Shore Development in the Bras d' Or Lakes. — Woodvian. 331 
sinuosities and islands so break up and restrict the sheets of 
water that it is difficult for the wind to form currents which 
would last for a considerable time, as happens on the open 
ocean shores. In addition to these diversities, the operations 
have gone on in water which is here shallow, there deep, but 
usually shallow as compared with that ofT the sea-coasts. 
Aside from tidal currents, the agents which can be consid- 
ered as operative in the work of constructing forelands not fed 
by river sediments are these: (i) currents of general oceanic 
circulation ; (2) currents of considerable duration, the efTect of 
prolonged wind action, often seasonal because of the domi- 
nance of a certain wind during that time ; (3) currents caused 
by the unobstructed forward movement of the top water un- 
der wave growth and motion, and lasting little if any time after 
the cessation of the wind ; (4) direct impact of the individual 
wave. The last two can properly be claimed under the general 
head of wave action. The first cause can be dismissed entirely 
as applied to these waters, because they, are lakes and of small 
size. The second is invalid, for lack of evidence to prove its 
efficacy. Such observations as I have made, and such informa- 
tion as has been obtainable from others, lead to the conclusion 
that wind-impelled currents of long duration are not known in 
the lakes. By elimination, this leaves the last two as the 
agents. 
But there are more valid reasons than these for regarding 
waves as the prime factors in the formation of the forelands. 
The character of the components of the spits and bars, the 
shape of the forms, and the observed operations of growth, not 
only can best be explained in this way, but cannot be account- 
ed for by the theory of large-scale currents. In most instances 
the source of the material can be readily discovered, usually 
upon the nearest headlands. In size the particles range from 
sand up to small boulders, and driftwood is a characteristic 
feature of many bars. For these to have been transported and 
deposited by current action, it is necessary for the fragments, 
which must have fallen in some way within reach of these 
currents or been carried offshore to within their grasp by 
waves, to have been borne along as far as possible, and drop- 
ped when the current has lost power or the load become too 
great to be carried with the given rapidity of motion. 
