30 REPORT — 1856. 



the same as in 1837 ; but the average depth had been reduced from 31 feet 

 to 30 feet. 



Between the Crosby and Forinby Light-vessels the direction of the channel 

 had undergone considerable alteration, the Formby vessel, in 1840, having 

 been moved nearly 600 yards westward ; the area and depth increased, the 

 former from 15,600 yards to 17,500 yards, and the latter from 26^ feet to 

 27 feet. The average of the whole channel from the Rock Lighthouse to 

 Formby Light-vessel being an area slightly increased, and a depth sta- 

 tionary. 



Victoria Cha7inel. — The change in the direction of this channel had been 

 very great; the Bell Buoy, which indicates its entrance from the sea, having 

 been moved, in 1840, nearly 2000 yards to the north of its position in 1837. 

 The depth of water on the bar iiad been reduced from 12 feet and 13 feet 

 to 10 feet and 11 feet. 



Zebra Channel This channel had been advanced to the westward of its 



former position, and had increased its minimum depth from 2 feet to 3 feet 

 on the fairway track. 



Formby Bank. — This bank had been slightly moved to the eastward, and 

 considerably elongated to the northward, the elevation of its surface much 

 more varied, some portions having been considerably higher and others 

 lower than they were in 1837 ; the elongated portion may be specially noted 

 as having been entirely "wash." On the whole, however, the volume of the 

 bank appears to have been diminished nearly one-third ; the cubic contents 

 of the bank, in 1837, having been nearly 10,000,000 yards, and in 1840 

 rather more than 6,500,000 yards. 



Mad Wharf. — In this bank there had been little change. 



Great Burbo. — The area of this bank had been enlarged, and its volume 

 increased from about 58,500,000 yards to about 62,000,000 yards. 



Western Channel. — The eastern portion of this channel, called the Rock 

 Channel, had been reduced in length about 500 yards, and in average depth 

 1 foot; its area had been reduced about 580 yards, making the average loss 

 on the three years equal to 6 per cent, per annum. 



The depth of water on the bar reduced from 2 feet to 1 foot; and the first 

 sounding on the Liverpool side of the bar from 3 fee t to 2 feet. 



The sailing direction of the Horse 'Channel remained unaltered ; but the 

 North-west Light-vessel at the seaward entrance of the channel had been 

 removed in 1840 about 250 yards north of its position in 1837. 



East Hoyle. — The bar in Hoylake, forming part of this bank, had in- 

 creased in area, and grown up to 2 feet and 3 feet above low-water level ; 

 but, notwithstanding this accession, the area and altitude of this bank had 

 been diminished; and its volume reduced from nearly 81,250,000 yards 

 to rather more than 73,500,000 yards. 



Dock Extension. — No works of importance were constructed during the 

 period under investigation. 



Meteorological Phenomena. — In the continued absence of recorded sci- 

 entific observations, reference is again made to the precarious information 

 in ' Gore's Annals,' from which the following notices are compiled : — 



1838. — The British ship ' Athabaska,' bound to Quebec, totally lost on 

 West Hoyle during a gale; all on board perished. April 17. 



1839. — A terrific and most destructive hurricane visited Liverpool on the 

 evening of January 6, and continued with little intermission till the following 

 afternoon. The destruction of life and property was very great; and there 

 was scarcely a part of the town in which some fatal accident did not occur. 

 The loss of life amongst the shipping was awful. The North-west Lightship 



