226 GEOLOGY OF CAPE BRETON.—GILPIN. 
sandstones, and oosing from the shales, etc. A large amount of 
money was spent in putting down bore holes in this district, 
and on the Middle River of Baddeck, where similar indications 
were observed. All the exploratory work proved unsuccessful. 
The source of these widespread signs of oil must be sought 
in the carboniferous measures, as they are probably immedi- 
ately underlaid by the Laurentian. None of the bore holes 
were put down deep enough to settle whether or no there 
does exist an oil-bearing stratum before the older rocks are 
reached. No attempts were made to identify any bed or set of 
beds as probable oil-bearers, or to test any section systemati- 
cally. From the nonsense talked about the identification 
in this district of certain beds with the first, second, etc. rocks 
of the United States oil fields, it was apparent that no system 
was recognised, and the money spent has done nothing to settle 
the question practically. 
