of Refuge on the East Coast of Scotland. 311 



this locality, vessels are exposed to " encountering a sea and 

 tide (to use an expression of a committee appointed by the In- 

 corporation of Traders in Leith, relative to the expediency of 

 erecting a light-house on the Bell-Rock), surpassed in few 

 places on the globe."* The truth here stated is too fully cor- 

 roborated by the shipwrecks which ever and anon are occur- 

 ring on the portion of the coast referred to, whereby a con- 

 siderable amount of life and property is annually sacrificed, 

 wliich the existence of suitable harbours of refuge might great- 

 ly reduce. 



It is true, that the erection of light-houses on the different 

 pai-ts of the coast imder consideration, from tlieir sites being ju- 

 diciously selected, and all their arrangements satisfactorily re- 

 gulated, has furnished to the shipping an important amount 

 of security. But, in its character, this security is essentially 

 different from that which a harbour of refuge would afford. 

 The former merely enables the mariner to ascertain his posi- 

 tion or his danger, the latter receives him into safety. Se- 

 parately, each has its excellencies, but when conjoined, then 

 only is the maximum of protection furnished to the seaman. 



The questions respecting the suitable positions, forms, and 

 materials of the harbours of refuge, cannot, in the present 

 state of our information, be expected to receive a satisfactory 

 reply. We take it for granted that the object in view can 

 only be accomplished by means of a breakwater, protecting a 

 bay or convenient portion of the coast from the fury of the 

 waves, and permitting vessels to ride at anchor therein, with- 

 out strain on their cables, and in comparatively still water. 

 It may also be assumed that the materials for the construction 

 of the breakwater must be stoms. Logs of timber, it is true, 

 have been proposed as suitable materials for the construction 

 of breakwaters, and their claims on this score have met in some 

 quarters with considerable favour. But although TF/«7e's Break- 

 water, and all its subsequent modifications, may be advanta- 

 geously employed /or a few months, to shelter bathing ground, 

 or protect a fishing- station ; yet the perishable character of the 

 timber, in sea-water, must not be forgotten, when the import- 



* Stevenson's Account of the Bell-Kock Light-house, p. 9G. 



