22 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



It is scarcely matter for surprise therefore that, as the work of un- 

 ravelling this complicated structure proceeded, changes of view, both 

 as regards the age and the relative position of several of these groups, 

 should be made as new light was afforded either by obtaining fresh fossil 

 evidence, or by other features brought out through more detailed in- 

 vestigation. 



The study of these rocks has been carried on for considerably more 

 than half a century. As early as 1838, Dr. Gesner published his first 

 report on the geology of the province, in which several of these rock 

 divisions were described according to the nomenclature of that early 

 date. Up to 1872, when the publication of the series of map sheets 

 on the geology of the province was commenced by the Geological Sur- 

 vey, there had been but little detailed study of the rock formations. 

 There was practically no map of the province as a whole, outside a very 

 general one, compiled many years before on the small scale of eight miles 

 to the inch, so that it was practically impossible, in the absence of topo- 

 graphical details, to lay down geological boundaries with any attempt 

 at accuracy. 



Certain geological formations had, however, been fairly well re- 

 cognized, more especially near the city of St. John, owing to the work 

 of Hartt, Matthew and Baile}^, assisted by Sir William Dawson; and 

 among these were areas of slate and sandstone, well developed in the city 

 of St. John itself, and traceable for some miles' to the east. These con- 

 tain a somewhat abundant fauna of Cambrian fossils, which were to 

 some extent determined, as was also the fact that this group of sedi- 

 ments rested unconformably upon the series of crystalline rocks, which 

 were regarded as closely resembling the Laurentian and Huronian of 

 the west. 



A well defined belt of rocks which contained an abundant flora of 

 Devonian age was also recognized, and this formation was traced over 

 a considerable area both to the east and west of St. John city. Large 

 collections of plant remains, and" other organisms were made by Pro- 

 fessor Hartt, which were carefully studied by Sir William Dawson, and 

 their horizon ascertained. 



At this time, a large area of partly crystalline rocks, which ex- 

 tended eastward from St. John into Albert county, was considered, on 

 cuite insufficient evidence, as also belonging to the Devonian system, 

 and in the map accompanying " Acadian Geology, 1868," this area was 

 so coloured. In 1869, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, at that time an officer of 

 the Geological S'urvey of Canada, visited the province, and was greatly 

 impressed with the resemblance of many of these so-called Devonian 

 rocks to those of the mountain areas in the Eastern Towmships of Que- 



