Lake Seneca. 451 
ence. In many places however, for a small extent, the surface is 
clayey, and even extremely so, as if the materials of the lower 
rock had been deposited upon the higher. An example of this 
kind occurs a little west of the village of Lockport, where the 
limestone is covered by a clayey soil, while a mile or two further 
east, the soil is a light loam, The latter character also prevails 
in some places near Rochester, and at other points along the out- 
crop of this limestone. This character of the soil, together with 
the rapid drainage to which it is subjected, from the fissures or 
joints in the limestone, as well as the proximity of the rock to the 
surface, has given rise to a different growth of timber, which every 
where marks the limestone terrace. While the country on the 
north and south sustains a forest of maple, beech, elm, ash, and 
the associated forest trees; that along this limestone is indicated 
by oak, chestnut, and others of the same nature. — JYaiurul Hist. 
ofJVew York. 
LAKE SENECA. 
BY J. TREMPER. 
The head of this lake lies about 26 miles above the southern 
line of the state, and the basin extends northwardly about 38 
miles, where it discharges its waters into the Scayace, or Seneca 
river; it varies in breadth from one and a quarter to three and a 
half miles. Besides Catharines creek from the south, and the 
waters of the Crooked lake from the west, it receives several 
other smaller tributaries upon both its eastern and western limits. 
Those nearer its southern termination, by the superior elevation of 
the strata of rock, form very pretty cascades; that near Goff's 
Point in the deep retirement of a shaded dell, produces a sight 
and sound extremely pleasing. There are no islands in this lake 
to interrupt the expanse of water, audits geological position does 
not permit us to expect in its scenery anything of the rugged and 
sublime. There is however a quiet beauty in its deep blue waters, 
as it lies embosomed in the still deeper green of its gently rising 
hills, regularly and trimly formed, that is very agreeable to the 
eye. The greatest fathomed depth is about 530 feet, but in many 
places the water is of less depth; the surface of the lake may be 
estimated at 68,000 acres, and its water shed or drainage, in- 
cluding that of its sister lake, the water of which it receives, at 
439,000 acres. The waters collected from this vast extent of 
country, after deducting the evaporation, are discharged by the 
