684 APPENDIX. 



the new light cast upon it by recent discoveries. I may add, that on the 

 supposition of such northern extension of the productive Coal measures, 

 it may be anticipated that, in accordance with the ideal sections on p. 325, 

 the beds north of the conglomerate will be less massive than those in 

 the southern trough. It must also be observed in connexion with this, 

 that the dips in the northern part of the section (Fig. 136) are somewhat 

 exaggerated. 



6. Victoria Mine, Low Point, Cape Breton. — This mine, on the south side 

 v\of Sydney Harbour, presents the first instance in Nova Scotia of coal-mining 



in areas below the sea; though in the North Sydney Colliery, the main 

 seam has been pursued for some distance below the Harbour. The suc- 

 cessful working of this new mine on a large scale will be an interesting 

 feature in our coal-mining, and may lead to other adventures of similar 

 character. 



7. Gold. — The Report of the Commissioner of Mines shows a total yield 

 for the year ending September 1867 of 27,583 ounces. This amount gives 

 an average of not less than $2, 44c, or about 9s. 9d. sterling per day, for 

 each man employed. It is to be observed in connexion with this, that the 

 methods of extracting the gold, especially when associated with compounds 

 of sulphur and arsenic, are by no means perfect, and that the economy of 

 labour is not so great as it might be in workings on a larger scale. These 

 facts, with the numerous new discoveries reported, confirm the opinion 

 expressed in the text, that the gold-mining of Nova Scotia is capable of 

 profitable extension far beyond its present limits. 



In the past year, the Eenfrew and Sherbrooke districts have been the 

 first in point of production ; and among new localities likely to be of 

 importance, are mentioned, Musquodoboit, the Middle and East Rivers 

 of Sheet Harbour, Mosher's River, Scraggy Lake, Ship Harbour, Upper 

 Stewiacke, and Gold River. 



(I.) Structure of Northern Cape Breton. 



I inadvertently omitted in the text to give a summary of the facts in 

 regard to this district ascertained by Mr Campbell in his exploration in 

 1862, and now quote his general description of the region, which presents 

 several points of interest not previously known. 



" To the Gulf of St Lawrence, on its north-west side, it presents a bold 

 front of rounded or conical mountains, united at their base, and appearing 

 like buttresses supporting the table lands of the interior on their flanks. 

 They attain, at some points, an elevation of fifteen hundred feet above the 

 sea level ; and their general outline is softened and the landscape rendered 

 beautiful by a dense covering of hardwood forest, by which they are clothed 

 from then- base to their summits. 



" The greater part of the district is encircled by a rampart of similar 

 mountains, more or less rounded in their contour ; and where they hap- 

 pened to be stripped of their covering of forest, by the ravages of fire, they 

 appear as naked cones of crumbly red feldspar rock, which is the prevailing 

 igneous rock of the district, and that from which the principal part of the 

 soil is derived. Hence, no doubt, its extraordinary fertility. 



