History of Suffolk County; Comprising the Addresses Delivered at the Celebration of the Bi-Centennial of Suffolk County, N. Y. , in Riverhead, November

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... in other places, served to swell the volume of outgoing commodities for which the goods and merchandize of the cities and the products of labor or art were exchanged. In 1794 the Sag Harbor Custom House had on its books 472 tons of registered and 473 tons of enrolled and licensed vessels; in 1800 it had 805 of the former and 1,449 ofthe latter; in 1805, 1,916 and 2,228; in 1810, 1,185 and 3,223; in 1815, 808 and 2,719 (this decline being caused by the war); in 1820, 2,263 and 3,416--a total for the last named year of 5,679 tons From that time on it showed a steady and rapid advance until the California exodus, the great fire, and other causes that co-operated to depress the whale fishery, began to cut down its large proportions. In the Great South Bay, that remarkable and noble body of water which forms the chief natural feature of t-he southern border of the county for its greater length, and at the same time is the main source of subsistence for the people inhabiting its norfhern shores, the early settlers quickly began to navigate its shallow waters in canoes, flat-bottomed boats and scows, and in later years small sloops and schooners of light draftfwere built to ply from place to place or, by way of the inlets from the outer ocean, to make trips to New York and other ports. As early as 1760 to '7o a few sloops traded through the Bay, carrying wood and produce. This trade, feeble as it had been, was closed by the war of the Revolution. It revived with renewed vigor and by 1785 there were 12 sloops and pirogues (or canoes) trading on the East Bay. By 1800 the number had increased to 30, among them being the sloop Woodcock built and owned by Hon. John Smith, at that time United States senator, which vessel was burned off Fire...