I 



1871.] 121 [Niles. 



bays was far greater than at present. This would have contributed 

 to cut away their shores of incoherent sand, and thus increase their 

 width. If we examine the shores of Pamplico and Albemarle Sounds 

 we find a tolerably regular correspondence between the direction of 

 the major axis of the narrow bays and inlets which lead off the 

 large sounds, and the course of the prevalent winds, showing a ten- 

 dency to elongate in the direction of the run of the waves. This 

 shows how far the development of the irregularities of this shore may 

 be dependent upon the wear of the water currents. 



Although my investigations of the geology of this part of our 

 coast was carried on under great disadvantages, from the fact that 

 deep snows covered the surface, and made detailed geological work 

 impossible, yet there are some points in the economy of the subject 

 upon which some information was gained. To the people of this 

 region it is of great importance to determine whether the phosphate 

 marls exist beneath their soil as in the coast region of South Caro- 

 lina. I have not yet succeeded in finding the nodular phosphates in 

 the Pamplico region. There can be no doubt, however, that the 

 similarity in the geological structure of the country points to the 

 probability of finding these valuable deposits in some parts of the 

 shore region. A careful exploration of all the localities where there 

 is a probability of finding the phosphates should be undertaken at 

 the earliest opportunity. 



Mr. J. B. Perry said, in regard to the Syenite underlying 

 the coal, that there is no evidence of intrusion. The Syen- 

 ite was in existence before the coal was laid down. 



Mr. W. H. Niles remarked that the question which Prof. 

 Shaler had discussed was one of great interest, and he con- 

 sidered his view consistent with all the physical features of 

 our eastern coast. The deepest portion of the sea-bed lies 

 opposite mountains, showing a parallelism between the At- 

 lantic valley and the Appalachian System. The Cincinnati 

 axis he thought instructive, because showing that all parallel 

 chains were not raised at the same time. The long terrace 

 of the Atlantic plain forms another parallel. The deposi- 



1 This paper is from a report on the geological history of Cape Hatteras, published 

 by permission of Prof. B. Pierce, Superintendent of the U. S. Coast Survey. 



