110 a study of the cow bay beaches. -d- s. mcintosh. 



Statement of the Problem. 



This beach is one of several similar beaches along the 

 Atlantic seaboard of Nova Scotia. The most striking 

 characteristic of this coast is the irregularity of the shore line 

 with its numerous islands — the result of relative coastal 

 subsidence. The channels made by the streams in the 

 quartzites and slates of the area when the land stood higher 

 are now invaded by the sea, and their lower courses are 

 estuaries. In these estuaries, beaches have formed, ponding 

 back fresh or brackish water. Cow Bay beach is neither 

 the largest nor the smallest of these beaches, but has been 

 selected for study on account of the presence back of the 

 present shore-line of a series of beaches older than the modern 

 beach. The purpose of this paper is to account for the present 

 form of this beach — the modern storm beach with the older 

 beaches lying behind. It is hoped, too, that the conclusions 

 arrived at in regard to modern coastal stability are of value, 

 and make the paper one of more than local interest. 



General Description. 



The general direction of the coast-line east of Halifax 

 is about east-northeast; that of Cow Bay about northeast. 

 The extent of the bay inland from the line of headlands is 

 about a mile. The length of the beach under discussion is 

 about three-fourths of a mile, the eastern corner of the bay 

 having another beach with ponded freshwater. The pond 

 or lagoon back of the beach extends inland for about a mile. 

 It is shallow, and over a large part, the bottom is chiefly 

 drifted sand overlaid by decaying organic material. In the 

 pond is a comparatively large island, the outline and attitude 

 of which is similar to that of the hills in the vicinity. This 

 island appears to have been protected from the sea-waves, 

 even b(»fore the present beach was in existence, as it shows 

 no evidence of marine wave action. 



