86 THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



site solidity to resist the effects both of pressure and 

 of saturation. Small sticks and brush are used, in 

 the first instance, with mud, earth, and stones for 

 down weight. Consequently these dams are extremely 

 rude at their commencement, and they do not attain 

 their remarkably artistic appearance until after they 

 have been raised to a considerable height, and have 

 been maintained, by a system of annual repairs, for a 

 number of years. 



The open stick-work dams are the most interesting 

 as well as the most common, and they will be first 

 presented. 



This dam, which is represented in th6 engraving 

 (Plate VI.), and which is marked No. 8 upon the map, 

 is the most remarkable of all the structures of this de- 

 scription of which I have gained a knowledge. 1 have 

 seen others that were longer, and still others that were 

 higher for short distances, but none that united, to the 

 same extent, the two features of great length and 

 continuous elevation, or that contained so large an 

 amount of solid material. It is two hundred and sixty 

 feet and ten inches in length, measured with a tape 

 line along the crest of the dam, and six feet and two 

 inches in vertical height at tlie centre of the great 

 curve, with a slope, at the latter point, on the lower 

 side or face of the dam, of thirteen feet in length. 



The site was well selected for a structure of this 

 maGfnitude. Lake Diamond is situated about half a 

 mile to the eastward, in the midst of high hills, 

 and maintains its level about fifteen feet higher 

 than the level of the pond formed by the dam. Its 

 outlet forms a small brook a few feet over and a 

 few inches deep, and is the commencement of the 



