The Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The eastern shore of Virginia, composed of the counties of Accomack and Northampton, is a peninsula lying between the Atlantic Ocean, on the one side, and the Chesapeake Bay on the other. It presents a very level surface, and has, perhaps, the best roads in the world, requiring but little attention to keep them in good condition. It is within easy access of Baltimore by a line of steamers, one of which leaves South street wharf, in that city, every day at 5 o'clock p. m., except Saturday. The upper portion of the peninsula can be reached daily by rail from Philadelphia, the terminus being Greenbackville, on the sea side apposite to Chincoteague Island; and distant from it about five miles. A steam ferry boat convery passengers from the depot to the Island.
There is, perhaps, no portion of the country presenting greater attraction to the sportsman in quest of small game, such as quail and water-fowl, than this little strip of land. The former are abundant, and the peculiar geographical features of the country render the sport of hunting them both easy and delightful. The excellent character of the roads makes a ride of twenty or thirty miles but a trifle, thus enabling the hunter to go over a great deal of ground in a day, and the numberless creeks or small rivers indenting the coasts on the sea and bay, form long glades fringed with yellow sedge, affording cover to the birds and protection from the hawks, while the absence of trees in such places assures to the hunter almost any number of shots "in the open." The period for shooting quail in these counties extends from the 20th day of October to the 1st day of February. Snipe and woodcock are also found, but in small numbers. On the sea side, and to a great, though less extent on the bay, waterfowl, such as wild geese, brant, black mallards, shufflers or black ducks, red heads and all other kinds of duck except the canvas back swarm in myriads, and are killed in great numbers every year; they are shot principally from blinds over decoys. On every part of the shore persons can be found who have large experience in this kind of sport, and whose services can be procured by visitors at reasonable rates. Perhaps the best point for this sort of shooting is Cobb's Island, in the county of Northampton, whose proprietors entertain each year, in winter, quite a number of sportsmen, and have all the appliances, such as boats and decoys, for their accommodation. The island itself is a noted resort during the summer, and furnishes the best shooting among birds peculiar to that season that can be found on the eastern shore.
In the summer, and, indeed, until November, fine fishing can be had in the waters of both sea and bay, the principal varieties caught being the drum, or sea bass, trout, mullet, spot, and taylor. Millions of sea birds, such as curlews, willets, gray-backs, brown-backs, and red breasted snipe feed in the marshes and on the beaches, which skirt the sea coast from Cape Charles to the Delaware line, and furnish inexhaustible sport to the gunner. Foxes are numerous, and the good old English sport of the fox hunt, with many of its primitive characteristics, still survives among the people of the eastern shore, who, indeed, have in an especial manner retained the peculiarities of their ancestors together with the purity of the old stock. They welcome gentlemen who come for enjoyment and recreation, and furnish them gladly every assistance in their power, but hold the pot hunter in detestation, and visit him, when caught, with the severest penalties of the law prohibiting hunting by non-residents.
The steamers from Baltimore land at different points in both counties, one touching twice at Onancock, within five mile of Accomac C. H., the county seat. Good hotels, with horses and buggies or light wagons for hire, can be found at Chincoteague, Accomac C. H., Horn Town, Onancock, Pungoteague and Belle Haven, in Accomac, and at Eastville in Northampton. Board in private families can also be obtained at fair rates.