182 EM. KENDEE 
the base of the spit at Jabbertown most of these depressions have 
faded out. Observations on the bearing of each of these have shown 
that the four northernmost of the series differ from the others in direc- 
tion several degrees and are parallel to the south shore of Marryat 
Inlet. The south shore of the inlet here bears about 5. 73° E. Two 
of the first four canals south of it have the same bearing, while the 
other two bear respectively S. 74° and S. 75° E. The other canals 
to the south of these are nearly parallel with each other and with the 
south shore. Twelve of the latter have been recognized. ‘The varia- 
tion in the direction of these is within the limits of S. 83° E. and S. 
go° E. Under the name of aggradation lines Dr. F. P. Gulliver 
describes what appear to be similar features in the Dars foreland 
in the Baltic Sea, Carraveral foreland, Florida, and other cusps.’ 
The writer’s observations seem to establish two important facts 
relative to the present action of destructive and constructive agencies 
on the spit. The northwest shore is being cut away rather rapidly 
while the south shore is being built up. The ruins of an ancient 
Eskimo village, which is being undercut by the waves, afford indis- 
putable proof of the encroachment of the sea on the northwest side. 
We have also the testimony of a missionary, Dr. John Driggs, who 
has resided for 18 years near the north shore of the point. He states 
that 185 feet would be a very conservative estimate of the amount of 
cutting which has occurred on the north shore during the period of 
his residence. He informed the writer that the cutting of the shore 
was accomplished almost entirely during the prevalence of heavy 
southwesterly or westerly storms. At such times the waves are driven 
along the beach and carry away its loose materials very rapidly. The 
writer was shown the door of the old mission chapel standing about 
sixteen feet above the sea and some two hundred and fifty feet from 
the beach which was smashed by wave action during a southwest 
storm of exceptional violence which occurred October 13, 1893. 
‘It appears that during this storm the sea was banked up on this coast 
until one to three feet of water covered nearly all the western portion 
of the spit. 
The evidence that constructional work is in progress on the south 
side of the spit is based in part on the relative freshness of the gravels 
t Proc. Am. Acad, Arts and Sci., Vol. XXXIV, p. 180, 1899. 
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