SUPPOSED EVIDENCES OF SUBSIDENCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK COAST. 47 
at the outset between modern movements and those which, so 
far as can be seen, may have been completed some time ago. 
To avoid any misunderstanding that might arise from the use 
of the term “recent” 1 for the period covered approximately 
by the twenty centuries of the Christian era, the term “modern” 
will here be used. 
Among the supposed evidences of modern subsidence of the 
coast in New Brunswick, those to which attention is here 
invited are: — 
(1) A rapid recession of the coastline now in progress; 
(2) The presence of drowned valleys; 
(3) The presence of barrier beaches; 
(4) Recurved hooks, dipping beneath lagoons; 
(5) Trees dying because of an invasion by high tides; 
(6) Peat bogs whose bottoms lie below high tide mark; 
(7) Old beaches on prograding shores, whose crests are lower 
than the crests of more modern beaches outside of them. 
Such a varied list of evidences would seem to constitute a 
strong argument for the commonly accepted view that the New 
Brunswick coast is now sinking. An examination of the several 
lines of evidence, however, seems to show that convincing proof 
of modern subsidence here, is yet to be discovered; while, on the 
other hand, as some writers have maintained, there are some 
indications that the coast for several centuries has been nearly, 
if not perfectly stable. 
SUPPOSED EVIDENCES OF SUBSIDENCE. 
Recession of the Coastline . — As all who live on exposed portions 
of the New Brunswick coast are aware, and as Professor Ganong 
has pointed out in several of his physiographic and historical 
papers, the coast is being cut back at a rapid rate. Among the 
hundreds of illustrations which might be given, are the sites of 
the old French establishments at Fort Nipisiguit, Fort Moncton, 
and Little Shippigan, which have been more or less completely 
Which, according to the best usage, is synonymous with the "human” or "post- 
Glacial” period. 
