042 PKOCEEDINGS OF WASHINGTON MEETING. 



(Lewis). Fishermen of Marcus Hook, a small village just above the Delaware state 

 line, in Pennsylvania, who understand the bed of the Delaware river northward and 

 eastward toward the mouth of Christiana river, state that they prefer the eastern 

 channel of the river to the western on account of the tree ends, which catch and de- 

 stro}'^ their heavy nets in sturgeon fishing. These supposed remains of submerged 

 farms under the Delaware's waters have proved to be but portions of the fallen forests 

 and peat layers, which have been laid bare by the water of the Delaware river in cut- 

 ting its way through the old clay and gravel deposits. Traces of early man's presence, 

 as at Lobdell's, have also been found in this peat layer at Naaman's creek and near 

 Grubb's landing, southwest of the last-named place. As the peat and fallen forest layer 

 seems to trend southeastward across the Delaware into New Jersey, it will be inter- 

 esting in the future to see if it has any connection with the well known deposits in 

 the southern portion of that state. 



A thorough study of the peat and forest layer underlying the aqueous deposits in 

 northern Delaware is extremel}' difiicult, for in some cases they are covered by quite 

 heavy deposits of brick-clay and gravel. Much information can be obtained from 

 well-diggers, from railroad excavations, and from creek beds which have cut their 

 way through the clays and gravels. An interesting problem is suggested for the 

 future study of our geologists, as the presence of these organic remains and the dis- 

 turbed appearance of the deposits in some cases suggest that it is not impossible that 

 in the last melting of the great ice-sheet the older deposits were disarranged in the 

 localities referred to, and are not so old as we have hitherto considered them. 



The following resolution was moved by Professor W. M. Davis and unani- 

 mously voted : 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Geological Society of America are ten- 

 dered to the President and Board of Kegents of Columbian University for 

 the generous accommodations given during the present meeting. 



On motion of Professor H. L. Fairchild, the following was unanimously 

 adopted : 



Whereas, The success and pleasure of this meeting of the Geological So- 

 ciety of America has been due in large measure to the skillful plans and 

 hearty labor of the Local Committee : Therefore — 



Resolved, That the earnest thanks of the Society be hereby extended to 

 the Local Conmiittee as a body and to each individual member thereof. 



Responding in behalf of the Local Committee, Mr. G. K. Gilbert named 

 the following subcommittees, to whom credit is due: 



On Rooms: Bailey Willis; I. C. Russell. 



On Magic Lantern : J. S. Diller. 



On Reception : J. P. Iddings ; G. H. Eldridge. 



On Entertainment: W J McGee ; F. H. Newell; Arthur Keith. 



On Printing: W, H. Weed ; C. Willard Hayes; G. P. Merrill. 



