426 [May 15, 



these lakes from the fact, that there is no point in the island more 

 than twelve miles distant from salt water. 



The rivers of Cape Breton, as may be supposed from an inspec- 

 tion of a map of the island, are inconsiderable. The principal 

 are Miray, Margarie, Mabou, Inhabitants, and Grand rivers, dis- 

 charging into the sea ; and Baddeck, Wagamatcook, and Denny 

 rivers, discharging into the Bras d'Or Lakes. Valuable tracts of 

 alluvial land occur on the banks of all these rivers ; and in beds 

 of this kind on the Baddeck, a tooth and thigh bone of some large 

 animal were found some years ago and sent to England, From 

 the description given to me, I conclude that they belonged to the 

 mastodon. They w^ere found in the bed of the stream after a 

 heavy jlood, having probably been v^^ashed out of the alluvium 

 vsrhich formed the banks of the river. 



The bays and harbours of Cape Breton are numerous ; many of 

 the latter being surpassed by none on the whole coast of America 

 in natural advantages. The principal are St. Ann's, the Great 

 Bras d'Or Entrance, Sydney, Mainadieu, Louisbourg, Arichat, Ship 

 Harbour, and Port Hood. Of these, Sydney is undoubtedly the 

 best ; and from its situation, in the very heart of the great coal 

 field, is the most important. It is easy of access ; free from rocks 

 and shoals, and very capacious. After passing through the chan- 

 nel between the beaches (which is one mile wide, and 9 fathoms 

 deep), it separates into two arms or branches, each of which is 

 five miles in length, and averages one mile in width. 



The coal formation is probably the most recent stratified group 

 in the island ; and it is certainly the most important, as it furnishes 

 Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's Island, and the 

 United States with an abundant supply of coal, equal in quality 

 to the best of that found in the Newcastle district. The coal field 

 of Sydney, situated on the N.E. coast of the island, is the only one 

 that has been sufficiently explored to determine its limits, and it 

 extends from Miray Bay to Cape Dauphin, averaging about seven 

 miles in width, and occupying an area of 250 square miles. As 

 the general dip of the strata is north-east, or seaward, this great 

 area of coal measures is probably the segment only of an immense 

 basin extending towards the coast of Newfoundland — a suppo- 

 sition which is confirmed by the existence of coal measures at 

 Niel's Harbour, 30 miles north of Cape Dauphin. The precipitous 

 cliffs afford admirable opportunities for obtaining sections, but 

 owing to numerous faults existing between Miray Bay and Low 

 Point, the exact relations of the several seams cannot be ascer- 

 tained so satisfactorily as in the district west of Sydney Harbour, 

 which is free from any serious fault. The coal measures consist 

 of beds of sandstone and shale, alternating with valuable seams of 

 coal. In the natural section exhibited in the cliff" stretching from 

 Point Aconi to the commencement of the great sandstone or mill- 

 stone grit, on the N."W. shore of Boulardrie Island, we have a 

 horizontal distance of six miles, measured on the direct dip and rise 

 of the strata, without a single fault or break ; which, taking the 



