On the Tides in the great JVorih American Lakes. 21 d 



crease and diminution of the whole volume of water on the lakes." 

 It is the popular tradition on these lakes, that there has been a rise 

 and fall of the water once in every fourteen years. The New York 

 canal commissioners, I believe, state it to be about once in eleven 

 years. It is now a matter of record, that in 1814 and 15, the St. 

 Clair and Detroit rivers were unusually high ; that the foundations 

 of houses, and much land that had long been under dry cultivation, 

 were submerged. These buildings had been erected many years 

 before, and of course under a belief that they were aloof from all but 

 extraordinary and temporary inundations. No observations appear 

 to have been made on the progress of the elevation, whether it were 

 gradual or abrupt, or whether there were any preceding seasons of 

 a character to produce it. The general impression seemed to be 

 that the rise had been gradual, in accordance with the popular notion, 

 that the waters rise seven years, and subside through the same period. 



In 1820, or about that time, the rivers had resumed their usual 

 level. Several wharves were built in Detroit between that year and 

 1828, at a height, as it was supposed, sufficiently above the general 

 level, for all purposes of convenience and safety. At the latter date, 

 the rivers had again attained the elevation of 1815, and remained so 

 until 1830, with only such occasional depressions as might be caused 

 by strong winds, being generally nearly upon a level with the wharves. 

 In this instance, like that of the foregoing, no observations appear to 

 have been made previous to the rise, either on the character of the 

 seasons, or the rapidity with which it reached its maximum. 



The rivers continued at this unusual height until January, 1831, 

 when, in the course of eight or ten days, they subsided three or four 

 feet ; and they have now maintained that minimum level for about 

 six weeks. Two hydraulic works which had been established in 

 connexion with the river the last season, were left, by this subsidence, 

 above high water mark, and their source-pipes have been extended 

 many yards towards the channel, in order to reach a new supply. 



In conversadons with several of the intelligent old inhabitants of 

 Detroit and its vicinity, it has been ascertained that there was a cor- 

 responding rise in the water about 1800. A road, running along the 

 bank of the river near the town, was then nearly submerged, as it 

 has been twice since. 



Such are the simple facts and traditions relative to this phenom- 

 enon of the lakes. Being on this station in 1815, 1 witnessed the ele- 

 vation at that time, and the subsequent depression. I was again there 



