230 PRACTICABILITY OF IMPROVING IRELAND. 



harbours and places of shelter. Cork is fit to receive ships of the line, 

 with others, fit for large ships of different descriptions. From Cape 

 Clear, westward, to Bantry Bay, and Bear Haven inclusive, we find 

 five commodious harbours. Bantry Bay is well known to be one of 

 the finest shelters for fleets in the known world. Navigators can 

 better explain the advantages of Bear Haven and the abundance of 

 refreshments to be obtaind there ; also the harbours of Crook Haven 

 and Glangaraf, as well as Dunmanus bay. 



From Bantry Bay to Tralee harbour there are 16 roadsteads ; at 

 least eight of them affording shelter for large ships. 



The river Shannon is capable of receiving the largest ships. 



On the eastern coast, more immediately in the neighbourhood of 

 Great Britain, from Cam Sore Point to Rachlin Island, we find 32 

 places of shelter. 



On the north coast, taking in Bally Castle and Tory island, both 

 inclusive, there are 12 more bays and harbours ; some of the most 

 magnificent in Europe ; here we find Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle, 

 the harbour of Derry, Mulroy harbour, all lying within less space 

 than 2 degrees of west longitude. 



Taking that part of the western coast, from Tory Island to Loop 

 Head, inclusive, we find 53 places of shelter ; amongst them are, we 

 are informed, at least 17 where the largest ships may ride in safety. 

 The capabilities which these 141 places afford for making useful im- 

 provements may be relied upon, and only require the engineer and 

 the patronage, and industry of wealth and power. Of course nothing 

 more than an outline can be drawn upon such an occasion as the 

 present. It would require not only too much space, but it 

 would be a presumptuous attempt to occupy the post of the 

 engineer and the hydrographer, to extend a subject of this kind into 

 more detail. 



A very important consequence of harbour improvements would 

 be the improvement of shore communication. Then roads would 

 be called for, and made to branch out in all directions, necessary to 

 give passage for all the productions of the ocean ; accordingly, we find 

 that the harbours already constructed or improved have produced 

 the most happy results. They have caused the construction of roads, 

 in districts where no road had ever been before ; the reports of the 

 engineers upon the good effects of some of these harbour improve- 

 ments are well worth attending to. 



Mr Nimmo states that "the effect of these works, namely the roads 

 "and the piers, upon the general prosperity of Ireland, since the year 

 " 1822, is quite magical. Industry and commerce," (he says) u capi- 



