Long Island Bayman

Long Island Bayman, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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A beautiful day on the bay today, we just sat and watched the other boats go by.

You can still see an occasional clammer. At one time there were many, and called "bayman" they worked the bay collecting clams, oysters, eels.

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I saw a Long Island census record-book from the early 1800's.

Many men were listed as "bayman" or farmers, or servants.

The servants worked for the wealthy from New York City who came to Long Island in summer to escape the heat of the city.

So if you lived here on Long Island, you worked the bay or the land, or you worked for the wealthy who just came here for the weather and cool bay breezes.

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