PUT-IN-BAY ISLANDS, at the w. end of lake Erie, is a group of ten islands, Put-in,Bay, formerly known as South Bass and Bass isle, Middle Bass alias Floral isle, North Bass alias isle of St. George, Rattlesnake, Sugar, Green alias Strontian, Glacial alias Starve island, Ballast, Buckeye, and Gibraltar. The group constitutes township of Ottawa county, Ohio. Put-in-Bay island proper is the largest of the group, and contains about 2,000 acres. The surface rises from 10 to 80 ft. above the lake, and, like all the islands in the w. end of lake Erie, has but a thin deposit'of soil limestone rock, which forms their low but picturesque shores. A beautiful bay on the n. of the island gives its name and fame to the island; for here the gallant young Oliver Perry, commander of the little fleet of the United States on lake Erie in the last war with Great Britain, was waiting for the British fleet in Sept, 1813, and ou the 10th sallied out to give it battle. The engagement was brilliant. After the young commander's own ship had been quickly and totally disabled by the enemy, he crossed in an open boat to another, and within two hours after the battle began the British fleet surrenticred, and Perry wrote that laconic dispatch to Gen. Harrison, "We have met the enemy and they arc ours." (See PERRY, HAZARD.) Aftea the battle the remnant of the fleets. returned to Put-in-Bay. Gibraltar is a small and picturesque rocky island lying at the mouth of the bay. Here the Perry monument has been built to commemorate the vic tory and its heroes; and Jay Cooke, who owns the island, has a picturesque summer. residence. On the main island a park was reserved on the inner shore of the bay, and large summer hotels were erected between 1850 and 1860. Until the destruction of the, largest by fire in 1878 it was a favorite resort for summer travelers, especially from the south. The clear 'and shallow water of the bay and the lake, the loveliness of the scen ery among the verdant islands, the facilities for all kinds of boating, excellent fishing„ convenient bathing beaches, and easy connections by steamers' with, the cities of the lakes, combine to make this group attractive among waterimr-places. Grape-growing
and wine-making are the principal industries. The climate and soil of these islands, it is now conceded, make their vineyard products superior to any other in the United States on the Atlantic slope. The Catawba is the principal variety of grape cultivated, but there are considerable vineyards of Delaware, Concord, Norton's Virginia, and lye's seedling. A cave of considerable dimensionA is one of the curiosities of the island.
Middle Bass island is the second in size of the group, about two m. n.w. from thb former. On its w. end a company of citizens of Toledo have secured a grove of the virgin forest and erected a large number of small summer a central eating hall, and a dock, forming the prettiest residence group of the islands. Near it are extensive vineyards, and a large music and pleasure hall. On the s. side of the island facing Put in-bay are the extensive wine-vaults of Werle Werke & Co. of Cincinnati, and over them a large promenade and refreshment hall, built to meet the wants of summer travelers. This wine-house sells yearly 500,000 gallons of island wines. A steamer plies every half lour between.the hotels of Put-in-Bay and this pleasure house.
Rattlesnake, Sugar, Green, and Starve islands are small and unimportant outliers •of the islands just described. Glacial island is named from the unusually well-marked lines of glacial action that are found upon it, but which are found in places on all the islands, Balla'st island is the site of the " Cleveland colony"—the summer cottages of a company of Cleveland people.
North Bass, alias isle Of St. George, is the most westerly of the group. It contains about.1000 acres, and rises by smooth slopes from the lake to an elevation of 80 feet. its w. end is one of the best light-houses on the lake. Excellent vineyards cover most 'of its surface.