622 THE OIL-FIELDS OF EASTERN CANADA.— ELLS. 



small area in south-western Ontario. The actual value of the 

 output cannot be stated. 



In southern Russia a most wonderful revelation as to the 

 amount of crude petroleum which can be obtained from ;i 

 limited area is presented. Thus from the oil-fields of the Baku 

 district at the southern end of the Caspian sea, in an area of 

 about eight square miles only, and in a period extending only 

 from 1880 to 1904, the output of petroleum amounted to, in 

 round numbers, 950,000,000 barrels of some 40,000,000,000 

 gallons. The average depth of the wells bored in this district 

 in 1894 was only 1260 feet, the depth having gradually 

 increased year by year. Of the 239 wells sunk in that year the 

 average yield was 384 barrels per day. Such a yield must 

 truly l>e characterized as enormous, and while some of the wells 

 become exhausted, others are bored from which the same tremen- 

 dous outflow occui*s as when the field was first tapped. If we could 

 take into account the enormous amoimt of bituminous matter 

 which has passed off in the form of 'natural gas in all these 

 years in this district, the figures of output would reach such 

 amazing proportions as to be scarcely comprehended, and make 

 the solving of the problem as to the source of such wonderful 

 deposits of liituminous matter, in so limited an area, still more 

 perplexing. 



