^YArE WORK 567 



due to an unusual disturbance of the profile of equilibrium by excep- 

 tional storms. Most of the material removed from the bar was carried 

 seaward to perfect the proper shore profile of equilibrium demanded by 

 the stonns. Part of it, at least, should be carried back to the beach as 

 new conditions demand a new profile. In fact, this process is already 

 in operation, and the shore has been built so far forward in places as to 

 obscure much of the erosive effect accomplished a few months ago. 

 Xothing in the nature of the erosion or of the deposition indicates any 

 change in the relative level of land and sea. 



If the land were sinking at the rate of one or two feet per century, 

 the problem of maintaining sea defenses against the ravages of the ocean 

 in the Seabright district would be more serious than it is. The tend- 

 ency of storm waves to cut into the land would be more marked than at 

 present, and the tendency of marine forces to repair the damage by 

 deposition during calm weather would be less evident. Even as it is 

 the problem is sufficiently serious. Along with the alternate erosion 

 and accretion in the shore zone, due to the varying effect of the marine 

 forces, there is a slow loss of land resulting from the action of cur- 

 rents in transporting some of the eroded debris to deep, quiet waters 

 farther out to sea. This loss can only be arrested by superior methods 

 of artificial protection. 



That the damage of which the sea is capable justifies the expendi- 

 ture of large sums of money in improved sea defences is abundantly 

 proved by the recent storms. The actual value of property completely 

 destroyed in the single town of Seabright was enormous and the suffer- 

 ing of its citizens can not be estimated in money. Many who were 

 unable to bear any loss saw the savings of a lifetime swept out to sea 

 by the merciless waves. It would be difficult to estimate the deprecia- 

 tion in the value of property along this part of the coast alone, a de- 

 preciation shared by lands not actually eroded because of the apparent 

 magnitude of the dangers to which they are subjected. 



So long as the defence of the land is in a large number of hands 

 and every landowner is practically free to do as little or as much as 

 he pleases toward preventing the sea from gaining access to his prop- 

 erty, many must suffer from the failure of a few to take proper precau- 

 tions against marine erosion. As soon as the sea finds a point of weak- 

 ness in the defences, it rapidly widens the breach and attacks adjoining 

 property on either side. In some places where the bulkheads in front 

 of one man's property resisted the direct attack, the property was badly 

 damaged by erosion from one or both sides after the sea had entered 

 neighboring lots. Some method of government supervision of marine 

 defences would seem to be the only satisfactory solution of this serious 

 problem. 



