Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-07-23
VERY FEW CHANGES
ON BLOCK ISLAND.
improvements Being Made in Harbor,
for Which $4,000 Was Appropriated.

Many Norwich people spend their
vacations at Block Island, there being
a good number there now, and more
will reach there later. The visitors to
the island this summer will find but
few changes there since year ago, but
there is the same great abundance of
good sea air. and, as a New York judge
last week, the air doesn't cost a cent.
The steamer Danielson, which for
many years made an early morning
trip from Block Island to Newport, ia
the new harbor. 1t is not intended to
put her in operation unless some ac-
cident should happen to the New
Shoreham. Block Islanders say. Very
many swordfish are brought in. Mack
erel are being caught in abundance
and many good catches of Spanish
mackerel have been reported. these
latter fish having appeared in the
Block Island waters earlier than usual
Weakf1sh are being caught in great
abundance and because of the scarcity
of bluefish. weakfsh is listed ON the
bills of fare in many of the hotels as
bluefish. When a guest calls for blue
fish, it is weakf1sh that is passed out.
One night last week. just before sum
set, net was laid from the beach to
the raft at the bathing beach The net
was out only about a half hour and
Whan it was drawn there were more
than 500 fish in the net that had been
gilled. The fish weighed $500 pounds
and were sold to the wholesale dealers
on the island at two cents a pound
The weakdsh appear to be hungry, as
they chase tho small fish in shore and
when the tide goes out it is a common
thing to see hundreds of the small fish
left high and dry.
Since last summer two new build
ings of wood have been built on the
island. They are located east of the
New National hotel and almost on
the site of the Blue Flag. The post
Office is to be located on the first floor
OF one of the buildings. While it isn't
supposed to be so, it is said that there
are three places at least on the island
where liquors can be bought.
People who go to Block Island this
summer will not have to pick places
to step when they get off the boat at
the new harbor. Congress had appro-
priated $4,000 for Improvements in
the harbor. and the money is being
spent. The T. A. Scott company of
New London has a gang of men at
work there now fixing up the break
water and putting in new piling and
planking on the dock and waikway
The planking which runs from the
statue in the center of the business
section to the hotels on the hill will
be found in the condition in which it
the planking still stick up, ready to
catch ones toes. there. apparently being
no one on Block Island who could find
time during the winter or spring to
nail the planking to the crosspieces.
But Block Islan nd has not altogether
neglected its highways. An improve
ment has been made in the highway
which runs from the new harbor to the
business center. There are two high
ways, but the one. that has been re-
paired does not have the horse car
tracks. IT has been a nlacadam roa d
and it order to improve 1T it was
treated to q covering or tar and gravel
and is far less dusty than it used to
be. The waiting station for the cars
at the bathing beach, which was blown
away some months ago, has not been
and there is no place to wait
now but in the sun. In addition to
offering a protection from the sun there
was a platform from which one could
step on to the horse cars. but it isn't
easy to step from the sand, ankle deep
sometimes. on to the cars. Automo-
oiles have not been a common thing
On Block Island. One who has been
going there every summer for more
han twenty years never saw but one
automobile on the island, and that ma
chine was there for only day or two.
Now. however there are two automo-
oiles as permanent fixtures on the ISL
and.
While Block Island has always been
!, popular place. and is likely to con-