102 Capt. Bayfield's Notes on the St. Lawrence. 



that the dip of the transition rocks is not changed by their immediate 

 vicinity^ and because other hills of considerable elevation and of the same 

 appearance^ have been ascertained to be of sandstone. I am inclined to 

 think that they will be found to be of greywacke, or of secondary rocks over- 

 lying that formation. 



The south coast of the St. Lawrence follows the direction of these hills, 

 curving to the southward as we proceed to the eastward ; and it is worthy of 

 remark, that the direction of the strata seems to follow that of the coast. The 

 greywacke series terminates on the coast at Cape Rozier, and is succeeded 

 by conformable strata of limestone, dipping at an angle of about twenty-five 

 degrees to the south-west, and forming the remarkable and precipitous head- 

 land of Cape Gaspe. 



This limestone contains Encrinites, corals, Orthocera, Producta, and other 

 shells similar to those found in the limestones of Anticosti and the Ming-an 

 and Esquimaux islands. It contains thin veins of galena and blende, but not 

 worth working. 



This limestone, which I conceive to be the younger transition, is succeeded 

 to the southward, by a series of alternating sandstones and shales, the strata of 

 which are much disturbed, but preserve a general, conformable dip to the 

 south-west. Both the sandstones and shales are highly bituminous, and pe- 

 troleum springs have been found in the neighbourhood. 



Still further to the southward, at Perce, near the entrance of the Bay of 

 Chaleur, conglomerate, sandstone, shale, and limestone were observed, alter- 

 nating in conformable strata, and preserving the same general dip as before 

 mentioned. Among these, coal is said to have been discovered, thus indi- 

 cating the approach towards the extensive coal formation of New Brunswick. 

 It is probable that we shall learn more respecting the formations of this 

 neighbourhood, when we survey the southern part of the gulf. 



I must now close the paper with a hope, that the desultory and imperfect 

 nature of the information which it contains, will be excused, when it is con- 

 sidered that the remarks, here given, were the result of those casual ob- 

 servations, which we were enabled to make, during the prosecution of our 

 professional duties. 



