362 General Description of Lake Erie, 



tory*. Lieutenant J. Grant, R.N., found its general depth to 

 be 15, 18, and 25 fathoms, and in one place only three 

 fathoms — bottom sandy. The Canadian shore is bolder than 

 the American, which, in some parts, runs out shoal for two 

 or three miles. 



Compared with the other lakes, this is shallow. In a gale 

 of wind it is rendered turbid, by the sand and mud washed from 

 the bottom, as I have myself Avitnessed. The sounding-lead 

 frequently brings up clayey mud, into which it sometimes sinks 

 entirely. Horizontal rocks now and then form its floor — most 

 frequently at the S.W. end of the lake, where reefs and shallows 

 are common. The water is always good, some distance into 

 the lake ; but in summer, near shore, it is much contaminated 

 with animal and vegetable matters in a state of putrefaction. 

 In that season, in the middle of the day, the shoal water is 

 heated to 90—95° Fahrenheit. 



The height of Lake Erie above the Atlantic Ocean has been 

 ascertained to be 565 feet. The barrier which contains it is so 

 low, that, were it to rise only six feet, it would inundate; on its 

 northern and western borders, several millions of acres, now 

 partly occupied by towns^ villages, and farms ; and it is esti- 

 mated that a further rise of six or eight feet would precipitate 

 a vast flood of waters over the state of Illinois from the south 

 end of Michigan ; the great Canadian lakes then discharging 

 also into the Mexican Gulf. This last idea originated, I 

 believe, with Mr. Stickney, a very intelligent resident on the 

 river Maumee. 



This barrier, the height of land surrounding the basin of 

 Lake Erie and its rivers, by no means follows the shores of that 

 body of water with fidelity — the great departure taking place 

 about its S.W. and N.E. extremities. I shall now trace its 

 course in a general, but sufficiently accurate, manner ; and, in 

 so doing, shall present a rapid sketch of the region in which 

 this lake is placed. 



The peninsula which it traverses on the north is an east arm 

 of the levels, bordering the south shores of Superior, Michigan, 

 and Huron, which are themselves parts of the vast plains of 



* Atlas of the Unitea States, 



