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August 22, 1996 - The Sound Without the Fury: a ReviewIBA • The Suffolk Times • August 22, 1996 The Sound Without the Fury: a Review After skin - diving in the sound last week I had to return to do some pho- tographing. I thought it would be just a quick trip up and back but I forgot what magnetism there is up there, particularly on a calm evening just about sunset. Instead I sat down on the still warm sand with my back against a large boulder and just let the mood settle in. For a while I was alone on that rocky shore as it was Focus on dinner time and everyone had left the beach. Nature As time slipped by Pall by, I'd see members of the StoutBnburgh natural world about me. Of course, there are always seagulls on patrol along the shore. Members of the wildlife club have no set time for eating. Their meals are just one continuous one. Their only let -up is when they come across a "Thanksgiving dinner" like the remains of a fish someone leaves on the beach. Then, and only then, do they stop their hungry search and rest. This partic- ular gull was checking over the area where a family had just spent their day on the beach. I'm sure crumbs or crusts were left behind and the gull was seeing to it that all was cleaned up before he left. Just offshore I watched a cormorant, a thin- necked, long- billed diver pursuing his meal below. You can always distin- guish this duck -like bird by its half - sunken body and continual diving habit. I saw this cormorant a mere 30 feet off- shore. Then, once when he popped up, he lifted his head skyward and shook it so the newly won fish of some sort could slide down his long bulging neck. Live, the captured fish probably half swam down the cormorant's throat, for they do not chew their food before swallowing it. Terns Continually Diving Next were the terns, those sleek little white birds that are endlessly flying and diving for their meals. When I'd been snorkeling a few days before, in this very water I'd seen school after school Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh SOUND BEACH —Some parts of our sound are rocky, other parts are sandy. Some times it's quiet, other times it's stormy. Each part and mood has its followers, who are thankful for its gifts. of silversides (a.k.a. spearing) milling about just about every big rock I visited. Now I knew what the terns were after. During the day no bluefish were around to harass the spearing but now that the sun was lowering the bluefish, or per- haps stripers, would come towards the shore to feed on these silvery morsels. Looking at them when snorkeling, I could only think how similar they were in shape to the tropical freshwater gup- pies I once kept as a kid. These were four or five times larger but their shape and swollen bellies reminded me of my female guppies. Of course, they lacked the silver striping that spearing have, which gives them their name. Now, with the bluefish below driving the frantic bait to the surface, the terns congregated above the churning water. Hovering above, they would wait for the right moment and then, like a rocket, they'd plunge head first into the water. If they missed, they'd be up again hovering until finally successful. Then off they'd fly with their prize in their bill, probably to a fledgling young that waited on a i_e69a i waaL n..aau 75 Years Ago Aug. 19, 1921 Cornet Band Trip: The Orient Cornet Band will give an excursion to New London, Conn., on the steamer Wyandotte on Friday, Sept. 2. The boat will stop for passen- gers at the Orient wharf. Tickets are $1.60 and 80 cents. Wanted: Packages for the package party, which is to be given in connection with the block party in Greenport Saturday, Aug. 20. Storekeepers and housekeepers, atten- tion! Don't wait until the last minute to leave your packages at the Times office and N. Goldin's store or to notify mem- bers of the committee to call for them. Do it now! The party will raise funds for the memorial to the boys who served in the World War. Let your patriotism assert itself now, and give your wholehearted support to this affair. 50 Years Ago Aug. 23, 1946 Oyster Boats Help Fight Fires: On Saturday afternoon, immediately following the parade sponsored by Burton Potter Post, American Legion, five of the oyster boats owned by the Lester and Toner Oyster Company gave a most interesting demonstration of marine firefighting. The five boats, the McDonagh, Richmond, Flora, George T. and Willie M., have been equipped with powerful pumps for use in case of a bad fire on the waterfront. In case such a nearby rock. The pursuit for food never stops. Only darkness ends this continu- ous search. All these activities did little to distract the wonder of the hour. The day was slowly closing and now new activity started to stir. A lone girl in her 20s pulled into the parking lot, got out and walked to the edge of the water where she sat down. She was some distance away so I couldn't tell much about her except she was content just to enjoy the time and space her visit offered. I pon- dered about her. Had she had a tragedy in her life, or an argument with her boyfriend or was she one of those spe- cial people who know how to enjoy the wonder that was spread before her — the tranquil sound. I'd never know. Many Enjoying the Beach Another car pulled up and a young man and his girl got out and walked up the beach hand in hand. They too came to enjoy the magic of the sound. They disappeared down the beach. All the time I sat, there was a continual soft conflagration should occur, members of the Greenport Fire Department would be assigned to each of the boats to direct and assist the crews in their battle against the flames. During the demonstration Saturday the five boats were surrounded by a curtain of high - pressure streams of water as their powerful pumps threw tons of water. A large crowd of interested spectators on Main Street wharf watched the demonstration. 25 Years Ago Aug. 19, 1971 Cutchogue Discusses New Firehouse: Some 75 Cutchogue residents went to their firehouse Tues- day night to hear why the fire department feels it needs a new building to replace the present ,W year -old structure. Whether they find it in their hearts to vote the $475,000 for a new firehouse, there is little doubt of the position the volunteer firemen hold in the hearts of the villagers. Renovations to the present building would cost $375,000, compared to the $495,000 it would take to build a new one across the street on depart ment -owned property. The figure also includes the cost of buying property for an access road to the proposed new building, which would permit firemen responding to an alarm to avoid the traffic light at New Suf- folk Avenue. Voting on the proposition will be held on Aug. 31. murmuring of gentle waves. There was no wind to roll them in, just the pulsing of that great body of water in front of me. It seemed to say "I'm here — I'm here — I'm here." It never stopped. I ran my hands under the sand and felt the warmth of the sun — still there. The silence was broken by the roar of a motorcycle in the distant parking lot. We had visitors of another sort. By now the sun had painted a glowing yellow pathway across the sound. Connecticut lay in a low haze in the distance. Only one lone boat moved westward. Its occa- sional reflected spray let me know it was making its way up the sound. Had it been out fishing in the gut and now was heading home? Now, a fisherman in his big brown waders waddled rapidly up the beach, pole and tackle box in hand. He seemed out of step with everyone and everything around him. Why was he in such a hurry? Perhaps he'd seen the terns work- ing down the beach and wanted to get his lure amongst them before they decid- ed to move off. Or perhaps he's one of those people who just stole a little time and wanted to make every moment count. He finally stopped and I saw him throw his plug far off shore. Back and forth it went, time after time. Finally he gave up and the last I saw of him he was heading east around the bend. As I sat enjoying the sights and smells of this wonderful area, the young man and his girl came walking back from up the beach but this time there was no hand in hand. Had problems arisen? I'd never know that true story either. By now the single young lady had gotten up and left the beach. Too bad, for she added something to the wonder of it all. I too decided to leave. Back by the car I found the motorcyclist and his two com- panions. They were in typical motorcy- cle gear sitting on the railing just enjoy- ing a pleasant stop. The sound beach has meant different things to a wide variety of people. What a wonderful gift our local waters are, each appealing to our own special needs. We're fortunate to have our bays and sound to turn to for their refreshment and enlightenment. They are something special and they need our continual help to see that no harm shall ever come to them.