112 
BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
twenty-nine inches would bring the surface little above the pre- 
sent summer level of the lake. Accordingly, the greater number 
of relics near the surface may indicate longer occupation, due to 
protection from the spring and autumn floods. A careful record 
was kept of the number of fragments found at various depths. 
These, on comparison, show no marked difference in composition 
or ornamentation. There is no reason for supposing that the 
pottery-makers of this region, as judged by these remains, extend 
back to a remote period, or that they were other than the ancestors 
of the Malecites, who are still found along the St. John River. 
The pottery remains which we have collected give abundant 
evidence in reaching a correct estimate of the range of the pottery 
of the region. The Indians of New Brunswick had passed little 
beyond the simplest stage of vessel making; but it must be re- 
membered that conditions were unfavourable for the develop- 
ment of the potter’s art. The aborigine was a hunter, changing 
his place of abode frequently. This would strongly affect pot- 
tery-making, which never flourishes among nomadic or semi- 
sedentary peoples. Wood was abundant, from which were made 
bowls and vessels, both light and strong. The larger cooking 
vessels were wooden troughs, and cooking was done by means 
of hot stones, as described by Denys and other early writers. 
From the bark of the canoe birch the Indian manufactured water- 
tight vessels of every description, as his descendants do at the 
present time. 
Storage vessels for water were not needed, for in every part 
of the country water is abundant; therefore, it is not remarkable 
that the pottery of the region is elementary in character. 
Hitherto, only fragments have been found, but in a number of 
instances it has been possible to piece these together to form a 
section of a vessel from rim to bottom, thus obtaining accurate 
knowledge of the shape, size and ornamentation. At present we 
have no evidence to show that other than simple wide-mouthed 
culinary vessels were made. In shape, they are limited in 
range, including only bowls and wide-mouthed pots. The 
smaller bowls were about five inches in diameter, and had a 
