192 JAMES FOWLEE ON THE ARCTIC 



scrubby spruce. lu the bogs, the waters continue cold throughout the whole season. 

 Numerous springs of low temperature burst out along the banks of the streams and 

 furnish a congenial locality for many little Arctic wanderers. 



The southern portion of the province consists, for the most part, of long ridges of 

 Palœozoic rocks running parallel with the Bay of Fundy, and presenting a hilly and 

 rugged aspect. Numerous lakes and marshes diversify the surface and furnish the neces- 

 sary conditions for aquatic vegetation. Here too, snug retreats for Arctic plants abound. 



(3.) The Arctic Current and its Fogs. — The influence of the Arctic current in 

 modifying the climate along the coast, will probably be found even more potent than 

 the causes above assigned. 



The whole north-eastern border of the province is bathed by the cold waters of this 

 current Avhich flows down through the Strait of Belle Isle — mingles with the waters of the 

 St. Lawrence and sweeps on southwards along the coast till it reaches the Southern States, 

 where its influence is lost. In spring, the harbors and bays along our border are frequently 

 blocked with ice driven in by the cold north-east winds which prevail in spring and often 

 continue till late in June. Cold fogs and rains are of frequent occurrence, and retard the 

 progress of vegetation. The effects of these are prolonged by the sea-breezes produced by 

 the heating of the interior as the season advances. These flow in, cold and damp, from the 

 Gulf, and keep the temperature comparatively low. The Arctic plants, during their 

 retreat towards the pole, found here the conditions suited to their habits, and conse- 

 c^uently lingered on the way. When the waters in the bays acquire a higher temperature, 

 and the warm western breezes from the interior begin to prevail, vegetation rapidly shoots 

 into leaf and flower, and covers plain and shore with a dense robe of green. 



Along the shores of the Bay of Fundy a comparatively low temperature prevails 

 throughout the whole summer, owing to the dense fogs which rise from the cool waters 

 of the bay. The New Brunswick side is bounded by rocky and bold shores. No extensive 

 flats or sand-banks occur to be heated by the sun's rays during the retreat of the tide, and 

 then impart their heat to the waters of the incoming flood. The great tides stir up the 

 deep, cold strata of water below. The waters of the Arctic current mingle with those of 

 the outer bay, and contribute towards the lowering of their temperature. When the warm 

 winds from the neighboring land come into contact with the cold surface of the bay, the 

 moisture they contain is condensed into visible vapor or fog. The south and south-western 

 winds are especially noted for the production of dense masses of fog of low temperature. 

 A few miles inland it is usually dispelled, and a much higher temperature prevails. In 

 the sirmmer months, the sun's rays often struggle in vain, for several weeks in succession, 

 to pierce the mantle that envelops the bay and its shores. On many a cliff that looks 

 out upon the sea, and in many a damp, cool recess, Arctic forms have taken up a perma- 

 nent abode. 



The causes discussed above seem sufficient to account for the existence of a climate 

 and of localities suited to the habits of northern plants. Confirmatory evidence is supplied 

 by the Reports of the meteorological stations in the province. These stations, however, 

 being situated in towns and at a distance from the sea-shore, experience a higher tempera- 

 ture than prevails in the shady retreats or along the fog-covered shores where the members 

 of the Arctic flora find a congenial resting-place. 



