416 
GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 
In a direction northeast from Racket lake, is a chain of smaller but beautiful lakes, which 
together form the upper waters of the platform. This chain was called, in the Report of 
1841, the Eckford chain, from its principal lake, which is about five miles long. The upper 
lake of this chain is called Lake Janet, from a respect entertained for the accomplished lady 
of the Zoologist of the Survey. The several lakes of this chain unite their waters, and form 
a deep serpentine river, which empties itself into a long and deep bay on the east shore of 
Racket lake. This river, in the report just referred to, was named Marion river. 
During the preceding topographical details, I have not forgotten that my business is with 
geology. But while this is true, I would remember that in a community constituted like ours, 
many individuals require recreation daring certain seasons; and while I am occupying time 
and space in details of this kind, I am also making known a new field for relaxation from 
business — one which has peculiar advantages and many resources for restoring health and 
spirits, such as are unknown at the more fashionable watering places. In this course, there¬ 
fore, I feel that I am not travelling out of the sphere of usefulness. The breezes of Hamilton 
are invigorating; the lake scenery is magnificent, and the exercise it calls forth is healthful; 
and the invalid who, after reaching these romantic wilds, makes a rational use of the forests 
and lakes and the skies which invest them, and returns dissatisfied with what he has received, 
I should pronounce not only difficult to please, but mistaken in the objects of his search and 
in the character of his wants. 
Again, from the head of Racket lake, a more remarkable chain of lakes extends out into 
Herkimer county, through which an easy passage is provided to the great north and south 
travelled road leading from Utica to Watertown and Ogdensburgh. This chain has been 
named the Fulton chain; one half of which belongs to Hamilton, and the other to Herkimer 
county. It extends from Racket lake to that tract of land which is so generally known as 
the John Brown tract. 
Primary and Sedimentary Rocks. 
It is probably understood from the facts already communicated in this report, that this 
county is essentially primary. The predominant rock is gneiss, with transitions into horn¬ 
blende. In the vicinity of Lake Pleasant the rock is gneiss, with a large amount of horn¬ 
blende, and containing large imperfect garnets : it extends towards Lewis lake in township No. 
8. There is liltle variety in the character of the masses which together constitute the primary 
rocks. Primary limestone appears at intervals throughout the entire region, accompanied 
with its usual associate, serpentine; and although the main rock of the country is stratified, 
still the limestone preserves the characters which belong to it when associated with an unstra¬ 
tified rock. 'Fhe gneiss of the central and northern parts of the county differs only slightly 
from that ol the southern. In Racket lake it contains hornblende, and dips northwest. At 
Brown’s trad, the gneiss is of the same character, and dips also northwest. At the Seventh 
lake, it dips northwest also, and contains tremolite and rose quartz. The general strike or 
