240 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. I. 



producing cause, and that the portion of the Island around where the 

 lighthouse stands was the first to make its appearance. 



To disprove this theory, it is only necessary to say that the velocity of 

 the waters of the Niagara River at its mouth is not sufficient to transport 

 the weighty materials of which the greater part of the Island is formed. 

 To move the heavy shale, which forms a considerable part of the Island, 

 would require a velocity of from five to eight feet per second. So that,. 

 if it lost none of its velocity in crossing it would not be able for the work. 

 But that is in the region of the unthinkable. It is pretty well established 

 that the temperature of the water of the Niagara River is raised one or 

 more degrees, by the concussion of the Falls and the rough treatment it 

 receives in coming through the rapids. It would, consequently, be 

 lighter than the water of Lake Ontario, and would spread out, to a cer- 

 tain extent, over the surface, and thus, through increased friction, lose a 

 part of its velocity. This has been well established by the fact that after 

 great freshets that have been sufficient to give turbidity to the water of 

 the river, it has been noticed that five miles out from the shore the dis- 

 colored water has extended five miles to the east and west. By the time 

 it v/ould get across it would be a mere attenuated film on the surface of 

 the lake, weak in its current and subject to the influence of every " breeze 

 that blows."' So that we may hardly look for it to gather up its dissi- 

 pated energies for the herculean task of building up the Island. But the 

 very fact that the Niagara River deposits its detritus in a bar near its 

 own mouth ought to be sufficient evidence that it will not have strength 

 to load up again when it gets across to this side. Mr. Fleming says "such 

 a theory is wild and incapable of defence, though some are bold enough 

 to venture it." 



The other theory is that the material has been brought down by the 

 Don, Humber and other streams to the west. But this theory fails as far 

 as the Humber and Mimico Rivers are concerned, inasmuch as there is a 

 depth of 90 feet of water between the outlet of the Bay and the Light- 

 house Point, across which it would be impossible to transport the ma- 

 terial of the Island without leaving some traces on its route. 



And if the Humber has excavated its huge channel for 30 miles or 

 more in length, and from ^ to ^ a mile in width, and from lOO to 20a 

 feet in depth, without contributing directly to the formation of the Island^ 

 we may naturally suppose the same of the Don. 



I say directly, because I believe these streams have contributed to the 

 stratum of clay that underlies the Island and extends out to an unknowa 

 distance into the lake. 



