22 REPORT OF THE 



plete the elucidation of our geology, and adapt it in all respects 

 to our present wants and the present state of the science. This 

 view seemed the more consistent, since any adequate report 

 upon our geology could not fail to do justice to the names of 

 those who were the pioneers- in Michigan geology. 



After the interval which had elapsed since the date of the 

 explorations made in the Lower Peninsula of the State, it was 

 obvious that a great multitude of facts must have come to 

 light, calculated to have a bearing upon any final conclusions 

 as to the geological succession of our strata. New natural 

 exposures of the underlying rocks, had been discovered, new 

 quarries had been opened, the working of coal and gypsum had 

 actually commenced on a successful scale, and especially were 

 new opportunities presented for the collection of fossils — the 

 language in which geological records are written. It seesaed 

 necessary, therefore, to undertake the same thing which had 

 been undertaken by Massachusetts, by South Carolinia, Tennes- 

 see, and other States. The ground was to be gone over again, 

 for the purpose of posting up our collection of facts. The 

 Lower Peninsula, as being least understood, was to receive the 

 first reconnoissance. Detailed examinations were to be made, 

 only with reference to settling the geographical distribution of 

 the coal, and resolving other questions of immediate economical 

 importance. The report which follows, will show I trust, a 

 satisfactory degree of success in making these determinations. 

 The geological observers, in the progress of their work, were 

 to embrace favorable opportunities for the collection of zoologi- 

 cal and botanical specimens; and the zoological observers were 

 to make note of all geological data which came in their way. 



In pursuance of the plan agreed upon, I made an excur- 

 sion on the first of April to the Maumee river, where, by the 

 enlightened liberality of Mr George Clark, the proprietor of 

 several fishing stations on the rivers and lakes, I was enabled 

 to secure two or three barrels of specimens of the various spe- 

 cies of fisfe, and other aquatic animals common to south eastern 

 Michigan and northern Ohio. At the same time, Dr. Manly Miles, 



