388 Hall and Wyman on 
tario; the existence of which I have shown to be probable at 
pe time when the latter lake ‘stood at the elevation of the 
‘ridge road." . This view has received additional proof from 
the excavation along the Sodus canal, which passes through the 
locality under consideration. From this excavation we can 
demonstrate that for five or six miles north of Clyde there is 
no barrier of solid rock rising to a height sufficient to prevent 
the ‘water flowing from the outlet of Canandaigua lake, at 
Clyde, into Lake Ontario. Indeed the excavation already 
made to the surface of the drift, does actually drain the water 
from this outlet at Clyde, during high water in the streams, 
and were this channel excavated a few feet’ deeper, it could 
be made the outlet not only of the waters of Canandaigua 
lake, but also of the waters of Cayuga and Seneca lakes, which 
now pass into Lake Ontario by the Oswego river.’ 
I am informed by General Adams, that he has caused the 
whole distance along this line to Lake Ontario, to be probed, 
and there is no rock within twenty or thirty feet of the surface, 
proving the entire practicability of draining these marshes In 
that direction ; — a project worthy of consideration. 
The condition 6f the surface, at the time of the existence 
of this animal, is a matter 6f much interest ; and admitting to 
be true what we consider as having been pretty well demon- 
strated, namely, that Lake Ontario was at an elevation of one 
hundred and fifty or two hundred feet above its present one, 
and having a direct communication with the smaller lakes on 
the south, we are able to show that extensive tracts wou 
have been marshes and estuaries, with the more elevated 
! To those unacquainted with the physical features of this part of the country, s 
may be necessary to state that the outlet of Canandaigua lake and the waters ® 
Mud creek, a stream which drains the deep valley west of Canandaigua lake; qr 
the Clyde river, which unites with the outlets of Cayuga and Seneca lakos, jd t 
Cayuga marshes. The descent of this river from Clyde eastward is so little, that 2 
strong south wind, pressing the water northward in these two lakes, elevates féet 
water in the river at Clyde, from which place, as we have seen, a cutting of Lem ent 
be. "ees an outlet into Lake Ontario, or into the channels of streams flowing " 
