78 TRAVELS THROUGH LOWER CANADA t 
What Mr. Carver relates concerning tliig 
subject, rather tends to confirm the opinion 
that the waters of the lake do rise. I had 
“ like/’ he says, to have omitted a very ex- 
“ traordinary circumstance relative to these 
ff straits the Straits of Miehillimakinac, be¬ 
tween lakes Michigan and Huron. Accord- 
ing to observations made by the French, 
c<r whilst they were in possession of the fort 
there, although there is no diurnal flood or 
ebb to be perceived in these waters, yet from 
an exact attention to their state, a periodical 
alteration in them has been discovered. It 
was observed, that they arose by gradual but 
almost imperceptible degrees, till they had 
reached the height of three feet; this was 
accomplished in seven years and a half; and 
“ in the same space of time they as gently de- 
f creased, till they had reached their former 
situation; so that in fifteen years they had 
fc completed this inexplicable revolution. At 
<<r the time I was there, the truth of these ob- 
serrations could not be confirmed by the 
“ English, as they had then been only a few 
years in possession of the fort; but they all 
agreed that some alterations in the limits 
of the straits was apparent/" - It is to be 
lamented that succeeding years have not thrown 
more light on the subject; for since the fort 
has been in our possession, persons competent 
