No. 161.] 
the river. The dip of the stratified rocks on Lake Champlain is 
from 50° to 75° to the east.* The same dip continues to the high- 
lands of the upper Hudson, which, when passed, it becomes west 
with about the same inclination as those on the east. The anti- 
clinal ridge is therefore in the neighborhood of the sources of this 
river. The dip of the primitive strata on lakes George and Cham- 
plain, corresponds to that of the Green Mountain range, and the 
strike or direction of the strata is also the same, viz: N. E. and 
S. W. It would appear from this, that the Green Mountain range 
may be subordinate to the mountains of Essex. It belongs to the 
same system, is inferior in height, and the strata lean in this direc- 
tion, showing that the anticlinal ridge is to the westward. This 
we advance as conjecture only; more facts require to be collect- 
ed before the point can be established. . 
On the 3d and last section there are no primitive rocks in place. 
The surface rock at the lake is transition limestone, to which suc- 
ceeds the sandy variety, or the calciferous sand rock of Eaton. 
This continues nearly to Ogdensburgh, or within 5 or 6 miles of 
that place, when the transition limestone again appears, and con- 
tinues, without interruption, to the river. 
This section passes not far north of the primitive ridge near Pa- 
rishville, where it just comes to the surface, but has lost its great 
elevation, having sunk beneath the transition deposites. On this 
section we have placed a marine formation belonging to the Plio- 
cene period of Lyell, or to the newer tertiary of other authors. 
This marine formation may be examined near Champlain, and at 
Constable, 8 or 9 miles north of Malone; it is 150 feet above the 
lake, it contains shells which are enveloped in sand and marly clay. 
This clay probably alternates with sand, in a manner similar to 
other tertiary fornnations; it is not extensive in our district, but 
apparently comes up from Lower Canada, and spreads out exten- 
sively in that country, and is probably the newest or latest marine 
deposite of the great basin of the St. Lawrence. 
In passing from Champlain to St. Regis, on or near the Iine,t it 
appears at several places: its extent is not as yet known. Should 
it be found to spread over the northern counties, at no great depth, 
it will be an important deposite, and may be profitably used as a 
* The dip of the sandstone and limestone on the kke, varies from 10° to 15° easterly, 
except at their meeting with the primitive rocks. 
t The line between New- York and Canada is here understood. 
