File:A pictorial description of the United States; embracing the history, geographical position, agricultural and mineral resources (1860) (14591361268).jpg

Identifier: pictorialdescrip00sear (find matches)
Title: A pictorial description of the United States; embracing the history, geographical position, agricultural and mineral resources ..
Year: 1860 (1860s)
Authors: (Sears, Robert), 1810-1892. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, R. Sears
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
e all the is-lands on the coast; nevertheless, it is,during the spring season a great resort.Some visit it for the purpose of makingpic-nics or chowders (for the last it isfamous), others go for the sail, but mostgo for the purpose of gathering themyriads of eggs deposited by gulls andother aquatic birds. In Galveston bay about eighteen milesfrom the city is situated Red-fish bar.It is created by the influx of the Trinityand other rivers and extends entirelyacroes the bay. It consists of a numberof small islands through there are seve-ral navigable passes. Of these, the mostesteemed at present is called the East,but there is a better one, still moreeasterly, not much used at present, butwhich is superior to any other, havingdeeper water, and being more direct.It is called Possum pass, partly be-cause it is a feasting giound for that an-imal which, swimming from one islandto another of the chain, repairs therefor the purpose of devouring the eggslaid in the vicinity, and partly because
Text Appearing After Image:
456 DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. it is hidden from sight until approachedvery near. Here there are spots, ofacres in extent, covered with eggs of allflavors, colors, and sizes—and in everystate of incubation, small boats make atrade in collecting them for market, andas the robbed birds, with the great-est perseverance, commence laying anewafter each depredation, the egg-huntersreap an unfailing haivest while the sea-son lasts. When the squabs are hatchedthey make one of the most deliciousitems in the boatmans bill of fare. Sit-ting round their savory supper, thesecare-free rovers quaff their drams ofwhiskey, smoke their pipes, sing songs,and tell stories of wild life, beneath theclear sky, until tired, when, with theirblankets around them, they seek a softspot upon the sand. At the dawn, theshrill cry of the eagle in pursuit of hisprey awakes the egg-hunters to business.Having laid in their stock of eggs, theycommence the second but no less pleas-ant part of their trade.—thi

Note About Images