THE DRIFT. 429 



the distribution given above we find that in the western portion of the 

 district exposures of rock in situ are far less numerous on the whole than in 

 the eastern part, where the drift was apparently mucli thinner to begin 

 with, and where since the original pre-Glacial relief was more marked, it 

 has to a considerable extent been removed from the crests of the hills by 

 post-Grlacial erosion, which is there correspondingly more vigorous. 



The width of the Vermilion moraine proper can not be given with any 

 verjr great degree of accuracy. It varies considerably, ranging from a 

 half mile, and pei'haps even less, up to between 2 and 3 miles in T. 61 N., 

 R. 14 W. 



The depth of the drift constituting the moraine is also variable. 

 Test pits and drill holes have cut through it in a number of places to a 

 depth of 75 feet. It is, of course, in many places much thinner than this. 

 Judging from the very considerable irregularities noticed — for instance, in 

 the ai'ea southwest of Eagle Nest lakes, along the township line between 

 Ts. 61 and 62 N., R. 14 W., and in the moraine extending northeast- 

 southwest across T. 61 N., R. 14 W., and also in the area southeast of Ely — 

 it must run up to at least 150 to 200 feet in depth, and may even reach a 

 greater thickness than this. 



Between the south edge of the moraine and the Giants range, especi- 

 ally in Ts. 60, 61 N., Rs. 14, 15, and 16 W., extensive deposits of drift, 

 modified by the waters from the edge of the melting- glacier, are well devel- 

 oped. To the north of the moraines in various places similar modified 

 drift is found, which evidently owes its origin to the modification by water 

 from the Rainy lobe after it had passed to the north of the Vermilion 

 moraine. 



It will be remembered that the drainage of this district, which is 

 approximately bounded on the south-southeast by the high land of the 

 Giants range, is to the northwest. It is to be supposed that as the glacier 

 retreated the waters from its melting edge must have been dammed between 

 this range and the ice lobe to the north. It seems highly probable, there- 

 fore, that glacial lakes of considerable size must have been formed in the 

 Vermilion district. A study of the topography shows that there are many 

 areas which must have been favorable for the development of such lakes, 

 but no definite evidence, such as lake beaches and clay deposits, pointing 

 to the existence of large glacial lakes, has been found. It seems highly 



