Yrly Means 1855) 29.730 42.29 .822 19.96 85.91 41.943 42 98 312.15 41.57 .804 23.36 97.45 40.505 53 80 222.06 42.89 .825 19.40 116.81 44.201 37 99 GENERAL METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER FOR THE YEAR 1855.-PROVINCIAL MAGNETICAL OBSERVATORY, TORONTO, C. W. Latitude, 43°.39.4 North; Longitude, 799.21.5 West. Elevation above Lake Ontario, 108 feet; approximate elevation above the Sea, 342 feet. MEAN METEOROLOGICAL RESULTS AT TORONTO, DURING THE be increased by 1°. Even with this modification the temperature of every DIRECTOR OF THE PROVINCIAL MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY, TORONTO. Read before the Canadian Institute, 2d February, 1856. The hottest month in the year was July, and the coldest February. The 19.1, The lowest temperature ever recorded, -25°.4, occurred on February -149.38. The hottest day was July 19th, with a mean temperature 79°.45; and enced at the Observatory. The The greatest daily range was 39°.4, and occurred on May 24th. There have been 42 instances in which the temperatures at the hours of month was below that dependent on geographical position excepting the temperature of July, which was, however, only 0.25 in excess. The highest reading of the barometer was 30.552 in., at 6 A. M. of Janu- The mean humidity of the year was 77; the greatest monthly humidity ary the humidity fell short one per cent. only of complete saturation-on Janu- The extent of sky clouded was on an average three-fifths of the whole; The mean direction of the wind has been W 28°N, with a mean velocity The depth of rain has been 31 650 inches, which is 286 more than the Frost occurred in every month but July; the latest in spring having There have been 38 thunder-storms in the year. Of these none occurred THE CANADIAN JOURNAL. NEW SERIES. No. III. - MAY, 1856. THE ANCIENT MINERS OF LAKE SUPERIOR. PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND ENGLISH LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, TORONTO. Read before the Canadian Institute, January 26th, 1856. During the past summer of 1855, it was my good fortune to accomplish a long desired visit to the ancient copper country of Lake Superior, where, more perhaps than on any other spot of this continent, may be witnessed the incipient traces of aboriginal arts and civilization. On that occasion I had an opportunity of exploring part of the rich copper-bearing region of Keweenaw Point and the adjacent country, and witnessing for myself evidences of ancient mining operations, which prove the existence, at some remote period, of the rudiments of native metallurgic arts. The Keweenaw Peninsula is traversed obliquely by a range of trap rock, rising in some places into magnificent cliffs of several hundred feet in height; and in this igneous rock, which passes in a southwestern direction across the Keweenaw Lake into the inland country, are found the rich copper veins which have already conferred such great commercial value on that district of Michigan. In their present state, it is difficult to realize the conception that these copper regions were ever ransacked for their mineral treasures, or explored by any other but the stray hunter of the forest, until the commencement of regular mining operations in very recent years. Landing at Eagle River, I made my way some miles into the country, through dense forest, over a road, in some parts of rough corduroy, and in others traversing the forest in its gradual ascent, |