8 Canadian Record of Science. 



Our Record of Canadian Earthquakes. 



By Sir J. William Dawson. 



In the " Canadian Naturalist," 1st series, vol. v., on 

 occasion of the earthquake of October 17, 1860. an account 

 was given by the writer of this article of all previously re- 

 corded Canadian earthquakes, with remarks on their 

 periodicity, local peculiarities and probable causes. In the 

 same periodical, new series, vol. i., the record was kept 

 up to 1864. In vol. v. of the same series it was continued 

 to the earthquake of October 20, 1870 ; and in vol. viii. 

 to that of November 4, 1877, which was the most consider- 

 able since that of May, 1871. The severity of the shock of 

 Nov. 27th, 1893, has again attracted public attention to the 

 subject, and lurnishes a suitable occasion for continuing the 

 record. 



Subsequently to 1877, the following earthquakes have 

 been noted at Montreal, but have not been recorded in this 

 journal. They are given as reported in the newspapers of 

 the time, and the dates are of course very imperfect : 



1879 — April 7 — St. Paul's Bay, at midnight, slight and local. 

 June 11 — Montreal and elsewhere in the Province of 



Quebec ; smart shock with rumbling noise. 

 Aug. 21 — Various places in Ontario; slight shock (in 

 the morning.) 

 1880— Feb. 8— Ottawa, slight shock. 



April 3 — Quebec and Ottawa, 10 p.m., slight. 

 Nov. 24 — Quebec, 11.45, smart shock. 

 Nov. 29 — Bay St. Paul, smart shock. 

 Dec. 30— Cap des Monts, smart shock. 

 1881 — May 31 — Lower St. Lawrence, at L'Islet, 4.30 a.m. ; 



Murray Bay, 3.30 a.m. 

 1882— Oct. 10 — Montreal, at dny break, slight. 



Dec. 4 — Various places in Ontario and Eastern Town, 

 ships of Quebec, smart shock; at Welland, 6.30 p.m. 

 1883 — Jan. 1 — Various places in the Maritime Provinces. 

 At St. John, four minutes before 10 a.m., slight. 



