MEMOIR OF NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 595 



Geological Surve}^ under Major Powell, soon completed the topographical 

 map of the state. 



In 1884 Professor Shaler was appointed in charge of the Atlantic 

 Coast Division of the National Survey and continued this connection 

 until 1900, in the last seven years as a separate party. The original field 

 of this division included the investigation of coastal lands, changes of 

 level, phosphate beds, bog ores, etc., near the coast, but it soon broadened 

 to cover man}^ areas of rock geology, especially the Mount Desert island, 

 the ISTarragansett coal-field and adjacent territory, and the Eichmond,. 

 Virginia, coal-field. The surface geology of nearly the whole of New 

 England was iiltimately included ; so that in the sixteen years of his con- 

 nection with the U. S. Geological Survey he and his associates contributed 

 many large and small papers to the annual reports and bulletins of the 

 Survey and to outside publications. 



In connection with this and earlier work done for the Coast Survey, 

 Mr Shaler used to say he had traveled on foot nearly the whole coastline 

 from Maine to Florida, which a hearer who was familiar with his long 

 strides had no difficulty in believing. He made two explorations of the 

 Dismal SM-amp, a trip through the marsh district about the mouth of the 

 Mississippi, and a visit to the swamps of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 

 and Dakota. 



In the winter of 1887-1888 he went to Florida, examining the phos- 

 phate beds southerly from Charleston, and then the Everglades and 360 

 miles of the east coast of Florida. On this trip the boat in which the 

 party were sailing capsized during the night near an uncharted reef. The 

 shore was reached with the greatest difficulty, and then followed a long 

 walk to the nearest habitation. Mr Shaler published an article on this 

 unexpectedly discovered reef. 



Among his more important Survey publications resulting from this 

 period may be mentioned : 



In 1885 : "Preliminary report on seacoast swamps of the eastern United 

 States." 



1888 : "Eeport on the geology of Marthas Vineyard." 



1889 : "The geology of Cape Ann, Massachusetts;" "The geology of the 

 island of Mount Desert," and "The geology of Nantucket." 



1890 : "General account of the fresh-water morasses of the United 

 States, with a description of the Dismal Swamp district of Virginia and 

 North Carolina." 



1892 

 1893 

 1895 



'The nature and origin of soils." 



te^ 



'The geological history of harbors. 

 'Peat deposits." 



