314 Dr Fleming on the Krpedienci/ of forming Harbours 



to use them with success ; and I have been informed by com- 

 petent judges, that the observations and drawings which have 

 been produced, possess uncommon merit. Yet have the Lords 

 Commissioners of the Admiralty hitherto kept the produce of 

 so much expense and labour in their repositories, regardless 

 alike of the interests of the shipowners and of science. Like 

 other public boards, in the absence of a little pressure from 

 without on the subject, they have become inactive ; while a 

 share of the reproach ought probably to attach to the cor- 

 porations of the shipping ports of the east of Scotland, who 

 have witnessed the survey proceeding, and have failed to en- 

 quire after the results. Let the magistrates of the burghs and 

 sea-ports interested, bestir themselves, and accurate trust- 

 worthy charts would soon be accessible to the mariner, an 

 additional protection furnished to life and property, and the 

 limits of physical geography greatly extended. 



Having referred to the inactivity of the Lords Commission- 

 ers of the Admiralty, in not providing accurate charts for the 

 east coast of Scotland, even after excellent materials have 

 been procured, 1 shall close this communication by a few re- 

 marks on the " time of high water on the full and change 

 of the moon," at different places on the said coast, as given 

 in the Nautical Almanack for the year 1843, p. 556. 



As the Zetland Islands are in some degree without the limits 

 to which the preceding remarks apply, we shall merely ob- 

 serve that the time of high water at Scalloway (introduced 

 into the Almanack for the first time in 1841) is made to agree 

 with Balta in Unst, nearly thirty miles to the north of it, both 

 being marked 9"' 45'". When the direction of the flood-tide 

 is considered, the more westerly position of Scalloway will not 

 explain the coincidence in apparent time. But how shall 

 we account for the entries relating to " Brassa Sound," and 

 " Lerwick harbour," the former having its high water assigned 

 at 10'' the latter 10'' SO"" ! How few who have paid any at- 

 tention to the harbours of the coast, are ignorant that " Brassa 

 Sound'' is " Lerwick Harbour," and that the two names deno- 

 minate the same commodious haven ! 



In approaching nearer the scene to which our remarks have 

 a more immediate reference, the •' Orkney Isles'' have a place 



