The production of petroleum and natural gas in eastern Canada during 1969 was 1,170,547 bbl and 11,791,984 Mcf, respectively. This represents an increase of 12,120 bbl (1%) of oil and a decrease of 432,941 Mcf (3.7%) of gas from the previous year.

In the Hudson Bay region, industry and various government agencies completed 3½ crew-months of combined geologic and geophysical work. Two stratigraphic tests, 1 offshore in Hudson Bay and 1 on land in the southern rim of the Hudson Bay basin, accounted for 7,319 ft of drilling.

In southwestern Ontario 144 exploratory tests and 64 development wells were completed during the year--an increase of 71 exploratory wells and a decrease of 15 development wells from the previous year. An increase in Lake Erie exploratory drilling combined with greater emphasis on Silurian reef exploration resulted in an overall increase of 46% in total footage drilled in 1969 from 1968.

In Quebec, 3 exploratory wells were completed. Geologic and geophysical surveys totaled 34 3/4 crew-months--13 by industry and 21 3/4 by government agencies.

In the Atlantic provinces considerable interest was focused on the offshore continental shelves. A 13,085-ft exploratory well was completed on the Scotian Shelf 18 mi southwest of Sable Island. On the Labrador coast a 1,217-ft stratigraphic test was completed on Akpatok Island in Ungava Bay. Offshore east-coast holdings increased by more than 53,850,000 acres (26.2%) in 1969 to an all-time high of 258,986,024 acres. In the offshore areas industry accounted for 43½ crew-months of geologic and geophysical activity, and government and scientific institute activity accounted for 80 3/4 crew-months.