"Seventeenth Century Montauk was home to America's first cattle
ranching system. Each spring, East Hampton Town colonists would drive
cattle across the narrow Napeague strip to let them graze the rugged
downs of Montauk. The herds were fenced in Naturally by the
surrounding waters. Historic Third House at Theodore Roosevelt County
Park originated as the home for these early cattle keepers."
http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp1.cfm?dept=10&id=888

There's said to be a book of brands that was kept there from the 17th
century to around 1960 to register one's mark and adjudicate strays.
It was in the State Museum collection it said online. In New England
there were local little stone fenced in areas a "pound" which strays
were taken to, and where one would go first to see if it had been
found. I've seen a few marked in New Hampshire.