79 



there corresponding appearances of a recession in 

 other parts oi these lakes? Is there a like quantity of 

 alluvions formation at the west end of Lake Ontario ? 

 On the northern shore, and west end of Lake Erie ? 

 Or in fact, are similar districts to be found on the 

 shores of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superiour ? I 

 believe not; and if so, or indeed, if there are not 

 corresponding appearances on the shores generally, of 

 Lakes Erie and Ontario, with the exception of rocky 

 or mountainous districts, we cannot with propriety con- 

 sider those two cases as actual proofs of a recession, 

 exsicc-ition, or wasting away of the lakes ; on the con- 

 trary , it is rather an encroachment of the land, upon 

 the water ; and since there are not similar districts on 

 the other great lakes, whose superficies are not only 

 equal but much greater, regulated by the same laws, 

 and subject to the same operations, it seems necessary 

 to look to some other source for the cause of appear- 

 ances so interesting, and peculiar to these two lakes. 



Admitting then the existence of a general current 

 setting across the continent from north and east, to south 

 and west, the problem is easily solved ; for while the 

 current was flowing in direct opposition to that of the 

 St. Lawrence, it was likewise flowing in a southwest- 

 erly direction across the East Main and coast of 

 Labrador, from Cape Chidley almost in a line with 

 Lakes Erie and Ontario, elevating the soil in its 

 course and depositing it on their shores, the same as 

 is deposited on our sea coast. 



