A History of the County of Westchester, Vol. I
It soon made its appearance, and commenced felling a small tree, which it drew to the water's edge ; but the man who had refrained from firing, in order to watch the motions of the animal, making a slight noise, it became alarmed, and suddenly plunged into the water. a
The numerous rivers of Westchester county must have afforded (the Indian hunter) an abundant supply of this useful animal. Van der Donck, the Patroon of Yonkers, informs us that in 1656, beavers were found not far from his residence, andlseveral were brought in by the Indian hunters ; also that 80,000 of these animals were annually killed in this quarter of the country.
a It is said that the same animal was observed in the fall of 1S37.
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" The Indians (continues the same authority) burn the beaver bones and never permit their dogs to gnaw the same ; alleging that afterwards tliey will be unlucky in the chase. Among all the beaver skins 1 have seen, no more than one was of a different color, and that was white, the outer-wind hairs were golden yellow. This skin was shipped on board the Princess with Director Kieft, which was lost at sea."=^
The deep waters of Lake Wacabuck afford vast quantities of fish, as pickerel, large perch, eels, (fcc. The two former are said to have been introduced here within a few years. The favorite haunts of the pickerel are the Cove and Raven's rock.
Upon the south ridge of Long Pond mountain (which rises abruptly from the northern shore of the lake,) is situated the cave of Sarah Bishop, the hermitess.