HAYES AND 
KENNEDY. 
PORT ARTHUR-SABINE PASS DISTRICT. Ill 
samples of mud which were collected 2 and 9 feet below the surface 
were free of living diatoms. The quantity of shells contained in the 
mud was small in comparison with the total contents of the mud. 
" With these facts before us it does not seem possible to explain the 
occurrence of the oil in the black mud as arising from the action of 
diatoms. It can not be attributed to the segregation of oil by living 
diatoms, because of their entire absence from the mud; nor can it 
have its origin in diatoms buried in the mud in the past, because of 
the small number of shells present; and, lastly, as regards its contents 
of diatoms, the mud from which the oil rises is not different from the 
mud at various places near by, which show no traces of oil." 
The results of this investigation by Dr. Turner, while not absolutely 
conclusive, indicate that some other source for this oil must be sought 
than the diatoms. Since, as shown above, it is entirely improbable 
that the oil was derived from Beaumont by floating upon the surface 
of the water, the only other source assignable is from the underlying 
strata. It does not necessarily follow, even if this is the case, that 
this region is underlain by a commercial deposit of petroleum, but the 
indications are sufficiently favorable to warrant thorough exploration 
by means of the drill. The most favorable indications arc afforded 
within the region lying between the quarantine station and the 
outer end of the west jetty and thence westward for a quarter of a 
mile. 
It is a fact which may be worthy of note that this locality is inter- 
sected by a straight line passing through the Vinton and Sulphur dis- 
tricts in Louisiana, both of which, as will be described later, show 
favorable indications of oil. The relations of these several localities 
are shown on the map, PI. VII (p. 144). 
SEA WAX. 
In connection with the so-called oil ponds may be mentioned a 
peculiar substance called sea wax, which is frequently found along 
the Gulf beach from the Sabine to Corpus Christi. This sea wax is 
reported to have been found in cakes as large as or 8 feet in length 
and an inch or two in thickness. The chemical composition of this 
material has been determined by Dr. A. L. Watz, of Tulane Univer- 
sity, his results being given in full by Dr. Phillips in the report above 
cited. This sea wax is undoubtedly a petroleum residuum or an 
asphaltum. The cakes have traces of concentric structure, as though 
the material had spread out in all directions from the source of supply 
at the center, where it is slightly thicker than elsewhere. The source 
of this material is not known, and it may have nothing whatever to 
do with the oil ponds, but its presence is at least suggestive and points 
to the existence of springs of liquid bitumen somewhere in the Gulf, 
and to that extent supports the theory that the oil ponds are actually 
