CARBONIFEROUS DISTRICT OF PICTOU. 343 



observed in the eastern working of the General Mining Association 

 extends beyond their property on the east side of tlie river. I have 

 attributed this to the eflfects on the process of coal formation produced 

 by the spur of older metamorphic rock which extends forward into 

 this part of the coal area from the southward, and in this case the 

 deterioration may apply to a considerable ai'ea near the southern edge 

 of the trough, but the coal may be expected to improve in following 

 it toward the dip. I regret that I have not any details as to the 

 precise aspect and character of the coal as exposed by the German 

 Company, as this might have enabled moi-e precise conclusions as to 

 its cause and extent to be arrived at.* The appearance of workable 

 coal farther eastward toward Sutherland's River has been already 

 referred to, and on the ojjposite side of the trough, eastward of New 

 Glasgow, two beds of coal, stated at four feet each in thickness, have 

 been found. Much additional exploration is required in this part of 

 the area, to ascertain the arrangement of the strata, and also the 

 peculiar character and distribution of the beds of coal, which may be 

 expected to differ materially from those on the west side of the river. 



(6.) Other Parts of the Pictou Coal-field. 

 The small seams of coal seen at Merigomish Island, Little Harbour, 

 Eraser's Mountain, South Pictou, and Carribou, appear to belong to a 

 second and upper series of coal seams, as compai'ed with those of the 

 Albion Mines, or more properly, perhaps, two distinct groups of coals.j 

 They have not been ascertained to be of workable value, and, as already 

 stated, may be considered as the representatives of the Upper Coal 

 formation or the upper part of the Middle Coal formation, as devel- 

 oped at the South Joggins. The facts already stated show that the 

 productive Coal measures on the East River belong to a special and 

 limited coal area, while the beds northward of the New Glasgow 

 conglomerate belong to a larger area, continuous to the north with 

 that of Cumberland. For this reason, we should not be disposed to 

 expect in this wider area, surroimding Pictou Harbour, a repetition of 

 the great beds of the Albion Mines, but there is no reason to suppose 

 that the coal actually present is limited to the thin beds just mentioned. 

 On the contrary, the analogy of the Cumberland Coal-field would lead 

 us to expect that under these beds, and cropping out northward and 



* A hand specimen from this mine, for which I am indchtcil to ]\Ir Barnes, in its 

 highly himinated and sha'.y character, corresponds with wliat miglit be expected on the 

 views above stated. 



t The coal-beds of Eraser's Mountain, Little Harbour, and Jferiiromish Island, are 

 very probably members of one grcjup of coal-seams, and those of the loading ground 

 and other places near Pictou Harbour of a second and higher group. 



