416 GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 



In a direction northeast from Racket lake, is a chain of smaller but beautiful lakes, which 

 together form the upper waters of the platform. This chain was called, in the Report of 

 1841, the Eckford chain, from its principal lake, which is about five miles long. The upper 

 lake of this chain is called Lake Janet, from a respect entertained for the accomplished lady 

 of the Zoologist of the Survey. The several lakes of this chain unite their waters, and form 

 a deep serpentine river, which empties itself into a long and deep bay on the east shore of 

 Racket lake. This river, in the report just referred to, was named Marion river. 



During the preceding topographical details, I have not forgotten that my business is with 

 geology. But while this is true, I would remember that in a comnmuity constituted like ours, 

 many individuals require recreation during certain seasons; and while I am occupying time 

 and space in details of this kind, I am also making known a new field for relaxation from 

 business — one which has peculiar advantages and many resources for restoring health and 

 spirits, such as are unknown at the more fashionable watering places. In this course, there- 

 fore, I feel that I am not travelling out of the sphere of usefulness. The breezes of Hamilton 

 arc invigorating ; the lake scenery is magnificent, and the exercise it calls forth is healthful ; 

 and the invalid who, after reaching these romantic wilds, makes a rational use of the forests 

 and lakes and the skies which invest them, and returns dissatisfied with what he has received, 

 I should pronounce not onl)'' difficult to please, but mistaken in the objects of his search and 

 in the character of his wants. 



Again, from the head of Racket lake, a more remarkable chain of lakes extends out into 

 Herkimer county, through which an easy passage is provided to the great north and south 

 travelled road leading from Utica to Watcrtown and Ogdensburgh. This chain has been 

 named the Fultmi chain; one half of which belongs to Hamilton, and the other to Herkimer 

 county. It extends from Racket lake to that tract of land which is so generally known as 

 the John Brown trad. 



Primary and Sedimentary Rocks. 



Il is probably understood from the facts already communicated in this report, that this 

 county is essentially primary. The predominant rock is gneiss, with transitions into horn- 

 blende. In the vicinity of Lake Pleasant the rock is gneiss, with a large amount of horn- 

 blende, and containing large imperfect garnets : it extends towards Lewis lake in township No. 

 8. There is little variety in the character of the masses which together constitute the primary 

 rocks. Primary limestone appears at intervals throughout the entire region, accompanied 

 with its nsuid associate, serpentine ; and although the main rock of the country is stratified, 

 still the limestone preserves the characters which belong to it when associated with anunstra- 

 tified rock. The gneiss of the central and northern parts of the county differs only slightly 

 from that ol the southern. In Racket lake it contains hornblende, and dips northwest. At 

 Brown s trad, the gneiss is of the same character, and dips also northwest. At the Seventh 

 lake, it dips northwest also, and contains trcmolilc and rose quartz. The general strike or 



