32!2 REPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1904. 



Maryland, one on the new map of Maryland, and one on the Frostburg 

 coal formation, were issued, the latter, however, not being an official 

 publication. 



The geological reports were given up largely to a discussion of 

 economic matters, such as the character of the soil and the occurrence 

 of coal and ores of the metals. In the report for 1833 the occurrence 

 of fossiliferons deposits in Prince George County; at Maryland Point, 

 in Charles County; and on St. Mary's River, in St. Mary\s County; also 

 at Fort Washington on the Potomac, were noted, but none of the fos- 

 sils were identified nor any suggestion made as to their probable 

 geological age, although that portion of Maryland was later referred 

 to as being occupied by Tertiary rocks. The rocks comprising the 

 upper part of Cecil County, the greater portion of Baltimore and Har- 

 ford counties, the upper districts of Anne Arundel County, and the 

 whole of Montgomery County, were thought to be generally metal- 

 liferous and were grouped as primary or primitive. The serpentinous 

 rocks were looked upon as of importance, as likely to furnish the basis 

 for the manufacture of epsom salts, a not uncommon opinion at that 

 time. On the map prepared under the direction of Mr. Alexander the 

 lithological nature of the underlying rocks and the character of the 

 soil were indicated by names, no attempt being made at coloring. 



In 1835 Ducatel visited the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in his 

 report for that year gave a very full account of the geography and 

 agricultural condition of Dorchester, Somerset, and Worcester counties. 

 He announced the presence there of considerable deposits of greensand 

 marl, which he believed would be of great value to the agriculturist. 

 In 1836 he completed the geological survey of Calvert County and 

 made extensive examinations in Anne Arundel, Prince George, Charles, 

 and St. Mary's counties, where he found further deposits of marl. In 

 this same year he examined the coal and iron deposits of Allegany 

 County and published a geological account and section of the beds. 



In his report for 1838 he gave a general account of the mineral re- 

 sources of Harford County and outlines of the geology of Harford and 

 Baltimore counties, with a short treatise on the subject of lime burning. 



This survey was regarded by Ducatel as being the first attempt to 

 connect a topographic and geological survey. 



Ducatel was born in Baltimore, where his father, a Frenchman, 

 conducted for many years a prominent pharmaceutical establishment. 

 He received his early training at St. Mary's College in Baltimore, 

 subsequently studying in Paris. In 1821 he returned 

 sketch of Ducatel. to America, and shortly after entered upon a very 

 successful career as a teacher of the sciences —chem- 

 istry, philosophy, mineralogy, and geology —serving in the Mechanic's 

 Institute and the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and St. John's 

 College in Annapolis. 



