MARSH AXD LAKE REGION AT HEAD OF CHIGNECTO BAY. 95 



mud and underlying soil are perfectly distinct, and there is every 

 evidence that the mud has been laid down in recent geological times ; 

 certainly since the Glacial period. Off Fowler's Hill, on the Aulac 

 Ridge, the descent is very rapid, and one-third of a mile from the 

 shore borings have shown the mud to be one hundred and fifty feet 

 thick. At the same distance from the Saekville shore, where the hills 

 slope more gradually, there is not more than sixty feet of mud. 



Formation of the Marsh. — As to how this marsh was formed one 

 not thoroughly conversant with the geology of the region can do little 

 else than speculate. There have evidently been many changes in 

 the level of the southern shore of .New Brunswick in known geological 

 times. Dr. G. F. Matthew considers that the Isthmus was far above its 

 present level in the Glacial period. At that time Chignecto Bay 

 would be a valley and the Bay of Fundy dry land. Glacial action 

 would have eroded the surface and moved the loose incoherent material 

 to lower levels. The depression of the land that followed the glacial 

 period would have allowed the accumulation of marine clays such as 

 are now found on the Aulac Ridge and adjoining elevations. A sub- 

 sequent re-elevation would permit the accumulation of forest mould 

 and soil on these ridges and the contiguous valleys. 



In 1892, when excavations for the marine dock were being made 

 near the mouth of the Missiguash River, numerous trunks of trees 

 were found about at low tide level. Sir Win. Dawson, some years 

 ago, found a stump there showing over one hundred rings of growth. 

 (Acadian Geol. p. 28-29). Some of these trees were white pine, 

 others beech : neither variety attain such a size on damp land. 

 Evidently the land where these trees were growing was much above 

 its present level. The trees were found rooted in a rich loamy soil 

 resting on a bed of red clay. To be above the reach of high tides the 

 region would have to be from sixty to eighty feet above the present 

 level. 



On the Baie Verte side of the Isthmus abundant evidence is found 

 of recent depression. Mr. E. P. Goodwin, C. E., of Baie Verte, while 

 digging mud for fertilizing purposes, found oak leaves and spruce cones 

 in the solid mud twelve feet below the surface, and there was every 

 evidence that they had fallen on what was then the ground surface. 



The subsidence was probably gradual, and on the Bay of Fundy 

 has practically ceased, as the dykes have not been made perceptibly 

 higher in the last 100 years. 



