The Plankton Algae of the Palisades Interstate Park 99 



mine. Since Smock states that this mine was in operation before 

 1777 we may infer that the pond is a very old one. It is a shallow 

 body of water with a length of three tenths of a mile and a breadth 



of about half the length. 



16. Lake Alonibasha: A natural lake in the southern part of 

 Monroe Township that is shown on all old maps as Mount Basha 

 Lake or Pond. It is the largest body of water investigated, being 

 a mile and a half long and a half-mile broad. There is a dam 

 across- the outlet but I have been unable to ascertain the time at 

 which it was built or how much it increased the maximum depth 

 of the water, which is now in the neighborhood of fifty feet. This 

 lake furnishes the water supply of the town of Monroe. 



17. Nigger Pond: Lying in the northwest portion of Ramapo 

 Tov.mship, has a breadth of a quarter of a mile and a length three 

 times the breadth. It is artificial, and was formed many years ago 

 by impounding the waters flowing from Portage Pond. In the 

 Beers (1872) and Hopkins (1873) maps this pond is not shown, 

 so that it was probably built at some time subsequent to 1873. The 

 Beers and Hopkins maps both show a Negro Pond, but that is the 

 Portage Lake of the United States topographical maps. About 1902 

 the dam forming Nigger Pond was rebuilt, and during the time of 

 its reconstruction the water was drained off. 



18. Popolopen Pond: At the extreme west of Highland Town- 

 ship, is one of the largest lakes of the region. It appears on all maps 

 of the district, including the Sterling map of 1779. Eager (1846) 

 states : " This pond now covers 3,000 acres. It has been dammed 

 up to increase the reservoir of the Ft. jMontgomery Mills and the 

 water is from 25-30 feet deep." The pond has a length of one mile 

 and a breadth of one third of a mile. 



19. Portage Lake: A lake just above Nigger Pond that is shown 

 on the Burr map of 1829 as an unnamed body of water, but which 

 appears on the Beers and Hopkins (1873) maps as Negro Pond. 

 There is a ver}- old dam at the lower end. I have been unable to 

 find from old residents whether or not this lake is entirely artificial 

 or an enlarged natural lake. No soundings were made in this lake, 

 which has a length of three fifths and a breadth of one fifth of a 

 mile. 



20. Qiieensboro Lake: Another small artificial lake in the eastern 

 portion of the Park that has been built by the Park authorities. 



2T. Rockland Lake: Although on Park property this lake liei 

 some distance south of the Harriman section. It is a natural lake 

 which was called Quashpcake by the Indians until the settlement of 

 the region. 



22. Shepard Pond: Forming the third of a small group of lakes 

 of A^hich Portage and Nigger are the other two. It is probablv a 

 natural lake and is shown on the Burr atlas of 1829. It is a third 

 of a mile long and a quarter of a mile broad. Nothing is known 

 concerning its depth. 



