98 Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. 
of that quiet and retiring race, which people the beds of our streams. 
As the animal died, the valves of the shell opened, and decomposi- 
tion commencing, the muscular adhesions gave way, and the fleshy 
portion rose to the surface of the water, leaving the shell in the 
bed of the stream. As these dead bodies floated down with the 
current, the heads of islands, masses of fixed drift wood, and the 
shores, in many places, were covered with them, tainting the air in 
the vicinity with putrid effluvia. The cause of the disease amongst 
the shelly race, remains as much a mystery, as that of the Asiatic 
cholera amongst the human family. It might possibly have arisen 
from the slight change made in the quality of the water, from the 
addition of marine salt, from the numerous salt furnaces now in ope- 
ration along the borders of the river, the bittern of which, and more 
or less of the salt water, is daily mingling with the stream. Even 
a slight change in their vital element, might produce disease and 
death amongst molluscous animals; as in the atmosphere, fatal dis- 
eases fall upon man, from trifling contaminations. 
Marietta, Jan. 2, 1837. 
Arr. X.—Remarks on some of the Gold Mines, and on parts of 
the Gold Region of Virginia, founded on personal observa- 
tions, made in the months of August and September, 1836; by 
B. Siuurman. 
As these remarks cannot lay claim to the character of a general 
summary, (since they were founded on local, although somewhat 
numerous observations,) perhaps there can be no better course, than 
to give an abstract of some of the most important reports that were 
made on the occasion, to different mining companies. 
To those who are anxious to be correctly informed, this proce- 
dure will afford a fair view of facts, as they were presented to the 
eye of an actual observer and enquirer; while reference for more 
general views may be had to the Report of the Geological Recon- 
naissance of the State of Virginia, by Prof. William B. Rogers, and 
to the more detailed account which may be given by that gentleman, 
when, his geological survey shall have been finished. 
details of oS ohagt and of machinery, and other local 
facts, are preserved in these sora Roonuan-nenon they may 
