[ells] notes on the MINERAL FUEL SUPPLY OF CANADA 277 



superior to those of the extensively mined deposits of Scotland, both in 

 the ease with which the crude material can be extracted and in the per- 

 centage of oil contained in the shale itself. Attempts were made more than 

 forty years ago to distil this oil from the shale bands, and a crude plant 

 was erected and operated for several years with a fair amount of success, 

 until the cheaper native oils of western Canada and of the United States 

 so lowered the price that its manufacture by distillation became un- 

 profitable 



The vein of Albertite was worked for twenty or more years, the 

 amount of mineral extracted being more than 200,000 tons, which com- 

 manded in the market over $20.00 per ton in the closing years of the in- 

 dustr}'. The gradual exhaustion of the main vein, both at the extrem- 

 ities and in depth, led to the cessation of work, but another vein has since 

 been found which is a branch of the one worked and may prove valuable 

 when opened up. 



In connection with the Albert shales a large amount of capital has 

 recently Ijeen expended in the attempt to develop a profitable oil field by 

 boring. The first borings in this area were put down near the village 

 of Memramcook about forty years ago, and yielded a small amount of 

 petroleum, but the area never became a producer. Subsequent attempts 

 were made by different parties in the area along the Petitcodiae river 

 near Dover and at other points, and from sixty to seventy holes were put 

 down, some of which reached a depth of more than 3,000 feet. In 

 several of these holes a small quantity of oil was found, but so far the 

 results have not been such as to warrant the erection of costly refining 

 plants. 



The shales in which these borings have been made are usually highly 

 inclined and are affected by faults, so that while small quantities of 

 petroleum come to the surface in the form of springs, possibly along lines 

 of fracture, or may be found in certain bore holes by seepage, it has been 

 fairly well shewn that these rocks do not readily yield oil except by dis- 

 tillation. The fact that in the workings of the Albert mine but slight 

 traces of oil were found under what might reasonably be regarded as 

 favourable conditions supports this view, since one would naturally infer 

 that under such conditions as prevailed in this mine, with such large 

 bodies of rich oil shale as were traversed in the workings, some good 

 shewings of petroleum would be encountered. 



Comparing the beds of Cannelite or rich oil-shale with true cannel 

 coals it may be remarked that with the exception of the large amount of 

 ash in the former there are strong points of resemblance. When burned 

 in a grate or other suitable appliances the oil-bands furnish a fine fuel, 

 though as already remarked the percentage of ash is high. There seems 



