36. REPORT — 1856. 



On reference to * Gore's Annals,' we find in 1852 tlie town and neighbour- 

 hood visited by a severe storm. December 2.5th. 



1854. — Violent hurricane visited Liverpool Feb. *7th and 8th. On refer- 

 ring to the last-mentioned table we find that the " severe storm," December 

 25th, 1852, was from W.S.W., the greatest velocity seventy miles per hour, 

 and the extreme pressure 42 lbs. per square foot ; and that it was repeated 

 on the 27th of the same month, blowing from S.W., the greatest velocity 

 seventv-one miles, and the extreme pressure 42 lbs. We also find that the 

 "violent hurricane," Feb. 17th and 18th, 1854, was, on the first day, from 

 N.W., the velocity fifty-six miles, the pressure 27 lbs, ; on the 18th, from 

 W.N.W., the velocity also fifty-six miles, the pressure 31 lbs. The same 

 table shows that during the years 1852 to 1854 there were several other 

 storms, of which ' Gore's Annals ' have no mention ; as, for example, Feb. 

 26th, 1853, from N.N.W., the velocity sixty miles, the pressure 33 lbs.; 

 and Jan. 26th, 1854, from W., the velocity fifty-three miles, the pressure 

 43 lbs. 



In estimating the influence of the wind in producing changes in the sea 

 channels, it must be recollected that Liverpool Bay is peculiarly exposed to 

 winds ranging from W. to N., and sheltered from all other winds. 



It is not intended in this Report to lay down any precise theory for the 

 solution of all the observed phsenomena of Liverpool Bay ; the collection of 

 the facts recorded in the [)receding portion of this Report, and in the charts 

 and tables by which it is accompanied, has been so recently completed as 

 entirely to preclude their satisfactory digest into any such hypothesis. In- 

 deed these researches, so far from furnishing a complete analysis of the data 

 upon which any trustworthy theory can be founded, give occasion to regret 

 that the various changes which the estuary has undergone were not more 

 fully recorded than they have been prior to 1833; and it is especially to be 

 regretted that the phaenomena of meteorology should have been so much 

 neglected in this district. The valuable records of the Liverpool Obser- 

 vatory, as well as those of the Warrington Museum and Library, it is to be 

 hoped, will supply the requisite information to future inquirers. 



In recording the previous observations on the changes in the bay, the 

 earliest survey within the period of inquiry has been assumed as the starting- 

 point, and succeeding phaenomena are noted in chronological sequence; it is 

 now proposed to retrace the inquiry, in order, as far as practicable, to reduce 

 effects to their proximate causes, important facilities being derived from the 

 less imperfect data of the more recent periods. 



On comparing the surveys of 1854 and 1852, it was observed that the 

 changes were almost entirely confined to the increased tortuousness of the 

 Victoria Channel, the continued silting up of the Zebra Channel, the opening 

 of the Queen's Channel, intermediate between the Zebra and the Victoria, 

 and the contraction of the eastern portion of the Rock Channel with a con- 

 sequent diminution of its average area. During this period there was no 

 abstraction of tidal water space for dock purposes, and consequently no re- 

 duction from that cause of the scour. In 1852 the rain-fall was about 50 per 

 cent, above the average. In 1853 and 1854 the fall was about an average 

 in each year. In the latter year, 1854, the wind was more than usually in 

 the range from W. to N. 



It may be observed that as the influence of freshes in a tidal river is 

 greatest when the ebb tide is low, their efi'ects in the Mersey will be more 

 apparent in the northern channel and its branches than in the western chan- 

 nel, because the direction of the latter is almost at right angles to the course 

 of the river, whilst that of the former is continuous ; the bar which crosses 



