Proceeding south-westward across the entrance of the bay, these shoals are the Spear shoal, having a patch of rock with 10 feet least water near its east end; the Heart Shoal lying about a mile W.N.W. from the Spear Shoal, and S.W. by S. 14 miles from Cape Spear has 9 feet water, and 15 feet between it and the shore; the Laurent Shoal, of rock and sand, with 16 feet least water, is about 3 mile long by half that distance in breadth ; this shoal is bold on the east side, where there are 4 fathoms close to ; the Aggermore rock, with 18 feet least water, and bearing N.E. E., 23 miles from Cold Spring head, is, 立 like the Laurent shoal, merely one of the shallowest points of an extensive rocky bank, which is thinly covered with mud and sand, and which extends out from Cape St. Laurent and Ephraim Island, in a S. E. direction, so as to leave a deep channel, about 2 miles, between it and Cold Spring Head. At low water, not more than 3 fathoms could be safely reckoned upon, in running between the Aggermore rock and the Laurent Shoal, or between the latter and the Ephraim banks, extending off the northern shore. Between Boss and Jackson Points, there is a dangerous shoal called Boss's sandspit, extending mile from the south shore at 3 miles to the north-west from Cold Spring head. This spit dries out to its edge, and is so steep too, that there are 17 feet water close to its outer point. The depth of water between these shoals and Jackson's Point varies from 3 to 6 and 34 fathoms; from Jackson's Point midway towards Tidnish Head it decreases to 2 fathoms. Further up the bay there are two patches of stone with 3 and 5 feet water at the distance of and of a mile N.N.E. E. from Tidnish Head; the depth of water at about 1 mile northward from the shore is 2 fathoms; thence it diminishes gradually towards the head of the bay. Local Information respecting Baie Verte: Navigation opens sometimes on 1st March, but generally on 1st April, and closes towards 30th November. The most prevalent winds are S.W. in spring, S. to S.W. in summer, and N.W. in autumn. Easterly winds are not of frequent occurrence; the worst winds causing the roughest sca are from the E. and S. E. There is less water in the bay than 30 years ago; between Jackson's and Weeks' Points, the bottom was of clay, and is now covered over with sand one foot in depth; one of the worst parts for sand is about one mile out from Weeks' Point. Towards the entrance of the Tidnish there are oyster and mussel beds. FRESII WATER DISCHARGES FRCM RIVERS AND LAKES. The volumes of fresh water discharged by each of the streams was measured in August, 1870, after a succession of several weeks of very dry weather, and may therefore be considered as a minimum, is as follows: The general surface elevation of the streams and lakes available for the supply of a canal across the isthmus, is scarcely above the level of the highest spring tide of the Bay of Fundy, Square Lake, or Lowther's Lake at the head of the Gaspereau, is about 50 feet above this level, its depth is about 14 feet, and it covers an area of nearly half a square mile. The supply that could, under any circumstances, be derived for navigation from any of these sources is so small compared to what will be required, and would be so soon exhausted that its use would not warrant the expenditure necessary to obtain it. TIDAL FLUCTUATIONS, Bay of Fundy and Baie Verte. The variations of the tide were noted every five minutes each day in both bays, except when stormy weather or other obstacles prevented, by means of guages divided into feet and tenths from low water level upwards. The Bay of Fundy gauges were placed near the mouth of the Au Lac, the Baie Verte tide gauges next in the Tidnish Bridge, one and a quarter miles from the outlet of the same. At the Bay of Fundy the tide register was kept from 13th August, 1870, to 21st January, 1871, when the guages were broken down by floating ice; at Baie Verte it was kept from 10th August, 1870, to 1st June, 1871. According to these registers and other observations the tidal fluctuations affecting the practicability of the canal may be enumerated as follows, viz. :— Bay of Fundy Tidal Observations, Elevation above Datum. Feet. High water sax by tidal wave, October, 1869...... 100.00 spring tide of each month.. 94.08 Average mean range of high water, taking the average of high water of every day of each month 89.77 Average minimum range of high water, taking the lowest neap 85.71 Average maximum range of low water, taking its highest 57.13 Average mean range of low water, taking the average low 52.90 Average minimum range of low water, taking the lowest tide of N. B.-High water, Bay of Fundy, remains stationary from 15 to 20 minutes. Average maximum range of high water, taking the highest spring tide of each month.... 77-60 77.37 75.75 Average mean range of high water, taking the average of high water of every day of each month 73.93 Average minimum range of high water, taking the lowest neap tide of each month 72.15 Average maximum range of low water, taking the highest elevation of each month.. 70.66 Average mean range of low water, taking the average low water of each month, or ordinary 10w water 69.28 Average minimum range of low water, taking the lowest tide of each month 67.85 Lowest water observed 30th September, 1870 Extreme low water, according to local information,—Baie Rise of extreme spring tides, or greatest variation water Difference between lowest tide observed, and average maximum of spring tides.... 66.87 65.57 Feet. 10.50 8.88 Spring tides rise--per Bayfield Neap do do 9.00 5.00 COMPARISON of tidal fluctuations, Bay of Fundy and Baie Verte, shewing difference of elevation between both bays at high water and low water, affecting the question of lockage. Any further details respecting the rise and fall of the tides may be obtained by reference to the summary appended to this Report, pages 39 and 40, and to the tide guage register books. AUGUST, 1870 TO JANUARY, 1871.-Longest duration of the lowest range of high water observed during 4 months. - Rise of extreme spring tides, or greatest variation observed .... 48.80 46.88 45.25 38.00 Difference of time of high and low water at Baie Verte, St. John and Cumberland Lakes. According to calculation the difference is as follows, viz. : According to simultaneous observations made at each place, the ELEVATION of Bay of Fundy Tides above ordinary low water, according to tide guage, half a mile below mouth of the River Au Lac, from 13th August, 1870, to 21st January, 1871 :- . N.B.-2.75 feet added to the above figures in each column will show elevation of tides above extreme low water. 50.00 feet added to the same figures will show elevation of tiles above the datum line to which the levels of the canal lines have been referred. The zero of the Bay of Fundy guage was placed at ordinary low water of spring tides, and the datum 50 feet below that level. Extreme low water of spring tides is 2.75 feet below zero of guage. The soundings in the Bay of Fundy have been referred to extreme low water. |