136 A. E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands; Geology. 
The changes in Shelly Bay, referred to by Nelson, also seem to 
have been connected with the drifting of sand and will be referred 
to under that head (Chapter 23). 
The small harbor at the Flatts has been subject to many changes, 
owing to the swift tidal currents, which are continually moving the 
sands, combined with the effects of storm waves, which often work 
against the tides. There have been periods in the past when it was 
used as a harbor for trading vessels, but it is now much obstructed 
by sand bars. However, in very early times the same thing occurred, 
for in 1629 there is a record of the payment of 50 pounds of tobacco 
to Thomas Emmet for “digging the channel at the Flatts mouth,” 
which had become obstructed by the formation of a sand bar, even 
then.* Nelson, 1840, said of it : 
“The Flatts Inlet, entrance to Harrington Sound, is perceptibly 
filling, notwithstanding the benefit it receives from the Sound as a 
backwater.” The same condition still exists. It is a locality of 
shifting sand bars. 
Nelson, 1840, also made the following observations, which are still 
applicable : 
“Thus at the head of Crow-lane, Bermuda or Main Island, within 
the memory of the present generation, ships of some burthen used to 
lie at wharfs, where now scarcely a large boat can repair at all tides. 
The same has occurred in the narrow channel between Ordnance 
Island and the Market-wharf at St. George’s, but to a far greater 
extent.” 
However, on the whole, the changes since the first accounts were 
written, about 300 years ago, have been small and local, and entirely 
insufficient to materially alter the general form and character of the 
islands and reefs. The following accountt applies perfectly well at 
present. It is also of special importance as indicating the condition 
of the outer reefs and channels at that time, thus showing that there 
cannot have been any notable changes in level, nor any extensive 
changes by erosion: 
“ And thus conditioned rest thes small ilands, in the midst of a 
huge maine ocean, whose violence is borne of and broken in the 
north-east side by infinite numbers of uncertaine rocks, being shal- 
lowely hidd for three leagues out at sea. As to the southwarde of 
* See these Trans., xi, p. 435: ‘‘ The Bermuda Islands,” p. 23; Lefroy, Memo- 
rials, p. 489. 
+ Published in 1610, by Wm. Strachy. (A true Repertory, ete.) 
