336 ON DRIFT ICE AS AN ERODING 
covered even by spring tides. The first appearance of “ Mad 
Moll” was a noteable event in the life of the preceding genera- 
tion. The north or main passage of Sandwick Bay, not many 
years ago navigable for small vessels, is now impassable for any- 
thing but boats At Mullen’s Cove and Black Island, raised 
beaches are seen composed almost entirely of mussel shells, some 
of them unbroken and clean as if thrown up yesterday. These 
shell deposits are of course seen only in the more sheltered coves 
where they are protected from the grinding action of drift ice. 
The rate of elevation here indicated is considerably greater than 
some recent estimates, and I would like to hear new evidence on 
this point. 
One noticeable point is, that the hillsides above the escarp- 
ments show the same smooth and storm-swept appearance as 
between and below them, as if they had been subject to the same 
influences and wear by drift ice. Whether the upper escarp- 
ment marks the limit of subsidence or not, the natural inference 
seems to be, that a gradual and regular elevation of a sloping 
exposed surface, especially when comparatively rapid, leaves no 
traces of ice action. The retiring sea and ice washes off and 
carries to lower levels the debris formerly covering the solid 
rock. Only when the downward movement is arrested, does it 
form escarpments and beaches, and the fact that no escarpments 
nor beaches are seen above the highest shore line is no proof 
that the sea level had not once been higher. Neither on nor 
around any of the hills near Battle Harbor and Cape Charles 
(some of which are 700 feet high), is there any sign of glacial 
debris; and had it once been there it does not seem possible 
that either land-slides or tluvatile action could have banished it 
so thoroughly from both hill and valley. 
The raised beaches are seen only in sheltered bays where not 
exposed to the possibility of being swept away by water or 
landslides from above, or intense ice action from the sea below. 
A. C. Low, from observations on Hudson Straits, supposes 
that part of the coast to have come to a standstill. But on the 
Straits of Belle Isle the last escarpment seems to be rapidly 
advancing beyond the level of mean tide. 
