THE UIL-FIELDS Oh EASTERN' CANADA. — ELLS. 617 



the area near Dover and Memramcook, between 1850 and ISCO, 

 the exact date being somewhat uncertain, as records of these 

 borings are not now available. It was, however, reported at the 

 Lime, that small quantities of a thick oil were obtained. Sub- 

 seque;it borings were made at intervals for some years witli 

 apparently no better results, but within the present century a 

 systematic search has been carried on in the area between 

 Memramcook and Petitcodiac rivers, in which over sixty holes 

 have been bored, some of which reached depths of more than 

 3000 feet. While small quantities of oil were struck in some of 

 these holes, as was also the case in Gaspe and in Newfoundland, 

 in rocks of jn-actically the same horizon, in so far as can be 

 learned no outflows have as yet been found in quantities suf- 

 licient to warrant the erection of an extensive refining plant, 

 and at present operations have been suspended for some months. 

 The nearest geological formation to which these Albert 

 shales can be compared from the economic sta'ndpoint, are the 

 bituminous shales found in Scotland, and to some extent, in 

 England and Wales. They also occur and have been utilized 

 for the production of oil by distillation in some parts of Aus- 

 tralia, in ]^ew Zealand, in France, in Germany and in several 

 other countries. In none of these places, however, have they 

 been regarded as producers of crude petroleum in j.ny other way 

 than by destructive distillation. 



Their economic importance is evident from the fact that in 

 Scotland and elsewhere millions of pounds have been invested 

 in the erection of large plants for the distillation of the con- 

 tained bituminous matter, and a brief comparison of some of 

 these Scotch shales wath those of ]Srew Brunswick may possess 

 some points of interest. 



In Scotland, since it is not necessary to discuss the shale- 

 oil industry of other countries, the distillation of oil, first from 

 bituminous coal and then from bituminous shale, was begun bv 

 Dr. James Young, of Renfrewshire, about the middle of tlu^ 



Proo. & Tkans. X. S. Inst. SVi., Vor.. XL Trans. C)0. 



