THE RIVER MERSEY. 39 



and that between 1849 and 1852, these works being still in progress, the 

 direction of the Victoria Channel was so altered that the Bell Buoy waa 

 removed about 1000 yards westward of its position in 184-6 ; and that in the 

 upper or southern portion of the northern channel there had been no 

 changes in the fairway track beyond those consequent upon the elongation 

 of the part between the Rock Lighthouse and Crosby Light-vessel. 



The change in the Victoria Channel is probably due to the lengthening of 

 the Crosby Channel, which has been attributed to the growth of the sand- 

 banks ; and it does not appear that the extension of the dock walls had yet 

 been productive of much eifect on the direction of the sea channels. 



Between 1840 and 1846 the most remarkable of the recorded changes are, 

 a large increase in the size of the Formby Bank ; a slight diminution in those 

 of Great Burbo and East Hoyle, principally in elevation ; and a slight dimi- 

 nution in the depth of the Crosby Channel, principally in its northern part. 



There was a remarkable drought in 1844, the rain-fall at Warrington 

 having been about 33 per cent, below the average of twelve years. There 

 was also an extraordinary continuance of easterly winds in this year. No 

 remarkable meteorological phaecoinena are recorded for the preceding year. 

 The large increase in the size of Formby Bank, and the loss of elevation in 

 East Hoyle and Great Burbo, are possibly to be ascribed to the influence of 

 the wind. 



In 1840 to 1846 the Liverpool dock- works abstracted about 117 acres of 

 tidal area in northern works. 



Between 1837 and 1840 the most remarkable change in the northern 

 channel is in the direction of the Victoria Channel, as indicated by the 

 removal of the Bell Buoy about 2000 yards northwards, accompanied by a 

 loss of 2 feet of water on the bar. According to a letter of Lieut. Lord's 

 of October 8th, 1839*, the dredging operations had deepened the water on 

 the Victoria Bar to 15 feet. On the survey of 1840, that depth was reduced 

 to 10 feet and 11 feet. In the period of 1837 to 1840 there had been a loss 

 of depth in the southern portion of the Crosby Channel, and a similar gain 

 in the northern part of the same ; a considerable reduction in the size of 

 Formby Bank, equal to 30 per cent. ; an increase in the Great Burbo ; a loss 

 of half the depth on the bar of the Rock Channel, and a loss of average 

 area in the same channel equal to 6 per cent, per annum ; and a diminution 

 in the area and elevation of East Hoyle. 



There were no important dock-works during this period. 



There are no meteorological observations which throw light upon the 

 cause of these changes beyond, — 1st, the fact that there were great floods 

 in 1839 in various parts of Great Britain, by which much injury was occa- 

 sioned to the hay and other crops; and though the local ' Mercury' of the 

 date has no record of floods in the Mersey, there may have been freshets ; 

 and, 2nd, the vivid recollection of the terrific and destructive hurricane from 

 the S.W., which visited the town and port on the 6th and 7th of January, 

 1839, during which the North-west Lightship and many of the buoys in the 

 chaimel were washed from their moorings, and several vessels were wrecked. 



The following curious sequence is deduced from the foregoing obser- 

 vations : — Phaenomena and Productive Date of 

 date thereof. interval. survey. 



Gale, January 1839 1839 1840 



Drought 1844 1845 1846 



Freshes 1847 1848 1849 



Drought 1850 1851 1852 



Freshes 1852 1853 1854 



* In the ' Liverpool Mercury' of that month. 



