LVI EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



and shall serve as a provincial collection. Any duplicates of the same, after they have served the pur- 

 poses of the Survey, shall be deposited in such literary and educational institutions of the eastern and 

 western divisions of the province as by the same authority shall be decnie<l most advantageous." 



The later act under which the Geological Survey is now carried on, specifies the nature of its 

 operations in somewhat greater detail, but the geneial lines thus originally laid down have not 

 changed, although the scope of its operations has, from the very necessities of the case, gradually 

 enlarged. The investigators in the field found themselves everywhere in contact with the flora, the 

 fauna, the climatic conditions and the native races, and, particularly in the less known regions where 

 all these ijresented new features and where no other scientific agencies were at work, it did not 

 behoove really intelligent observers to omit to record and, in so far as possible, to study these subjects 

 when opportunity offered. Thus, botany and, to some extent also, zoology have become auxiliary 

 branches of the work of the Survej^, and in both subjects much useful work has already been done, 

 while facts relating to ethnology, meteorology and other similar subjects are contained in appendices 

 to many of the published reports. The statistical returns of mines and minerals have also of late 

 years been given a prominent place; and from the verj' first, much geograjjhical and topogi'aphical 

 work has been unavoidably assumed by the explorers. 



The field work of the Geological Survey necessarily began with exploratory trips in which the 

 main features to be dealt with, in a country almost entirely unknown geologically, were ascertained. 

 In many parts even of the older provinces such explorations are still requisite, but in most of these 

 provinces it became possible after a time to proceed with the more systematic mapping of definite 

 areas, the map-sheets produced forming parts of a connected whole. When the great western regions 

 were added to the field, these could only be attaclced by extended exploratory journeys in which 

 geology and geograjjhy went hand in hand. As it is now, the field work of the Survey may be divided 

 under three classes : — (1) Eeconnaissance surveys. (2). The approximate mapping of large areas 

 on a small scale. (3). ï'inished map-sheets on a larger scale and forming continuous series. All these 

 three classes of work are in progress concurrently in different districts, while the auxiliary chemical, 

 palœontological and lithological investigations in the ofiSce are kept in touch with the field work and 

 render it possible to bring this together in a homogeneous form. Wore there in existence any com- 

 plete topographical maps of Canada, approaching in accuracy to those which have been made in older 

 countries, much more geological work could be accomplished with a given amount of money and in a 

 given time, and thus the construction of such maps must be stated yet to be, as it has been fiom the 

 beginning of the Survej-, one of the principal desiderata. Theie is, however, one other matter which 

 at the present moment must be regarded as even more urgent, and one which might be attained 

 within a short time and at a relatively small cost. This is the construction of a suitable and safe 

 museum building for the preservation and display of the important collection which has grown up as 

 the result of so many years of investigation. This collection is not merely a matter of record, closely 

 connected with all the publications of the Survey, but it is fitted to become also a gi'eat educational — 

 and I may add — a great advertising medium in regard to the mineral resources of the country. With 

 proper accommodation its utility could be vastly increased for all jiurposes. 



Nothing can be adduced which is more creditable to the system of government in Canada, than 

 the quietly persistent and uninterrupted support accorded to the Geological Survey by every political 

 party, but it remains to provide such a museum building and centre for the work as that of which I 

 have spoken, and it may be confidently asserted that nothing would be more favourably received by 

 the general public. This museum should be of a national character, and there is every reason to hope 

 that when it is undertaken, its plan will include provision for all the valuable collections which have 

 been or may bo made by the several government departments, so that it may form in effect a repre- 

 sentation of the resources, the history and the various lines of activity I'f the whole country. 



It is sometimes asked : When will the work of the Geological Survey bo completed ? To such 

 a question one can only reply, that so long as mining or industrial operations dependent upon the 



