OF THE PENINSULA OP GASPE. 181 



exception of some interruptions caused by steep and rocky por- 

 tions of the coast. It is composed of fragmenls of shells, and 

 the ruins of the rocks which rise in the banks behind it, an'l 

 forms an excellent road-bed, as well as a productive soil- 

 The shells of these terraces belong to the same species as those 

 now living on the shore, and among them the Mesodesma, which 

 is not found in the post-pliocene deposits about Quebec or Mon- 

 treal, is particularly abundant, immense numbers of these shells 

 sometimes occurring in groups without any intermixture of 

 sand or gravel. Large bones of whales were observed in several 

 places between Metis and Matan, partially imbedded in the five-feet 

 terrace. At Ste. Anne des Monts five or six distinct terraces of 

 sand and gravel rise one above another to a height of about twenty- 

 five feet over the sea. They all abound in shells, generally much bro- 

 ken and worn, belonging to the common littoral species. The form- 

 ation of sand points, and of long sand beaches, closing up bays? 

 and forming lagoons in numerous places on the east and south 

 coasts, would also indicate that a gradual elevation of the land is 

 now going on. The principal of these are, Peninsula Point and 

 Sandy Beach, which, stretching from the opposite sides of Gaspe 

 Bay, leave but a narrow channel between their extremities ; the 

 beach running across from Cape Haldimand to Douglastown, 

 forming Douglastown Lagoon ; the narrow beach nearly five 

 miles long separating Mai Bay from the Barachois ; the beaches 

 of Grand Pabos and Port Daniel Lagoons ; Pespebiac Point ; 

 and the beach forming the lagoon at the mouth of the Wagamet, or 

 Bonaventure River. These beaches are above the influence of the 

 tides, and, in places, support a growth of spruce trees. Peninsula 

 Point is nearly covered by a spruce grove. In the northwest arm of 

 Gasp^ Bay several small partially wooded sand points have been 

 formed at the foot of the high rocky banks ; and these, like the two* 

 large points, are found by the settlers who live on the top of tbe cliffs, 

 to be very convenient for landing places, and by the whalers for their 

 sheds. Some cf the points were observed to be thrown up into a series 

 of small parallel ridges. Barriers of sand and gravel are thrown 

 across several small coves or recesses between rocky points 

 near Grand Pabos ; and in this way a number of ponds are pro- 

 duced which being above the influence of the tide, are quite 

 fresh, and to them, the sea-birds resort every day to drink. 

 These facts appear to prove that the elevation of the coun- 

 try along the south side o'f the lower St. Lawrence, is still 



