51 



least 200 feet below. From this fact, and also from many observatioas 

 at scores of points westward along both shores and for hundreds rf 

 miles up the river we have concluded that there was once a mighty ami. 

 expansive inland lake of fresh water, as previously stated. 



In the interests of science and natural history this and otb€2° 

 science associations should memorialize the Government to aid ic 

 accumulating vast stores of facts and observations. The present 

 meteorological system is good, but needs extending and perfecting. 

 More work needs to be performed. Not only should the general 

 geology of Canada be studied on an extensive plan, but the tee. 

 thousand points of minutest details should be secured and placed within 

 the reach of the earnest students of natui-e. 



Mr. Wm. p. Anderson said he had, during the previous summer, 

 seen the district described in Mr. Odium's paper, and was then greatly 

 impressed by its beautiful scenery and geological intei-est, and could now 

 bear testimony to the fidelity of Mr. Odium's graphic descriptions. He 

 enlarged upon the nature of the sand flats at the mouth of the 

 Petewawa and in the vicinity of Furt William, and described the. 

 granitic islands at the Narrows. He did not consider the evidence 

 adduced by Mr. Odium in favour of a much higher lev^l of water by 

 any means conclusive, as it was well known that changes of level were 

 of constant occurrence, particularly near volcanic centres, which made 

 it quite probable that the fossiliferous beds alluded to had been deposited 

 at a much lower level, and raised when tlie Laurentians were subject t© 

 seismic disturbances; just as similar action was, even in the preseat 

 day, insuring our planet against the fatal dead level so feared by Mr. 

 Odium. 



He had also proved, by personal observation and measurements 



upon the sand hills of the Assiniboine Valley, that under corfcaic 



conditions, the wind was so directed into currents by the inequalities of 



the ground as to actually drift sand U[) hill, and de])Osit it on the 



very tops of certain hills w here different currents met and counteracted 

 d 



