PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS IN NEW YORK 511 



The descent of the creek from the upland, 1200 to 1400 feet 

 above tide to the level of Lake Erie, 573 feet above tide, is 

 mainly accomplished in three or four miles. The stream has cut 

 its way through the soft Chemung shales, in a deep and pictur- 

 esque gorge, the nearly vertical walls of which sometimes exceed 

 200 feet. Many short ridges of shale extend into the valley on 

 either side, generally marking sharp bends in the main stream, 

 but in some cases being referable to the entrance of adjacent 

 tributaries. 



The ridges are known as " hog's backs," " camel's backs," " pyra- 

 mids/' etc. In the lowermost two miles of its course the creek 

 reaches the Portage shales and exposes in its bed and banks the 

 upper members of this formation. 



This deep channel held an important place in the exploration 

 of the country by the French during the 18th century. Their 

 parties were accustomed to cross from Canada to the Ohio valley 

 and return by this very route. From the mouth of Chautauqua 

 creek, which afforded a safe harbor for the small boats of which 

 they made use, to the beautiful sheet known as Chautauqua lake, 

 a portage not to exceed eight or ten miles was required. From 

 Chautauqua lake the descent' to the Ohio river at Fort Duquesne 

 (Pittsburg) was easy, through the channels of the Connewango 

 and Allegheny rivers. The old French road from the mouth of 

 the creek was well known to the early settlers of the county. 

 It was called the old Portage road. It crossed the Buffalo road 

 (the main ridge road) one mile west of the village of Westfield. 

 The point of crossing is now marked by an appropriate stone 

 monument. 



For the first half of the century Portland harbor received 

 more or less attention from the general government. From 1820 

 to 1850 it was a fairly important harbor. Steamboats landed 

 there daily or at least regularly during the summer months, and 

 sailing vessels also found their way in numbers enough to cover 

 all the business offered. But with the building of the Lake 

 shore railroad the importance of Portland harbor ceased. The 

 entrance became obstructed by the formation of sand bars de- 

 rived from the materials transported by the creek in floods. The 

 docks and piers passed into decay and after a little the harbor 

 was entirely abandoned except by fishing boats. 



