136 LABRADOR 



The sea-coast phenomena apparently show that the epoch 

 of emergence is not yet closed ; with greater certainty they 

 tell us of the extent of maximum submergence. With 

 very close accuracy the highest, and presumably the oldest, 

 of the shore-lines can be located along the prehistoric 

 headlands and intervening bays. In the summer of 1900 

 the highest shore-line was approximately fixed at some 

 thirty points on the 1100-mile journey from St. John's to 

 Nachvak. Its position gives a sort of measure as to how 

 much of the Labrador scenery was given final form and 

 colour by the wash and wear and beach accumulation in the 

 shifting zone of the breakers. The discovery of the maxi- 

 mum uplift has also a strong theoretical interest in adding 

 to the observations that some day may suffice to solve the 

 great problem of the cause of such broad upheavals of the 

 earth's crust. 



The principle by which the highest shore-line was de- 

 termined is a simple one. It was only necessary to seek 

 out at the various landing-places the seaward facing hill- 

 slopes which must have suffered strong wave attack in 

 case they had slowly emerged from the sea in post-Glacial 

 time. These slopes, when high enough, always show at 

 once a vigorous contrast between the washed and unwashed 

 zones. Above the highest shore-line, the glacial boulders 

 dotting the treeless hillsides still lie in practically their 

 original positions. Below that line they have been swept 

 away. The highest shore-line is, therefore, just below 

 the boulder-limit, which, of course, has been driven by 

 storm-waves a little higher than the high-water mark of 

 the level sea. At this line the " fossil" beaches, cliffs, and 

 chasms cease, and the smooth, boulder-dotted slopes begin. 



