SHELL-HEAPS. 389 



OX SHELl-IIEAPS. 



By Rev. James Fowler, of New Brunswick. 



I have lived for a number of years near tbe coast, but have never 

 enjoyed the pleasure of discovering any of these heaps, and, as the 

 result of my inquiries, have come to the conclusion that none such 

 are to be found along the shores of this county or the neighboring 

 county of Northumberland. Their absence may be accounted for by 

 the fact that the whole coast is very low, and, being composed of the 

 soft sandstone shale of the carboniferous formation, is constantly wear- 

 ing away by the action of the waves. Within the last ten years the sea 

 has encroached several rods upon the land. At Bay du Vin a church 

 was erected about fifty years ago at such a distance from the shore that 

 it was thought the sea could never reach it, (the bank or cliff being ten 

 feet- high,) but the church toppled into the sea five or six years ago, 

 and the burial-ground that lay around it will soon have disappeared. 

 Ten years ago a single storm, in October, removed the coast-line from four 

 to five rods inland in exposed situations, and changed the apj)earance 

 of long stretches of the shore. If shell-heaps ever existed on this coast, 

 they must long ago have been swept away by the constant encroach- 

 ments of the sea. Again, there are portions of the mainland protected 

 by outside beaches running parallel with the coast and separated from it 

 by distances varying from a few rods to a mile. These are composed of 

 loose sand, and are continually changing their positions, owing to the 

 action of winds and tides, so that any heaps that may have accumu- 

 lated on them must have been buried or swept away long ago. 



The coast of the Bay of Fundy is composed of harder rocks than our 

 coast, and is consequently better fitted for preserving any deposits on 

 the banks. I do not see, however, why heai^s should not be found in 

 some of the more sheltered bays or recesses of the coast, but I have 

 not yet been able to discover their existence. 



I have made inquiries about the stone implements of the aborigines, 

 and have succeeded in securing two arrow-heads and an ax. Several 

 have been found in this locality ; but as those who fiud them are ignorant 

 of their value, they never think of preserving them, and they soon dis- 

 appear, or are broken up by children. IShould these I have be of any 

 service I can forward them. 



I regret that I am incapable of furnishing you with more positive 

 information, but negative conclusions are sometimes valuable. 



