44 



Richmond formation underlie the sands and gravels around 

 the western end of the lake and continue to the Niagara 

 river and beyond into the State of New York. Exposures 

 are not to be observed at the water level, but numerous 

 outcrops occur a short distance inland. 



A few miles inland from the south shore of the lake 

 the Niagara cuesta rises to a height of about 350 feet (106-7 

 m.) above the water. The strip of land between the cuesta 

 and the lake, extending from the Niagara river to Hamilton 

 is the finest fruit-growing district in Canada. Grapes and 

 peaches of excellent quality are produced in abundance, 

 as well as many other kinds of fruit. Sixty-six varieties of 

 grapes are raised in the district. 



Port Dalhousie — Alt. 250 ft.; 76 m. Port Dalhousie 



was an im- 

 portant ship-building centre before the advent of railways 

 in Ontario. At the present time it is best known as the 

 northern portal of the Welland Canal, which connects 

 Lakes Erie and Ontario. Two canals have been con- 

 structed along this route by the Canadian Government. 

 The first canal, commonly referred to as the "old canal," 

 has a depth of 10 feet 3 inches (3-07 m.) ; it was begun in 

 1824 and completed in 1833. Construction work on the 

 new canal began in 1872 and was completed in 1887. The 

 total length is 26-75 miles (43 km.), and the total rise, or 

 lockage, is 326-75 feet (99-6 m.). There are 26 locks, each 

 of which is 270 feet (82-3 m.) long, 45 feet (13-7 m.) wide 

 and 14 feet (4-2 m.) deep. 



St. Catharines — Alt. 346 ft.; 105-18 m. Leaving 



Port Dal- 

 housie, the electric railway crosses the fruit lands to St. 

 Catharines. The ascent is gradual over post-glacial accu- 

 mulations, which may be seen to the west of the harbour 

 at Port Dalhousie. About half-way, the line of the old 

 canal is crossed. 



St. Catharines is noted for its paper and rubber 

 manufactories, but more particularly as the centre of 

 the fruit industry. A saline spring at St. Catharines 

 contains per gallon of water the following solids: 



NaCl 2200-9370 grains 



CaCb 1 104 -4100 



MgCte 284-6508 



