30 



REPORTS ON TORONTO HARBOUR. 



one end hollowed out to receive the substratum, and after several 

 trials between Gibraltar Point and the Narrows, along the centre 

 of the Peninsula, the same result was obtained. Specimens of the 

 clay and a memorandum of their respective positions and depths 

 are herewith submitted for inspection. The hollow in the iron 

 being of small capacity, a small portion of the clay could only be 

 procured, and even this is mixed with the fine sand which lies on 

 the surface of the clay. 



There is, however, sufficient evidence of clay in the several spe- 

 cimens to prove the assertion, that the base of the Peninsula is 

 coeval with that of the mainland, and not a deposit caused by the 

 action of the waters of Lake Ontario. 



It is intended to pursue the investigation still further, and, in 

 all probability, the same result will be found on boring east of 

 the Narrows, towards the heights of Scarboro', and also on the 

 neck of land that separates the Harbour from Ashbridge's Bay. 



Whether a portion of the sand and gravel resting on the sub- 

 stratum of the Peninsula was an original formation or not, it would 

 be difficult to ascertain ; but the most likely conclusion would be, 

 that it has been deposited on the ridge forming the base of the 

 Peninsula since the period when the water which covered the 

 greater portion of the North American continent subsided to its 

 present level. 



The sources from which this deposit is and has been supplied, 

 is explained in a letter of mine, dated Febauary 10th, 1853, as 

 follows : — " The continued accumulation of deposit on the Penin- 

 sula, are the washing away of the shores of the Lake to the east 

 and west of Toronto. During an easterly gale, which generally 

 lasts three days, the ' debris' from the Scarboro' heights is washed 

 along the shore of the Peninsula to the lee of the Lighthouse 

 Point, and during westerly gales, which generally succeed easterly 

 ones, the ' debris' from the shores west of Toronto, as far as the 

 point of the Humber Bay, is washed along the shore towatds the 

 Peninsula, and meeting the current of the Don at the western en- 

 trance, is deposited on the Bar." 



A comparison between the deposit on the Peninsula and the 

 formation of the Scarboro' heights will prove, that not one-twen- 

 tieth part of the " debris" finds its way to the Peninsula. 



The formation of the Scarboro' heights being principally argil- 

 laceous, and the deposit on the Peninsula being granitic detritus, 

 the argillaceous portion of the debris being the lightest is carried 

 to a much greater distance, and sometimes three or four miles out 

 into the Lake by the underton, where it is deposited when the 

 causes that originally removed it cease. 



Pursuing this question still further, it will be found on exami- 

 nation that a considerable portion of the "debris" travels eastward 

 as well as westward, the prevailing winds being westerly, though 

 the easterly winds are the most violent. The effect produced by 

 the prevailing westerly winds in Lake Brie is evidenced by the 

 more extended deposit forming Long Point, and also the Harbour 

 of Erie. 



The above remarks, though more diffuse than may be considered 

 requisite, are introduced to prove that the whole of the " debris" 

 from the Scarboro' heights is not deposited on the Peninsula, and 

 the same may be said of the deposits from the river Don. 



That the construction of the Queen's "Wharf has had the effect 

 of changing the line of deposit on the Bar, cannot be for one mo- 

 ment doubted- 



By referring to the map published by Mr. Bouchette in 1815, it 

 will be observed that the point of the bar was more easterly than 

 it is at the present time, and to the increased back current out of 

 the Harbour, caused by the contraction of the channel, may prin- 

 cipally be attributed this result. 



Assuming the above remarks to be admitted facts, as such, they 

 cannot be controverted by mere conjectures — some of which are 

 calculated to remind a person of the reply of a celebrated member 

 of the British Parliament to the speech of a consequential repre- 

 sentative from one of the inland counties, who felt flattered at 

 being noticed by him — " There is a great deal in the hon. mem- 

 ber's speech that is new and true, but, unfortunately, what is true 

 is not new, and what is new is not true ;" and with these remarks 

 he went on with the subject under debate. 



Whatever may have been the result of the action of the current 

 of the river Don on the formaiion of the Peninsula, it has not much 

 influence at the present time — the current being very trifling at 

 ordinary times. 



During floods, the injury to the Harbour by the deposits of allu- 

 vial matter suspended in its waters are very considerable, though, 

 fortunately, the direction of the flood, when the Don overflows its 

 banks, is into Ashbridge's Bay, where the greatest amount of de 

 posit is made. A large portion, however, reaches the Harbour, and 

 the lighter particles are even carried out some miles into the Lake 

 before they are deposited. During the prevalence of a flood in the 

 Niagara river, about five years ago, caused by continued wet wea- 

 ther, when the ice was breaking up in Lake Erie, the water at 

 the mouth of the river for five miles, at least from the shore, and- 

 an equal distance on either side, was quite discoloured, and the 

 neutral line between the Lake and the river waters was quite dis- 

 tinct. 



If the foregoing remarks are correct, and there can be no reason 

 to doubt them, it must be admitted that the injury to the Harbour, 

 in consequence of this deposit, is greater than the benefit to be 

 derived from its current. As one of the precautions necessary for 

 the preservation of the Harbour, it is advisable to alter the direc- 

 tion of the current into Ashbridge's Bay, and allow it to find a 

 passage into the Lake through the eastern entrance in Ashbridge's 

 Bay, and if at any future period a canal should be made, connect- 

 ing Ashbridge's Bay and the Harbour, the entrance into the Har- 

 bour should be protected by gates, so as to prevent the current 

 from the east bringing with it the mud that has been deposited in 

 the marsh for ages past, the mud in Ashbridge's Bay being at 

 least twenty feet higher than the bottom of the Harbour. 



Fortunately, the present connection between tho Bay and the 

 Harbour is very slight, and, according to the annexed estimate, a 

 comparatively small amount would be necessary to close up the 

 mouths of the Don, and alter the direction of the current into Ash- 

 bridge's Bay. 



The deposits from the sewers of the city in the Harbour, is much 

 more considerable than would at first be supposed ; from experi- 

 ence in the construction of wharves, piling, &c.,. it has been found 

 that, from Yonge Street on the west- to the Don on the east, the 

 average depth of deposit from the sewers alone is not less than 

 two feet, taking the distance to be 5000 feet, with an average 

 breadth of at least 300 feet we have a quantity e qual to about 

 100,000 cubic yards, a very serious amount, considering that it only 

 extends over a period of say twenty years ; the annual deposit will 



