78 PICTOU ISLAND — MACKAV. 



of the coast line Ijetween Merig'oiuisli and Cariboo was caused by 

 the more complete collapse of the Pictou synclinal just at the 

 harbor's mouth, which submero-ed the Permian entirely between 

 Merigomish and Pictou Island. 



We now come to examine the structure of our submarine ridge 

 as shown by its exposure in Pictou Island. The rocks are well 

 exposed nearly all round, and they dip down on each side into 

 the Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island troughs of the strait. 

 The anticlinal axis is well marked, running from one extremity 

 nearly to the other, not exactly in the direction of the greatest 

 leng-th of the island and the submarine ridge but approximately 

 so, N. 84^ E. This line when produced would appear to pass a 

 little north of Carriboo Islands and strike a distant anticlinal in 

 the Permian rocks at Cape John. However, from the observations 

 of Sir Wm. Dawson (Acadian Geology, 1868, page 327), and from 

 the variable dips, and possible faults in the region, the anticlinal 

 west of Pictou Harl)or probably occurs at the mouth of the 

 Cariboo River, from which we woiild infer that the Pictou Island 

 submarine ridge is on an anticlinal axis sub-parallel to the Pictou 

 Harl;)or synclinal axis and to the present coast line of East 

 Pictou and Antigonish. 



Before ffivino- the detailed measurements of the different 

 strata of the island (for which I am entirely indebted to Hugh 

 Fletcher, Esq., B. A., of the Geological Survey of Canada, with 

 whom I had the great pleasure, in August, 1890, of studying the 

 geological structure of the island), it may be well to give a gen- 

 eral description. As has been alread}'^ indicated, every part of 

 the island has superior soil for agricultural purposes, and excel- 

 lent springs of water. Crops appear to be more luxuriant than 

 on the mainland. One main road runs through the length of 

 island. It contains some thirty families, specially healthy and 

 comfortal;)le, of Scottish descent, with a good school. During the 

 summer, lobster fishing and canning draw some more inhabitants 

 to the community. A lighthouse is situated at the southeastern 

 point of the island, from which point we number our geological 

 sections of the coast. 



Coarse sandstone strata of different textures abound, some of 



