12 
BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
131. — On the Physiographic Characteristics of the 
Washademoak-Canaan Riyer. 
Read in Abstract June 10, 1913. 
The Washademoak, or Canaan River, is one of the prin- 
cipal branches of the lower Saint John, into which it flows from 
a source far to the eastward. Its position, on the Central 
Plain but close to the Southern Highlands, together with 
some peculiar cartographical features, have long allured me 
to its physiographic study. In August, 1912, I was able to 
traverse practically its entire length by canoe for this purpose, 
while a year later I descended in the same way the principal 
branch, the North Fork, from near its source, incidentally 
observing again the main river from the Fork down to the 
railroad below Cqles Island.* The results of my observations, 
along with such other information as I have been able to 
obtain concerning the river, are contained in the following 
Note and on the accompanying map. I do not here include 
Washademoak Lake, because I expect to present a later no-te 
thereon to the Society. 
First, however, we take note of the development of our 
knowledge of the river. It achieved a considerable prom- 
inence in the French period of our history through its use as 
a part of the Indian and French route of travel from the 
Chignecto region to Quebec, a matter on which further 
comment will be found in the Supplement to this Note; but 
*My trip along the main river from near Canaan Station to the Saint John was made 
in company with my brother Mr. W. K. Ganong. It was part of a canoe journey from 
Baie Verte to Fredericton via the sea coast, the Buctouche River (to head of tide), the 
Washademoak and the Saint John, — a route and method little used in our day through 
having, I believe, abundant precedents in former times On my trip down the North 
Fork I was accompanied by Mr. Leonard Smith, as mentioned in the earlier Note on Lake 
Stream. 
Incorporated in this paper, and on the map. is a great deal of information for which 
I am indebted to a number of very obliging persons. Concerning the headwaters of the 
river in relation to the Buctouche, and the old Indian portage that lay between them, I 
have had abundant and willing co-operation from Mr. Eugene Bernard of Canaan Station, 
who has known that region long and intimately: and I have also had information con- 
cerning the same region from Mr. Percy Gallagher, the principal guide to those waters. 
Many facts about lower branches of the Canaan have been furnished by Mr. S. E. Mc- 
Donald of Butternut Ridge, while facts in large number about the lower Canaan and the 
North Fork, have been given me by Mr. I. T. Hetherington of Jenkins, Queens County, and 
by Mr. P. H. Welch, of Fulton Brook, Queens County. To all of these courteous gentle- 
men I wish here to express my best thanks. 
