Oscillations of the California Coast. — Fairbanks. 213 
OSCILLATIONS OF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA 
DURING THE PLIOCENE AND PLEISTOCENE. 
By Haeold W. Faiebanks, Berkeley, Cal. 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE. 
Introduction 213 
General movmeuts of Pliocene and Pleistocene Time 214 
Earlier Opinions concerning the movements of the California Coast 215 
. Demarkation Between the Pliocene and Pleistocene 220 
General Discussion 220 
Detailed Evidence from the Coast Ranges 222 
Post-Miocene Uplift 22,'> 
Evidences of a Post-Pliocene disturbance and Uplift 226 
The Santa Barbara Islands 226 
The Submarine Plateau 228 
The Present River Valleys 235 
Conclusion 243 
Introduction. 
In the following paper it is proposed to trace out, as far as 
can be done at present, the character and sequence of the crus- 
tal movements along the coast of California during the later 
geological times. The investigation will deal particularly 
with those which took place during the Pliocene and Pleisto- 
cene. Various interpretations of the records left -by these 
movements have been given by different observers, but their 
results do not harmonize with each other, nor does any one of 
them appear to express the whole truth. 
The study was primarily suggested, partly by the views of 
professor Le Conte on a former elevation of the coast giving a 
land connection wath the Santa Barbara islands, and partly 
by the results of the soundings of the United States Coast 
and Geodetic Survey as announced by professor George Dav- 
idson. The recent work upon the Pliocene and Pleistocene 
movements of the California coast by professor Lawson has 
resulted in conclusions radically different from those of pro- 
fessor Le Conte and it appears self evident that some one must 
entertain serious misconceptions. 
In developing the subject from observation and stud}^ I 
have been led to the conviction that the later researches have 
failed to discriminate the different movements in a manner 
consistent with the actual facts open to observation. It will 
appear from what follows, that, concerning the important os- 
cillations of the Pleistocene period at least, my conclusions 
are in accord with those of professor Le Conte. 
