NATURAL HISTORY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 
191 
they are at least conclusive as to the relative heights of these two- 
mountains. Further, certain measurements which I made this 
year of the surface of Nictor Lake gave results in close agreement 
with those of previous years. Allowing, however, the greatest 
possible error under the circumstances, it could not bring Big 
Bald up to 2,400, nor Carleton down to 2,600, so that Carleton 
still is to be ranked as much the higher. 
There is, furthermore, other evidence confirmatory of this 
height. Big Bald rises from the bed of the South Branch, on its 
south side, less than 600 feet, according to our direct measure- 
ments. Now, we found the South Branch some four miles north 
of the mountain to be, as a mean of two measurements, just under 
1,600 feet in elevation. The current of the river between the two 
places is very gentle, largely Stillwater, and it cannot fall 100 
feet. On a liberal estimate, therefore, the height of the mountain 
would not exceed i,6oo+6oo-|- 100=2,300 feet. That the moun- 
tain does not really rise more than to this height above the river 
is evident at a glance to anyone accustomed to the measurement 
of elevations. While very conspicuous from parts of the sur- 
rounding region, because of the contrast of its bold, bare sum- 
mit with the wooded hills in the vicinity, it is, so far as height is 
concerned, a very disappointing mountain to visit, and it is cer- 
tainly somewhat surpassed in height by other wooded hills in the 
vicinity. That it has come to be accepted as the highest in the 
Province is due, of course, first of all to the error of the Geolo- 
gical map, but this has been aided by a common psychological 
phenomenon, namely, the tendency in the minds of men to attri- 
bute remarkable properties to that which is remote and of diffi- 
cult access. Big Bald is in the very heart of the New Brunswick 
highlands, and there is no spot in the Province more difficult to 
reach ; hence it is easy to imagine it is also the highest place. 
Mount Carleton is, therefore, the highest land in New Bruns- 
wick which has been measured. The Province is now sufficiently 
well explored to make it seem certain that in none of the less 
known parts can any mountain exist equalling it in height. The 
highest point of land in New Brunswick may, therefore, be ac- 
cepted as the summit of Mount Carleton. 
