22 A VISIT TO ST. Andrew's, n. b. 



hour of his arrival (on June 9th) at the Biological Lahoratory, the 

 ebh tide had left dry a broad fringe of the rugged, rocky shore 

 covered with a dense mass of Rockweed, Fucus redcAdosus and 

 F. nodo-nis, giving promise of an abundant botanic harvest. A 

 couple of days, spent in wandering aljout among the rocks and 

 mud, revealed the unwelcome fact, that very few species could 

 be obtained in the immediate neighborhood. The rugged char- 

 acter of the beach rendered it impossible to travel far along the 

 shore, and only the fortunate possessor of a boat could visit 

 other localities. 



The sm?Jl number of the species may be accounted for by 

 the strong currents raised by the great tides of the Bay, the low 

 temperature of the waters, and the exposure of all plants, cling- 

 ing to the rocks, to the warm winds and the hot rays of the sum- 

 mer sun for several hour.s each day. The union of these factors 

 constitute an environment to which only the hardiest species can 

 adapt themselves, and all delicate forms must perish. In quiet 

 coves, sheltered from the rush of the tide currents, many of the 

 more delicate forms might be found, but these can only be visit- 

 ed by boat. Having thus, to some extent, failed in securing 

 the special object of his visit the writer turned his attention to 

 the abundant harvest furnished Iiy the streets and fields of the 

 town and its neighborhood. 



In the early half of the century 8t. Andrew's was one of the 

 busiest centres of commercial activity in the province, and was 

 especially distinguished for its export of lumber. The long line 

 of wharves and the numerous warehouses, now fallen into decay, 

 along the water front of the town, are sad monuments of a pros- 

 l)erity Avhich has completely passed away with the destruction 

 of the fore«!t u])on wliich it depended. The eeeds of weeds brought 

 in vessels from foreign lands secured a foothold on the vacant 

 grounds along the streets. The hardy constitution acquired by 

 the stern struggle for existence in the cultivated lands and pas- 

 tures of Evirope, fitted them for the new conflict upon which 

 they entered with the native vegetable population; and as the 

 Red man was driven back by the advances of the White man, so 

 the foreign plants disinherited the indigenous possessors of the 



