The sandy substratum of the coarse conglomerate at the Cascades is evidently an old river or beach deposit. It is accompanied by layers of round water-worn rocks, and is filled with trunks of trees lying prostrate. These trees are fossilized. Some of them are half coal and half stone. The central portions are usually coal-like or carbonized, and the outer parts silicified. They vary in size, from a few inches to six feet in diameter, and are nearly all flattened by pressure. This stratum is evidently the source of the great quantities of silicified wood which are found about the Cascades.
Mr. Stearns read the following note on a large specimen of Orthagoriscus analis, Ayres:
In passing through the Italian Fish Market in this City, in the month of October, 1866, I noticed an unusually large specimen of Orthagoriscus analis, commonly called “Sun Fish,” described by Dr. Ayres on page 31 of Vol. II of the Academy Proceedings. Curiosity led me to make a measurement, which I find in my note-book as follows: length from snout to extreme caudal point, 5 feet 8¼ inches; from tip of dorsal to tip of anal fin, 7 feet 6 inches. I found the anal and dorsal fins to be nearly the same length, measuring from the tip to junction with body 23 inches. Weight, as stated by the fishermen, 632 pounds. It will be seen that the measurement from tip to tip of fins as above, exceeds the length by 21¾ inches.
Mr. Stearns made the following remarks as to the true habitat of Helix Ayresiana, Newc.:
On page 103, Vol. II, of the Academy’s Proceedings, may be found, under date of March 18th, 1861, the description by Dr. W. Newcomb of a Helix H. Ayresiana, the habitat of which was, as I learn from Dr. N., doubtfully assigned at that time to “Northern Oregon.” Recently Dr. Newcomb has himself detected it on Santa Cruz Island, off the Coast of California, near Santa Barbara.
Professor Whitney exhibited a sample of the coal used at Salt Lake City, taken by Mr. Ives, chief of one of the Central Pacific Railroad surveying parties, from a wagon on its way from the mines to the city. The locality from which it was obtained is in Webber Cañon, and the geological age of the deposit is supposed to be cretaceous. The quality of the coal seems to be good; but nothing very definite could be communicated in regard to the extent or geological position of the bed.
Professor Whitney also exhibited a specimen of very pure rock salt, obtained from the Salt Mountain on the Muddy River, a branch of the Virgin, nearly a hundred miles south of Pahranagat, by Major S. S. Lyon, formerly of the Kentucky Geological Survey. Major Lyon being present, at the request of the President, gave an account of this interesting locality, which is one long known to explorers. He stated that the Salt Mountain lies on both sides of the Muddy River, and rises 400 feet above that stream. The locality is about thirty miles northeast of Colville, and twenty from the Colorado. Major Lyon also gave some facts in regard to the geology of the vicinity of Pahranagat, where he had been residing for some months past.
Professor Whitney presented two analyses of ores from the Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Nevada, made by Professor Domeyko, of Santiago, Chile, and communicated by Mr. Rémond, who is now residing in that place. They are as follows:
| I. | II. | |
|---|---|---|
| Gold, | 1.10 | 0.18 |
| Silver, | 15.90 | 8.90 |
| Lead, | 27.30 | 10.00 |
| Zinc, | 23.40 | 21.70 |
| Iron, | 2.80 | 12.00 |
| Copper, | 2.00 | — |
| Antimony, | 1.30 | — |
| Sulphur, | 18.70 | 26.90 |
| Matrix, | 7.50 | 20.32 |
| 100.00 | 100.00 |
The name of the mine from which they were taken was not given.