THE ESKERS OF NOVA SCOTIA. PREST. 377 



Crossing into the Province of New Brunswick we find a 

 like system of eskers there. In the western and central 

 parts of that province the glacial striae runs from south to 

 south 65 degrees east, inclining to the east and north-east 

 as they approcah the gulf of St. La\vrence. Some of the 

 eskers cross into the state of Maine, especially one on Eel 

 River. Others are located at Canterbury and Queensbury, 

 York County, and Wakefield, Carleton County; still others 

 are seen along Deadwater Brook, Fish Creek, and the mouth 

 of Nacawicac Iliver. The courses are generally south-east. 

 Whether these agree with the course of the local watersheds 

 and valleys, I do not know. They also are among the points 

 needing investigation. 



In Nova Scotia, while the shorter eskers agree in course 

 with the local elevations and depressions, the most important 

 ones run lengthwise through the province on or parallel with 

 the central watershed. 



Origin of Eskers. — Regarding the origin of eskers, Mr. 

 Stone says on page 40, "When one sees gravel systems going 

 up the northern side of a hill 200 feet or more in height, it 

 seems that a stream could flow southward over such barriers. 

 That thej' actually flowed over such barriers is strong evi- 

 dence of the existence of ice." Here I would ask why such 

 inferences are assumed as facts in order to support theories 

 so contrary to other evidence. The pressure and head of 

 water needed to drive water with its load of gravel and rocks 

 up and over such hills could only be secured in water-tight 

 channels beneath or within the ice. Any leakage would 

 lessen the power of the water to drive the debris forward. 



Subglacial Tunnels. — Now this theory of subglacial tunnels 

 is based on the assumption that the water and gravel actuallj' 

 ascended over 200 feet and in south-western Maine 400 feet. 

 This would mean a pressure of 81 to 162 pounds per square 

 inch — sufficient force to drive water through the interstices 

 of any subglacial debris or to project a huge torrent with the 



