498 
secretary's report. 
The paper was followed by an interesting discussion, in which 
several of the members took part. The Chairman (Dr. Forsyth) 
mentioned the occurrence of a higher percentage of salt on the small 
islets and promontories on the west of Scotland, due to the nearness 
of the sea and prevalence of certain winds, which would give to the 
streams that drained them a higher analytical value of NaCl. 
Mr. F. W. Branson, F.I.C, spoke on the American geological 
examinations of the passage of chlorine from the sea to inland areas. 
Mr. P. F. Kendall, F.G.S., defended Professor Kamsey's theory 
of the formation of the Caspian Sea, and gave a very interesting 
account of personal observations on the occurrence inland of salt 
spray, and other cases he had noticed on the Yorkshire coast during 
a high wind. 
A hearty vote of thanks to the Reader of the paper concluded 
a very interesting meeting. 
The first General Meeting and Field Excursion for 1901 was 
held at Keswick for the examination in situ of the rocks in that 
neighbourhood, which are found as boulders in the drift deposits 
of Yorkshire. 
A representative gathering of members assembled at the Keswick 
Hotel on Thursday evening, June 27th, with every prospect of 
favourable weather and an instructive meeting. On Friday morning, 
June 28th, an early start was made by train for Threlkeld, under 
the guidance of Mr. J. Postlethwaite, F.G.S., and some time was 
spent in the granite quarry, and noting the interesting junctions 
of the intruded rock with the Skiddaw Slates, which show very fe^v^ 
signs of metamorphism. A visit was also paid to the works where 
flagstones are manufactured. 
A traverse was then made, under the leadership of Mr. P. F. 
Kendall, F.G.S., to the Glendera terra Valley, to see the Skiddaw 
Granite and note the extensive metamorphic changes in the Skiddaw 
Slates. Excellent exposures of the chiastolite slate and spotted schist 
were seen, and the granite was found well exposed in Synen Gill. 
Junctions with the schist were examined, and a tongue of more finely 
grained granite noted. The party walked back round the shoulder 
of Skiddaw to Keswick. After dinner the General Meeting was held 
