New-York tribune., 1875-03-04


works. the creosote and other similar substances
contained therein even if in very small quantity,
having marked and destructive effect; and even
where the percentage is not sufficient to cause
death or apparently affect the health OF the AMI
mails, Il imparts disagreeable taste readily per-
ceptbe. especiay in the case Of oysters and clans,
and even of iishes.
An appeal vas recently presented by the fisher
men of Munich to the Government in reference to
the admission of gas-water into the river lsar, ana
its influence upon the fishes Of that stream. Prof.
A.. Wagner an eminent chemist, was instructed 10
investigate the matter and make report upon IT,
His article has lately appeared in the BdyertSche'
Indastrie- und Gewcrbeblat in which he describes
number of his experiments For this purpose ne IN
troduced small fishes into vessels containing we'll
water. different amounts of gas-water being added.
The results were as follows
In water to which one per cent of gas refuse was
added the fish put into it became at once very rest
less tried to jump out turned on sner tar one Snute
and were dead after the lapse OF Six Inlnues
In water containing one-half per cent OF SeoS els
refuse fish became at once nee reStes ieSies noI and
died in 80 minutes. In water to which one
quarter per cent Of gas refuse had been added nsn
became restless after some me moareI hnr on 'aI and
a half. In water containing One-tenth per cent Oh
gas water, the fish remained quiet; one OF them
showed no change after three hours and o hail. Dut
died after the lapse of six hours no change was
noticed in the case OF another, small PIKE alter
seven hours, but it was found dead the next morn
ing. , . -
refuse on fish, Prof Wagner recommends that IN
stead of emptying barrels containing about 81 cWt
of gas water into the river at once as hitherto praC
ticed il should be slowly run into 1T In tbn
stream, as to effect the running In OF the quh-
tity produced during the day III the "a hours, the
stream never exceeding five quarts, nor Deihg less
than one quart per minute. by thls means theso
small quantities would at once be diluted 10 such a
extent to become comparatively harmless, cne4n
ica decomposition Of their elements IN the river
water setting in at the same tlme and the injurious
influence need no longer be feared.
CHANGES OF LEVEL on THE COAST OF MAINE
For many years there have been reports of changes
IN the depth of water on the rocks and shoals on
the coast of Maine From report on this subject
to the Superintendent of the Coast survey by Prof
Shaler, the following facts have been gathered:
The natural indications of changes of level are the
remains of marine animals found above the level Of
high tide mark the existence of extensive strated
deposits at points where fresh water lakes could
have had nothing to do with their formation; and
the existence of a characteristic topography not ex-
plicable on any other suppositOn than that of ma
rne action. In his studies upon the coast OF Maine.
Prof ShaIer has not been able to rely to any great
extent upon the first Of these three natural indica
tons; the evidence afforded by the existence or eX-
tensive strated deposits has been to him the most
important, both in its nature and Its quantity.
Taking the masses of sratifed drift the only ac-
centable and abundant evidence of depression, he
considers that we must look at the question of the
origin of these bodies of drift and the possibility OF
their being formed by other agents than those which
arc at work in tho sea. Some slight amount OF STRAIT
ifcaton seems not inconsistent with the theory OF
the action Of water in the formation of extensive
sheets of drift: but when I'll, strated drift is dis
trlbuted in extensive sheets along the shore, all
doubt of marine action may be fairly put away.
The nelghborhood Of Boston, like the whole coun-
try southwark to New-York, is characterized by
having vast accumulation of drift materials dis
posed III four distinct formations each indicating a
separate stage of the glacier period. namely lrSI,
massive DRIFT in patches. which are the Irag.
thickness left by tho old glacier ice sheets. This
drift is quite without traces OF straItcallon, and
Tf part OF nd Of aG
distributed by water, the glacier scratches generally
worn away from the surface OF the pebbles, the
whole indicating one or more OF the processes by
which the reclevatiOn OF the country was elected
after the passage the glacier ice. Third second
airy glacier series, indicating me recurrence oi loc
depresiOns after the partial Icelevaton of the couu-
trV These secondary glaciers IN the nclgnb0rh00d
OF Boston occupy only tho larger stream-beds
Fourth tue reaflinRci DStlS lying WlI1lu ic" lcct
of the present level which indicate long-cOninued
rest OF the seL, at near iis present place. Al tins
level the iifcbaarug bodies ei dllt come again INTO
prominence. Fifth, the extensive mud-beds and
marshes always cOlored by the remainS Of animals
and plants. As go s0Gthward uJm Boston we
gradually 20 an area OF Increased table dIlt OF
indis tnct stra.iicatiOu and corresponding to the
first of the preceding five geological epochs. At
Portland we have distinct evidence 10 show that the
depression of the glacier period was 80 feet. CT
double that of Boston East OF Portland and cover
ing the country aS far as New-Brunswlck, We have
evidence OF the existence of set OF local glaciers
covering the shore. and continuing until The final re-
elevation Of the land TO near its present level. In
some remarks upon the origin OF the glacier epoch.
Prof Shalr has to the theOry that Jur sun
is a variable star