APPENDIX. 683 



This is the deepest shaft in Nova Scotia. The coal penetrated by it is 

 stated to be of good quality, so that in a short time it may be anticipated 

 that the already extensive workings and large produce of this mine will be 

 greatly increased. 



3. Mahou Coal-field. — Professor Hind has recently reported on the areas 

 of Coal formation rocks between Mabou Harbour and Cape Mabou, referred 

 to at p. 404, supra. I am informed by the proprietors of the mine that the 

 Keport shows the existence of the ends of two troughs or basins of coal-rocks, 

 exhibiting four groups of beds, in two of which the thickest beds are three 

 feet in thickness respectively. Tn the third there is a bed thirteen feet in 

 thickness, and in the fourth a bed eight feet in thickness. There is also a 

 layer of cannel coal supposed to be valuable. These, with the Coal 

 measures of Port Hood on the south, and Chimney Corner on the north, 

 show the extension of productive Coal measures at intervals along the 

 western coast of Cape Breton, while it still remains to be ascertained 

 whether other valuable areas do not exist further inland between the shore 

 and the south-west branch of the ]\Iargarie River. One peculiarity of the 

 Mabou Coal beds appears to be that their outcrops are unusually near to 

 those of the Lower Carboniferous gypsum. 



4. Merigomish Coal Company, Pictou. — Reports made by Mr Rutherford, 

 Mr Barnes, and Mr Robb, upon the property of this company to the east- 

 ward of the East River of Pictou, show that several workable seams of coal 

 overlie the main seam in this locality : a fact not apparent on the west side 

 of the river. Mr Robb mentions as occurring at a distance of about one- 

 third of a mile horizontally from what is regarded as the outcrop of the 

 main seam, two beds of the thickness of five feet six inches and four feet 

 respectively, and about fifty feet apart vertically. Two other outcrops of 

 the thickness of four feet two inches and three feet six inches, occurring on 

 these areas, are supposed to be a still higher level, though they may possibly 

 be the same. They are associated with a bed of oil-coal or earthy bitumen. 

 The exact thickness of measures thus overlying the main seam is not certainly 

 known, but the facts ascertained would seem to imply an important upward 

 extension of the productive Coal measures, which may greatly add to the 

 value of the areas east of the East River, and, as will appear under the fol- 

 lowing head, may have a bearing on the probable value of the coal beds lying 

 to the north of the great conglomerate. 



6. Prospects north of New Glasgoio. — The facts above stated for the first 

 time enable me to suggest the probability that valuable discoveries of coal 

 may be made in the extensive district lying between the New Glasgow 

 conglomerate and the harbour of Pictou. If the upper beds above mentioned 

 can be identified with any of those north of New Glasgow, then it is possible 

 that these upper measures may there overlap the lower and more valuable 

 beds, or that the outcrops of these latter may be concealed by faulting and 

 denudation along the line of the conglomerate. 'J'he facts at present in my 

 possession are not suflicicnt to warrant any confident statements on this 

 point; and while it is possible that very limited explorations miglit suffice 

 to settle the question, it is also possible that great difticultics may be opposed 

 to its satisfactory solution, by the nature of the ground and the relations of 

 the beds. The subject is, however, one deserving of attention, in view of 



