IN NOVA SCOTIA FLETCHER. 237 



The Reports of the Geological Survey for 1885 and 1886 

 were sharply assailed by Sir J. W. Dawson for their disregard 

 of fossils ; they were assumed to cast doubt upon the value and 

 accuracy of the work done in Cape Breton. " As to the rocks 

 of the Riversdale section and that at MacKay Head, I have no 

 hesitation in saying that it would be contrary to all analogy, 

 not only in Nova Scotia but everywhere else, that they should 

 be as low as the Horton series. They are unequivocally Mill- 

 stone Grit and the flora of these sections is so well known that 

 there can scarcely be any mistake respecting it. The opinion 

 advanced by Dr. Ells that the rocks of MacKay Head are like 

 those of Riversdale is quite correct, they being the same series ; 

 but the comparison of them with the St. John Devonian is 

 quite unwarrantable, the fossils being quite distinct." 



This strong dissent induced Dr. Selwyn in 1892 to visit the 

 region and see for himself the position of these strata. His 

 view of their relations was emphatically expressed in the Sum- 

 mary Report for that year. In the conclusions arrived at by 

 Mr. Fletcher he fully agreed. In 1895, Dr. Selwj'n was suc- 

 ceeded as director of the Geological Survey by Dr. G. M. 

 Dawson. Maps of Pictou and Colchester counties were then 

 being engraved. The compilation of Sheets 43 to 48 was com- 

 pleted and that of Sheets 56 to 65, 76, 83, 100 and 101 well 

 advanced. In the same year Dr. Ami was sent to Nova Scotia 

 to obtain palaeontological evidence of the age of the rocks in 

 question ; in the following seasons he was accompanied by the 

 director, and in one season by Dr. Ells. 



But in 1898 " certain points connected with the geological 

 structure of that region remained still critical," although it was 

 hoped that the special investigations of that year might render 

 it possible to complete the information for several of the above 

 sheets, which in that event would be promptly issued. At this 

 time, Dr. Ami was protesting against the publication of a report 

 in which he was represented as advocating the Carboniferous 

 age of these rocks. On the contrary, he believed the evidence 

 to show " that the strata of Union and Riversdale may be 



