100 Lieut. Baddeley on the geognosy 
hundred feet, but by how much could not be ascertained in con- 
sequence of the contracted nature of the ground we were up- 
on. The rocks on the northeastern side of the Saguenay, in 
the bay below La Boule, appeared to have a stratification di- 
rected east and west, with a high dip to the north, but this ge- 
ognostical feature here was, asit was found to be in many places 
elsewhere, often of a doubtful character, owing to the con- 
tradictory appearances which some of the supposed planes of 
stratification assumed, and which to reconcile would have de- 
manded more time in their investigation than could be afforded. 
In recording the stratification of those places where these con- 
tradictory appearances were observed, care has been taken to 
give the predominating beating only. ‘The evidence which 
arises from consulting alternating strata is, in the Saguenay, 
often inadmissible, as the trap sometimes assumes an appearance 
of stratification which is probably fallacious. 
While seated on an accumulation of boulders covering the 
shore of this bay, rocks of a remarkable sterility were seen on. 
the opposite side of the river, associated with others of compa- 
rative fertility, the former possessing an appearance of sfrati- 
fication in which the latter were deficient. The known in- 
fertility and constant stratification of gneiss, renders it probable 
that i: is here associated with trap, a rock generally unstratified 
and of a more fertile character. A question here occurs, Is 
gneiss more infertile than granite? and if so, why isit the case ? 
the only difference between them being in the arrangement of 
the same minerals of which they are both composed. Is it that 
the foliated character of the gneiss renders that rock more easily 
disintegrated and reduced to a state of sand, by which the soil 
of a country where it predominates is impoverished ? The fresh 
water procured in this bay was strongly impregnated by iron. 
Availing ourselves of the tide to pass La Boule, we ascended 
the Saguenay. In Passepierre Bay, the rocks were observed on 
the 
