204 



ACCOUNT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY SUDDEN FALJ. IN THE NIAGARA RIVEU. 



[1855. 



to the branchial organs, — perceiving that the structure of the 

 branchiaj was much move dense than seemed consistent with 

 the character of a directly aerating surface, I endeavoured 

 to open out the tubes for the pui'pose of more minute examina- 

 tion. In doing so, I easily divided the tubular case, but found 

 an inner membrane lining it ; by traction, this was completely 

 withdrawn, presenting a perfect cast of the main tube and the 

 small fringed tubules. On reference to Carpenter's Physiologv, 

 to the Encyclop;iedia of Anatomy, Seibold's Comparative Ana- 

 tomy, and Jones's Animal Kingdom, I can find no allusion to 

 such a membrane, although the illustration given by Mr. 

 Jones, and taken from the lluntcrian collection, would lead to 

 the inference that Mr. Hunter knew of the existence of the 

 structure in question. The following is Mr. Jones's account : 

 " Setting out from the heart, we find that the blood goes to all 

 parts of the body through the diiferent arterial trunks, and by 

 the great sternal artery is conveyed to the legs, foot-jaws, and 

 false feet. But from this same artery vessels are furnished to 

 the branchiae. The branchial arteries, so divided, subdivide 

 into secondary trunks, which ramify through the individual 

 branchias and supply all their appended filaments." The blood- 

 vessels could not ramify on the fibrous tube ; the inner membrane, 

 therefore, is the bed in which the vessels repose, the outer 

 case being, like the cartilaginous rings of the branchial tubes, 

 organs of support. How, then, is aeration effected under such 

 circumstances ? On placing the terminal brauchia with the 

 small appended tubules under the half-inch object glass, we find 

 that the surface of each is even, and that the membrane is not 

 perforated by foramina. Comparatively dense, therefore, as the 

 substance is, it yet must permit the passage of gases through 

 it ; and, indeed, Professor Draper's experiments with mem- 

 branes and septa equally dense, afford evidence that such must 

 be the case. In the structure of the breathing organs of this 

 class, we find an arrangement admirably adapted both to ter- 

 restrial and aquatic respiration. Living amongst shoals, and 

 therefore liable to be left at times high and dry, the creature 

 would undoubtedly perish, if provision was not made for its 

 safety. The water, therefore, which enters the branchial cham- 

 ber is retained for the purpose of moistening the bronchia;, 

 while atmospheric air has free access to the inner membrane 

 througl| openings at the base of the principal branches. 



Account of an Extraordinary Sudden Fall in the Waters of 

 the Niagara River. 



[Communicated to the Canadian Institute^ hy Major R. Laclilan, 

 Mojitreal. ) 



In the paper on the Periodical Rise and Fall of the Lakes, 

 which I had, last year, the honour of presenting to the Institute, 

 I alluded to examples of the almost entire temporary obstruction 

 of the different Lakes, and more particularly of Lakes Huron 

 and Erie : and I proposed appending to that Essay, some ac- 

 count of one remarkable instance which occurred in J\Iareh,1848, 

 between Buffalo and Fort Erie, at the head of the Niagara river. 

 Circuuistaiices having obliged me to postpone that intention, I 

 now beg to be allowed to redeem my pledge, by laying before 

 the Association the document in question, as of considerable 

 philosophical interest, — thorjgh possessing no literary merit — 

 and therefore sufficiently deserving of being placed on perma- 

 nent record. And, to add somewhat to the value of such a 

 paper, I prefix thereto, a sketch map of the course of the 

 Niagara River, from its efl9ux fi-oni Lake Erie, to its junction 



with Lake Ontario, as likely to make the whole subject more 

 readily understood. 



I need only add, by way of further introduction, that, as 

 stated in my paper on the Rise and Fall of the Lakes,* I was 

 so much struck with the notices of (his singular phenomenon 

 which appeared in neighbouring local journals, immediately 

 after its occurrence, that I was induced to write to a friend 

 residing in the vicinity, for further information on the subject; 

 and that this paper will consequently be found to consist of two 

 distinct parts : the one composed of the particulars gleaned 

 from the public prints ; the other consisting of the additional 

 information acquired from the gentleman alluded to ; and that, 

 as done on other occasions, I have allowed my authorities to 

 speak for themselves, in their own language, in preference to 

 putting together any second description of my own. 



With regard to the first branch of the subject, my notes 

 proceed as follows : — 



I. 



The following particulars respecting the extraordinary obstruc- 

 tion of the waters of the Niagara River, in the winter of 1848, 

 were gleaned from a telegraphic despatch, dated Queenston, 

 30th., and the Buffalo CommeTcial Advertiser and Buffalo 

 Express of the 31st of March : 



" This morning, (30th ]\Iaroh) was witnessed on the Niagara 

 River, an unprecedented spectacle of wonder, long to be remem- 

 bered in connexion with the Falls. Suddenly, the water fell to 

 a considerable extent, so that the Table rock was sufficiently 

 dry to enable those who were fortunate enough to be in the 

 vicinity, to go so far across the river, as to be directly over the 

 tremendous rock. This truly astonishing feat was accomplished, 

 among others, by ladies ; and although the water in some 

 degree returned the same day, a memento of their journey 

 towards the horse-shoe centre, was left, in the form of a pole 

 erected thereon. 



" The villagers of Chippewa (about two miles above the 

 Falls) thought they had entirely lost their creek. Off the old 

 Chippewa fort, about one hundred feet beyond the usual low- 

 water mark, was discovered a burning spring, in the bed of the' 

 Niagara, which some one had the curiosity to enclose with an 

 old potash kettle, with a gun-barrel knitted therein,j" and suc- 

 ceeded in producing flames, and a loud explosion. Several 

 bayonets, muskets, swords, etc., were also picked up. The 

 water returned to nearly its usual level in the course of the day. 



" The cause of this occtirrence was conjectured to be an 

 accumulation of ice at the egress of the river from Lake Erie 

 having for a time closed up the outlet — and such proved to be 

 the case : it being stated in ihe Buffalo Coinmcrcial Advertiser 

 of the olst of March, that the river at Black-rock (about three 

 miles below Buffiilo) fell 3 feet on the night of the 29th, and 

 rose about six inches on the oOth : and that they were at a loss 

 to account for this, unless the ice had been packed in some 

 place, so as to obstruct the stream. There had, however, been 

 no remarkable variation in the harbour; and this fact increased 

 the perplexity. At the Falls there was an unprecedented and 

 most plentiful lack of water. The creek at Buffalo rose about 

 6 inches on the 31st." 



*See Canadian Journal, vol. 2, p. 293 &c. : but more particularly 

 p. 304. 



f The hint must have been taken from a someTfhat similar plan 

 having been adopted with a gas-evolving spring, well known to travel- 

 lers in the vicinity of Chippewa. 



