HYDROGRAPHY OF KEW BRUNSWICK 
401 
to a stream after rain may have the counter effect of absorbing 
the stream in dry times. While normally, in the case of ancient 
river valleys, the banks become of finer texture as we descend the 
stream, due to deposition of the coarser flood-borne material in 
the more rapid upper reaches and of the lighter silt below, yet 
small tributaries, when nearing the main stream, are often obliged 
to assume the torrential character, washing the finer material 
from their beds, and leaving collections of gravel, loose stones, or 
even bowlders, into which the attenuated summer flow from 
above may sink and disappear. Long’s Creek, in Kingsclear, 
presents this appearance, and such conditions may have caused 
the above noted phenomenon on Mill Creek. 
4. — The general geological structure of the region, as bearing 
on subterranean flowage. It is quite possible that rain water 
falling on the basin of one river may occasionally sink to a level 
which carries it under the channel of that river, and into some 
lower valley, there to appear as springs. Possibly Nepisiquit 
Lake supplies water to the Little Tobique in this manner. 
5. — The extent to which a stream is fed by springs as distinct 
from surface drainage. Conditions in this respect are connected 
with the two next preceding causes. It seems safe to say that 
springs are the more numerous in the northern highland'. 
Spring Lake, the head of the Little Tobique, is the most striking 
illustration. Its outlet is a wide stream of running water, capable 
of floating loaded canoes. The navigator virtually sees the 
source of his river, so far as it is an open visible stream of any 
size, but a few yards before him. I believe Dr. W. F. Ganong 
ascertained the temperature of Spring Lake to be only 40° Fah. 
in August. 
6. — The slope of the river valley. In some cases, notably 
those of the Nepisiquit Little Southwest Miramichi. and Rip;ht 
Hand Branch of the Tobique, lakes and deadwaters rear the 
source offset the unfavorable effect of rapid descent in the lower 
river. The Northwest Miramichi, although in the region of 
copious flow, has periods of extreme low water, doubtless owing 
to its rapid descent and the complete denudation of forest near 
its main source. 
