92 Mr. Pierce on the Catskill Mountains. 
and streams, upon the broad back of the chain, to great 
advantage. ‘To the west, wild wood-clad ranges and moun- 
stains piled on mountains m 
A considerable diversity is presented in the views from 
the Catskill heights, sometimes the valley is filled with 
clouds resembling a boundless ocean, while the insulated 
summits are in the enjoyment of sunshine and a clear sky— 
put in motion by the wind, the clouds of the valley roll like 
the waves of a tempestuous sea, and storms are often seen 
sweeping far — shrouding a part of the landscape in 
midnight darkness. You may hear the thunder roll, and 
see the lightning oe beneath your feet, while the mountain 
ee and | parts of the valley are cheered by the sun’ stays. 
scenery, 
the gay diversified ‘colors of autumn, when the 
tees oF the Maple, Beach, Oak, Birch, &c. is dyed with 
searlet, purple a orange, intermingled with the dark ver- 
dure of evergreens. 
From the Platterkil table land, some of the peaks to the 
south west appear almost as high. as the Round top. The 
prospects from their summits to the south and southwest is 
represented as being very striking. The quantity of hem- 
lock in the southern section of the mountains seems inex- 
haustible. A tannery onan extensive scale might be advan- 
tageously established atthe base of the Platterkill clove—sev- 
eral fine mill seats are there unoccupied ; the distance from 
that place to the nearest landing on the Hudson, is about 
eight miles, and there are no heavy intervenin hills. Trout 
are abundant in many parts of the ——— Kauterskill, 
Schoharie and most of the mountain strea 
About three miles south of the Platterkill and at a great 
elevation above the Hudson, a deep body of water one mile _ 
in circumference, called Shues lake is situated, and is envi- 
roned by an amphitheatre of wild, rocky, and steep moun- 
tains. It contains trout of large size. 
A mineral spring of a chalybeate character, is said to oc- 
cur in its vicinity. A mill stream called Saw-mill Creek has 
its origin in this lake and winds rapidly for five miles dowa 
the mountain glens without presenting any considerable 
falls. Passing through the valley of Woodstock, .it be- 
comes auxiliary to Saugerties creek, A beautiful ae 
lar.basin of water four miles in circumference, called a 
dago lake is situated in the southern section of the ned 
