40 REPORT — 1853. 



land (protected in a very inefficient manner from the violence of the waves, 

 which along this portion of the coast concentrate in great force), till we 

 arrive at I, at Paull ; and for a short length of coast, we find the excellent 

 gravel frontage of High Paull giving again a firmer defence, and producing 

 a prominence to the line of coast, thus acting very much as a breakwater for 

 the softer land in its immediate vicinity. From Paull to the south-eastern 

 extremity of Sunk Island at J, and thence to the north-eastern point of the 

 island at K, comprising a distance of about 12 miles, the whole is a fine allu- 

 vial soil, and of comparatively new formation, but still subject to changes 

 and damage by the tide, and in some places considerable loss has occurred. 



The only remaining part of the coast of the Humber is by Welvvick, Wee- 

 ton, SkefHing, and Kilnsea, and thence by the long neck or promontory to 

 the Spurn at L, being about 11 miles. From Welwick to Kilnsea, the coast 

 under some circumstances of wind and tide is much exposed and damaged, 

 and the banks are kept in repair at considerable expense. The neck of land 

 from Kilnsea to the Spurn Head is exposed to the fury of the North Sea on 

 the one side, and to the action of the Humber on the other side, and between 

 the two is suffering materially, and will of necessity soon be entirely swept 

 away, unless works of importance and efficiency are carried out. It would 

 be out of place in this paper to enter into a description of engineering works 

 already executed, or which may be required for the maintenance of so im- 

 portant a barrier ; and instead of grants of tens, hundreds of thousands should 

 be made, or to a certainty the whole of the Spurn Head will be swept away, 

 and that speedily. Should there once be a low-water channel formed through 

 the neck (which was very nearly the case a short time ago), I will not under- 

 take to say what evil effect would follow to the navigation of the Humber, 

 and the valuable tracts of land on its shores; and there is no doubt, that 

 were an important change of this nature to take place, such as I have de- 

 scribed, others perhaps equally disastrous would follow. 



I now proceed to remark upon the islands, accretions, and deposits, and 

 the changes that are continually taking place in the channels of the Humber. 

 I shall commence at the upper or western extremity, and notice the principal 

 accumulations as I pass down towards the sea. 



For many years an island or mud- bank existed in the deep bay between 

 Brough and the entrance to the Market Weighton Canal, between E and F, 

 about 2 miles in length, and of considerable width, having a large portion 

 of its surface covered with marine or salt-water grass, and leaving between 

 the island and the Yorkshire shore a navigable channel for river craft at 

 high water, called the Broomfleet Hope. For some years I had frequently 

 noticed this island, and had devised a plan for attaching it to the main land, 

 and silting up the channel, and by an embankment to shut out the tide, and 

 thereby secure to the Crown a valuable tract of land. I reported the exist- 

 ence of this island to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods, &c., and 

 received directions, in conjunction with Mr. Thomas Page, the engineer, to 

 examine and report thereon. On the 21st of August 1846 we proceeded to 

 inspect the locality ; but on our arrival we found that a great change had 

 taken place, and that the island was fast disappearing. Mr. Leaper, a farmer 

 living near to the island, informed us that during the last four months (prior 

 to that time) 100 acres of the grass, or best part of the island, had disap- 

 peared, and that only about 30 acres remained. He also informed us that 

 formerly persons were in the habit of driving cattle across the channel at low 

 water to graze on the island; but when we visited the place, we found 27 

 feet in the channel at low water. In a very short time after this the whole 

 of the island had disappeared, and had formed itsolf into two gieat masses in 



