18 



FREEZING OF OUR RIVERS, 



ST. JOHN 



MIRAMICHI Difference in Days 



Close 



u 

 21 



9 

 12 



8 





 18 

 11 



7 

 24 

 11 

 34 



7 



I do not know from what point on the St. John river these data 

 were furnished, but those of the Mirainichi were from Chatham 

 and Douglastown. The first thing that will strike the reader is 

 that although the opening of the two rivers generally occurs 

 within 2 or 3 days of each other the times of closing differ widely, 

 and in one case, viz., 1870, as far as 31 days, and in adding these 

 differences up he will find that during the period of comparison 

 from 1830 to 1910, a jxjriod of 80 years, the Miramichi has enjoyed 

 a total of 669 more days of open water than the St. John. This was 

 certainly a great surprise t.) me. I can only account for it by the 

 supposition that the water here is more rapid and has more salt in 

 it. 



I have not seen the St. John except at St. John city and at 

 Fredericton and so cannot speak of the conditions there, but I 

 know that the North West branch of the Miramichi, being a much 

 slower flowing river than the South West, freezes over often 

 two or three weeks earlier than the South West or the main river. 



The Miranjichi also is kept ojien by the tides, which go 20 miles 

 above this point, whereas I imagine the St John is not very 

 materially influenced by the tide much above the reversible falls. 

 However, I will leave this point to be discussed by some one that 

 knows the conditions better than I do. I hojje this comparative 

 tiible and these remarks may not be without interest to some of 

 our readers. 



