442 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

Some eight or nine hundred acres were thus allotted, in three larger divisions of about three hundred acres each. The first division was comprised between the Flatbush and Clove roads; the second between the Clove and Hunterfly reads; and the third between the last-named road (which is probably a corruption of Aan der fly, that is, “the road to the creek,” or bay) and that leading to Jamaica. There appears to have been another division north of this last road; but, if so, it was cleared and cultivated shortly after its allotment.

The first division was composed of irregular-shaped lots, and was covered until the year 1855 with fine woods. The second division was divided more regularly into long, narrow lots, of ten acres each, and of nearly equal length, running north and south. The greater part of these woods has been but recently felled. The third division was composed of very long, narrow lots running east and west, of various lengths. A record of this last division has been preserved, and is authenticated by the town clerk. The records of the others may, perhaps, be among some of the few papers preserved of the town records.

THE BROOKLYN SALT MEADOWS.

The freeholders of the town, having no salt meadow attached to their farms, it was at an early date arranged that a part of the salt meadows or Jamaica Bay, in the town of New Lots, west of Spring Creek, and in the County of Queens, just adjoining on the east side of the same creek, should be allotted to them. This last portion is known as the Brooklyn meadows, and many lots in both of them are still owned by residents of Brooklyn. The regular price of these lots was until recently but ten dollars per acre. The division lines were marked by short stakes or corner-stones lying loose on the meadow; but no one encroached on his neighbor, the lines being known to all the owners. This salt hay was cut in September, and used as a winter forage for cows and horses, though never held in very high estimation for this purpose.

Sedge-grass, from the detached meadows and islands in the bay, was free to all, and was often cut to be used as a thatch for sheds or for manure. Sea-weed, principally eel-grass (Zostera marina), was also collected for manure. Recently, this last grass, dried and washed by rain, has been much used for stuffing mattresses.