norwalk. 
Wherever islands are built 'upon one should ask permis- 
sion to camp, and I think there will seldom be a refusal. 
The next stopping place would be Bridgeport, although 
there are a number of interesting places between the is- 
lands and that city. Perhaps the eastern end of Long 
Beach would furnish as good a camping site as anywhere, 
although by asking permission one could get nearer the 
city. 
A couple of days could be well spent around Bridgeport. 
Here are located the winter quarters of the great Bar- 
num's Circus. Among the manufactories are the Union 
Metallic Cartridge Works, American Ordnance Co s , where 
all kinds of heavy ordnance is made; Wheeler & Wilson 
Sewing Machine Co., and many other world famous man- 
ufactories. Then there is Seaside Park, partly presented 
to the city by P. T. Barnum, and numerous interesting 
shore resorts. 
Off Bridgeport Harbor are located the most extensive 
natural oyster beds in the Sound. These grounds are 
protected by law, and have their open and close time. In 
the fall, when it is legal to dredge for the oysters, hun- 
dreds of white-winged sloops enliven the waters, and 
thousands of bushels of seed oysters are caught. These 
are either sold to big dealers or are kept by those who own 
the sloops and are transplanted on their own grounds. 
This greatly depends on the market price of seed. If the 
price is high the sloop owners usually sell; but if the 
market is dull, then it pays best to keep the seed. At this 
season hundreds of riding lights in the harbor at night 
lend the appearance of a city afloat. It is all worth going 
some distance to see. 
It is seven and one-half miles to Pond Point, a place 
within easy touch of Merwin's Point, Savin Rock and 
New Haven. The trolley runs close by the shore, and 
there is but a step from the tent to the cars. Merwin's 
Point, and Savin Rock are shore resorts, the latter being 
styled the Coney Island of Connecticut. 
New Haven is a beautiful city, and widely known as 
the seat of Yale University. Among its well known man- 
ufactories is the world famous Winchester Repeating 
Arms Co. East and West Rock Parks are unique, be- 
ing over three hundred feet above the city, and command- 
ing beautiful views of the city, the surrounding country 
and the Sound. On West Rock is located the historic 
Judges' Cave, the place of refuge of the regicide Judges, 
Dixwell, Whalley and Goffe. There are a number of 
yacht clubs, the most prominent being the New Haven 
Yacht Club and the City Point Yacht Club. The trol- 
ley is convenient to all points of interest, and the cost 
of transportation is insignificant 
By skirting the shore to a point between Savin Rock 
and Oyster River Point, New Haven Harbor can be 
crossed inside the breakwaters, and the shore followed 
to the Thimble Islands, the distance being fifteen statute 
miles. 
On a cruise of the kind herein set forth, the shore 
should be skirted as closely as possible at all times. 
Thunder squalls spring up on the Sound very quickly at 
times, and with the shore close aboard a landing could 
be made and the tent erected in time to escape danger 
and drenching. Inside the buoys along the Connecticut 
shore, the waters are a jumble of rocks. Hundreds are 
barely covered, but danger from this quarter is nearly 
eliminated in a rowboat, for if a rock was struck, the 
boat would slide up on it without danger, and could be 
easily pushed off again. 
With the exception of Greenwich and its vicinity, the 
Thimbles and surroundings form the most delightful spot 
in Long Island Sound. A week could be spent here, and 
every minute filled with pleasure. So thickly built upon 
are the islands, however, that permission to camp should 
be asked, and this could be easily obtained. 
The romantic history of the Thimbles lends enchant- 
ment to the beauties bestowed by nature. Legend claims 
that here were the headquarters, in the Sound, of Cap- 
tain Kidd. High Island, perhaps the largest in the group, 
is nearly divided by a harbor. This harbor is said to 
have served as a hiding place for Kidd's vessel, and is 
known as Kidd's Harbor. If it were possible for a vessel 
to enter the place, by lowering her topmasts she would be 
completely invisible from even so short a distance as 
one hundred yards. It is doubtfuk however, if there 
was ever depth enough of water to admit of a vessel 
floating there—or even entering — and the yarn is gener- 
ally considered mythical. 
There are many interesting islands beside High 
Island. Pot Island is noted for a smooth, bowl-shaped hole 
in the solid rock which legend Connects with Kidd and 
his crew as a punch bowl. Here, it is said, the buc- 
caneers were wont to meet and celebrate in flowing bump- 
ers, brewed in this natural bowl, daring depredations 
committed upon unfortunate merchantmen. When the 
tide is high, the bowl is covered. 
Off the southern point of Pot Island, in the passage 
which separates it from Horse Island, is a famous place 
to fish* Then between Horse and Outer Islands is an- 
other noted ground for fish. In fact, when the tide is 
at the right stage, the fishing is generally fair anywhere 
among the islands. 
Money Island is a charming spot, and Kidd is said 
to have buried treasure here. Other islands of note are: 
Governor's, Rogers, Bear, Cut-Ih-Two, and many others, 
for which, lack of space forbids mention. It is claimed 
that there are more than one thousand rocks and islands 
in this group, many of the former being under water. 
Between Mansfield Point, six miles to the west, and 
Sachem's Head, five miles to the east, the shore line is 
a continuous panorama of delightftil scenery, among 
which are nestled snug summer residences. Directly 
north of the islands, on the mainland, is Stony Creek. 
Here are stores, postoffice, hotels, etc. Sachem's Head, 
which is also on the mainland, boasts a popular yacht club 
and a very good hotel. Then there are many neat, sum- 
mer cottages. 
From this point (Sachem's Head) on east, the writer 
cannot claim close familiarity with the shore conditions; 
but from observations taken while sailing by at different 
times, good facilities for camping appear abundant. 
Hammonasset Point, twelve miles from the Thimbles, 
looks enticing; as also do Cornfield and Guard House 
Points. The banks of the Connecticut, twelve miles from 
Hammonasset Point, should furnish good sites — although 
there is considerable marsh land. Then there are Hat- 
chett's Point; Black Point; Mill Stone Point— the lat- 
ter and Black Point forming respectively the west and 
east shore of Niantic Bay; Goshen's Point and New Lon- 
don Harbor — the latter being fourteen miles from the* 
Connecticut River. 
Fisher's Island Sound offers exceptional inducements 
to the camping-cruiser, for here one is brought within 
touch of the very cream of New England salt water 
fishing. Then Watch Hill, twelve miles from .the en- 
trance of New London Harbor, could be visited. Con- 
siderable caution, however, should be exercised in navi- 
gating these waters in a rowboat, for the tides run swift 
and strong, and Block Island Sound is as rough a sheet 
of water at times as one can find from Maine to Hat- 
teras. While comparatively sheltered, yet, owing to the 
tides, Fisher's Island Sound, too, is exceedingly nasty at 
times. 
The trip should end at Stonington, for here the cruis- 
ers' boat and plunder could be shipped on the steam- 
boat, and transported to New York. And our two cruis- 
ers ought to land in the metropolis improved in health, 
strength and knowledge; and with some little cash on 
hand. The writer has done even a longer trip, in a sail- 
boat, and at less expense. 
To the Snow Line of the Himalayas 
The following account of an excursion which I made 
more than thirty years ago, in company with a friend, to 
the line of perpetual snow in the Himalaya Mountains, 
will, I trust, interest some of your readers: 
The quantity of large game seen and bagged was very 
disappointing, but the journey itself was delightful, and 
the details of the provisions and other parts of the out- 
fit taken with us, may be of service to some of our Amer- 
ican brethren who, while making a tour through India, 
feel inclined to visit the most lofty range of mountains 
in the world. 
I can give only the main points of interest, having, un- 
fortunately, neglected to keep a regular diary, but I en- 
tered an account of the most important facts in a note 
book and made a few sketches. A large part of the 
scenery indeed was so vividly impressed on my memory 
that I can recall it at the present day, by shutting my 
eyes, in a series of pictures so grand that any attempt 
to reproduce them on paper would have been hopeless. 
I had been living for two years in one of the hottest 
stations of Central India; the heat there and in other 
places, during the second season, having been so great 
that numbers of the natives died from it. I was there- 
fore greatly pleased when, early in the third summer, two 
months' leave was given me to visit "the hills," as the 
Himalayas are called in the Bengal Presidency. 
Being 140 miles from a railway, I had to travel half 
way in a palanquin (called pulkee) and the remaining 
half in a Government mailtent. This was a two-wheled 
vehicle without springs, drawn by a couple of ponies, one 
in the shafts and the other in traces by his side. They 
were changed every seven or eight miles, and, as the 
whole distance was passed at a gallop, the only way of 
riding without great discomfort was to place a pillow on 
the seat thick enough to permit of one being in a 
half-standing position. A thin iron rail guarded the side* 
and back of the seat, and a second pillow was required 
to prevent the skin around the hips from being galled. 
The railroad journey was comfortable, considering the 
heat of the weather, and in due time I arrived at Sahar- 
unpore, a station beautifully wooded and containing a 
Government botanical garden, by means of which the 
cinchona and various other useful trees and plants have 
been introduced into India. 
Thence to the foot of the mountains, about 80 miles, 
was traveled in a "dawk gharry^" a four wheeled covered 
carriage, with seats which can be arranged so as to sup- 
port a mattress in a level position and allow the occupant 
to sleep. At that period every one traveling in India, 
away from the large seaport cities, was obliged to carry 
his own bedding. A ride of eight miles on a pony 
brought me to a hill station named Mussourie, 6,000 
feet above the sea, with Landour close by, 2,000 feet 
higher. The ponies have a strange propensity for walk- 
ing as close as possible to the outside edge of the road, 
