11 



the air and water, before they had become much decomposed. Some specimens are. long in 

 proportion to their depth, and have every appearance of shrinkage and contraction, as if the 

 fish had been thoroughly dried under a hot sun. 



These differences in proportion are most noticeable in the large specimens (Elonichthys 

 browni) from the Albert mines. 



In most cases degrees of distortion, due to pressure during fossilization, supplement the 

 earlier disfigurements. 



Previous Work. 



In the Report of Progress for 1876-77, Geological Survey of Canada, 1878, the distribution 

 and geological age of the Albert shales are discussed at length by Professor L. W. Bailey, and 

 Dr. R. W. Ells, in their joint "Report on the lower Carboniferous belt of Albert and Westmor- 

 land counties, N.B., including the Albert Shales." The general conclusion reached at that 

 time, as to the geological age of the shales, was that they occupied an almost basal position in 

 the lower Carboniferous formation, the lowest member being a conglomerate, of, at that time, 

 unknown thickness. The presence of fossil fishes belonging to the PalEeoniscidse was relied on, 

 in great measure, as an index to the age of these beds. Comment is made on the abundance 

 of fishes, in marked contrast to the paucity of the plant remains, which were, however, con- 

 sidered to be referable to typical lower Carboniferous species (p. 357). 



In 1880, an opinion was expressed by Professor Bailey and Drs. G. F. Matthew and R. W. 

 Ells, in their "Report on the Geology of Southern New Brunswick, etc." (Geological Survey of 

 Canada, Report of Progress for 1878-79) p. 16 D, that " Stratigraphically, the beds of Albert 

 shales, as developed in Albert and Westmorland counties, may belong to a lower horizon than 

 the Carboniferous, and may constitute an upper portion of the Devonian, but the prevailing 

 fossils, both fishes and plants, seem to indicate a lower Carboniferous age." 



At a later date in his "Report on the Geological Formations of Eastern Albert and West- 

 morland counties in New Brunswick, etc.," (Vol. I, New Series, 1885), Dr. Ells retained the Albert 

 shales in his divisions of the lower Carboniferous, recognized in New Brunswick next above a 

 basal conglomerate, presumably about 200 feet in thickness (p. 33 E.) A general section of the 

 lower Carboniferous rocks in this area is given, in ascending order, in this report as'follows:— 



(1.) Basal conglomerate, sometimes wanting; when present, usually of a dull greenish 



colour, made up mostly of slate fragments; thickness, presumably about. . . . 200 ft. 



(2.) Calcareo-bituminous shales, from grey to dark brown in colour, including the 



so-called Albert shales 850 



(3.) Grey bituminous and micaceous oil-bearing sandstone, and lower conglomerates, 

 in massive beds, usually of reddish tint, less rubbly and more calcareous 

 than those of No. I, and unconformable to the preceding 700 



(4.) Red and grey calcareous, sandy, and argillaceous beds, in frequent alternations, 

 with thin beds of conglomerate, and, towards the top, heavy beds of fine 

 rubbly brownish-red shales 450 



(5.) Red and grey conglomerates, grey and flaggy limestones and gypsum 1,950 



