i:}8 THI-: K'H A(IK IN CANADA. 



marine iuiiiiials, at Pietou, on Xortlnunberlund strait, as 

 lon*]^ ag;» as 1S40, and is thus referred to in a later 

 address.* 



If we draw a strai<;lit line from tlie northern end of 

 (.'ape ]ireton, throuji^li the ]Ma,ti;dalen islands, to the mouth 

 of the hay des ( 'haleurs, we have to the southward an 

 extensive semi-cireular liay, 200 miles in diameter, wliich 

 we may call the L!,reat Aradinn haij, and on the north the 

 larj^er and deeper Irianijular ait-a of the ,u:nlf of St. 

 Lawrence. This Acadian hay is a sort of _u,i^antie warm- 

 water acpiarium, sheltered, exeei)t in a few isolated hanks, 

 which have been pointed out hy Mr. Whiteaves, from the 

 cold waters of the .u'ulf, and which the l)ather feels ([uite 

 warm in comparison with the fri^^id iind often not very 

 limpid li(piid with which we are fain to he coutent in the 

 lower St. Lawrence. It also alfords to the more delicate 

 marine animals a more C(Uigenial hal)itat than they can 

 find in the hay of Fundy, or even on the coast of Maine, 

 unless in a few sheltered spots, some of which have been 

 explored hy Prof. \'crrill. It is truci that in winter the 

 whole Acadian l»ay is encumbered v.itb iloatinu; ice, partly 

 produced on its own shores and partly drifted from the 

 north; but, in sunnncr, tlie action of the sun u])ou its 

 surface, the warm air llowinu' over it from the lUMjjjhhour- 

 ing land, and the ocean water brought in by the strait of 

 Canseau, ra]iidly raise its temperature, and it retains this 

 elevateil temperature till late in autumn. Hence the 

 character of its fauna, which is indicated \)\ the fact 

 that many species of molluscs, whose headipiarters are 

 south of cape Cod, flourish an<l abound in its waters. 

 Among these are the connnon oyster, which is especially 



* See Address, ])y tlie author, to Nat. Hist. Society of Montreal, 



1874. 



