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tain that its origin is natural say that it is formed in the rocks
below sea-level and has broken from them and floated to shore.

In appearance the wax is translucent, pale yellow, homogene-
ous, and evidently of a high degree of purity. It is found in
cakes which are usually rectangular, up to 18 inches square and
2 to 3 inches thick. Although somewhat abraded by rough
treatment on the beach, and occasionally having sand embedded
in its surface, the wax has without question been moulded by
artificial means; and the pieces seen are very similar to the
paraffin cakes sold for household purposes.

A sample of the wax was tested in the laboratory of the fuel
testing station at Ottawa by Fred. E. Carter, who reports as
follows:

“Paraffin wax, recovered from the residue left after distilling
petroleum, and ozocerite, the residue left by nature from petro-
leum deposits, have striking similarities rather than dissimilari-
ties; and it is rather difficult to determine the origin of a sample
(by laboratory tests). The melting point and the solubility in
alcohol indicate that the sample submitted is impure paraffin
wax rather than ozocerite.”’

In view of the mode of occurrence of the wax, its appearance,
the shape of the cakes, and its high purity, the theory that it
is of natural occurrence is so improbable as to be fantastic.
Furthermore, while the bitumen of natural occurrence on Gra-
ham island is of an asphaltic nature, this wax is what would be
derived from an oil with a paraffin base, and cannot serve as an
indication of asphaltic oil.

The paraffin is thought to have floated ashore from a ship,
having been thrown into the water, or to have come there by
shipwreck’. The west coast of Graham island is swept by cur-
rents that bring material of many kinds to land; redwood from
California or Puget sound has been found there, as has oak and
other dressed lumber from localities unknown. In July, 1914,
great quantities of white, purple-stained pumice were washed
ashore, for the first time according to several men familiar with

1 Compare the beeswax found at Nehalem bay, Oregon, U.S.A., and described by C. W.
Washburne, U.S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 590, p. 65. As in the present case, this wax has been held
to be ozocerite, and called an indication of oil.