Oscillations of the Califoniia Coast. — Fairbanks. 245 
aside frf)m subsequent modification by sedimentation, was 
given them during the post-Plioeene elevation which the steep 
character of the valleys would appear to indicate was of no 
great duration geologically speaking. The lack sometimes of 
correspondence between these submarine valleys and those of 
the present streams may be due in part to changes in the land 
topography and in part to local conditions during the rising 
and sinking. 
The more important movements of the coast during the time 
under discussion are believed to have been as follows. 
(1) Post-Miocene disturbance, resulting in an elevation 
much greater than the present, and outlining during the re- 
svilting erosion many of tlie present land features and origi- 
nating or enlarging some of the marine valleys. 
(2) Pliocene depression and accompanying sedimentation 
in favored localities. 
(3) Post-Pliocene disturbance accompanied with folding, 
faulting and upheaval to a greater elevation than the present; 
a movement probably felt in the Sierra Nevadas and resulting 
finally in the glaciation of that region. During the erosion of 
this early Pleistocene the existing valleys of the Coast region 
were wholly or partly re-excavated in conjunction with the 
present marine ones. During the period of elevation, prob- 
ably not later than the middle Pleistocene, the mammoth and 
other extinct mammals occupied the Pacific coast and spread 
over what are now known as the Santa Barbara islands. 
(4) After a comparatively brief period as shown by the 
steepness of the submerged valleys a downward movement be- 
gan and continued until the land was at 1200 to 1500 feet be- 
low the present. 
(5) In the recovery from this sunken condition the terra- 
ces were formed and an elevation reached which was some- 
what greater than that now shown. 
(6) Last of all. took place the subsidence recognized by 
Mr. Diller in Oregon, b};- professor Lawson at the Golden Gate 
and by the writer along the coast to the south. 
A present discussion of this subject piust be far from ex- 
haustive and future study may bring out modifications of the 
above outline, but it is hoped that some permanent addition 
has been made to the knowledge of the history of this region. 
