76 mammals of pennsylvania and new jersey. 



^' Samuel N. Rhoads, Esq. : 



"Dear Sir: I learn from trustworthy sources that beavers are to be found 

 in different localities, especially in Sussex county, N. J. To my knowledge, 

 there are three or four distinctly different waters which harbor them, but as 

 to their numbers, of course, I cannot speak. In looking over the grounds 

 •where they seemed to live last year, I found but little fresh signs ; it seems 

 that the animals have worked down stream, as a mile or two below their last 

 year's haunt lots of new fresh signs are noticeable, including a dam built 

 under a bridge on a public country road. The water is dammed up several 

 feet on one side of the bridge and the dam seems very effective. This road, 

 of course, is not traveled much and there is many a day when not a single 

 ■wagon crosses the bridge. 



" I have not had a chance to look after the details and follow the matter up 

 further, but expect to do so this spring and summer. There is a bill before 

 the Legislature in New Jersey, with a view to protecting the beaver in the 

 State, and as this is likely to pass and become a law, there would be no ob- 

 jection to naming the localities where the beaver are to be found. The place 

 I refer to is near Roseville, Sussex Co., N. J. Another pond where I know 

 beavers are to be found is Losee Pond, near Two Bridges. There are also 

 beavers near Waterloo, N. J., and " Forest and Stream " gave a description 

 of a solitary beaver in the Musconnetcong River. 



"There are several other ponds which harbor beaver, but I have no per- 

 sonal knowledge thereof. Sussex county it seems harbors nearly all the 

 animals in the State, although a few may have gotten into Morris county. 

 Whether these animals are escaped stock I cannot say. If they are, they 

 have done extremely well, as no beavers were introduced anywhere in that 

 part of the State more than eight or ten years ago. 



" I understand that the Messrs. Rutherford planted a few beavers in their 

 private pond at Tranquility Farm, near AUamuchy, N. J. At any rate, beaver 

 may be considered as belonging to the fauna of New Jersey again, and I have 

 no doubt that, with the protection which seems now to be assured, they will 

 •do well in future. 



" Yours very truly, J. Von Lengerke. 



"P. S. My waters, 'Stag Lake,' is above Roseville, and while I have no 

 resident beavers there, I know they visited there last winter, 1900-1901." 



See notes under Warren Co. 



Warren Co. — " I have not seen anything of beaver in N. J. except those 

 ■which have escaped from Rutherford Stuyvesant's game preserve at AUa- 

 muchy. On his reserve I noticed large trees which had been felled by these 

 animals. They may be found along the stream [Pequest] which leads from 

 his property." — Gifford, Feb. 4, 1901. There is little doubt that the original 

 stock of beavers which are now spread over the southern part of Sussex Co., 



