1868. ] Engineering—Civil and Mechanical. 87 
docks comprise 14 miles in length of stone quays, and wharves of 
an area of 100 acres in extent. 
On 3rd October a new dock was opened at Belfast, which consists 
of a large basin 700 feet long by 700 feet wide, called the Abercorn 
Basin, in which is a new graving dock 450 feet long by 80 feet 
wide at the coping, and 50 feet wide at the bottom. A new slip 
has been constructed at Messrs. Inglis’ ship-building yard, which is 
the largest slip on the Clyde. It is 850 feet in length, and capable 
of accommodating ships up to 2,000 tons measurement, and draw- 
ing up to 16 feet forward. It is worked by at wenty-horse power 
engine and a hydraulic ram. 
The British Fishery Company are engaged in the construction 
of a new harbour on a large scale in the Bay of Wick. This work 
has now been going on for some years, but owing to the great 
depth of water in which the breakwater is founded (about 30 feet 
at low water), and the interruption to the work in consequence of 
the heavy seas raised by easterly winds, the progress is slow, being 
only about 200 feet per annum. 
It is proposed to spend a sum of 15,0002. on improvements of 
the river Ribble, so as to render it navigable for vessels of a large 
size, and in the construction of wet docks. A commencement has 
at last been made with the long contemplated docks at Lynn. The 
chief portion of the land required for the works has been pur- 
chased or arranged for, and the excavation of the diversion of the 
Fisher Fleet is well advanced. Works undertaken at Harwich, 
with a view to the improvement and protection of the harbour, 
have been attended with the best results. Already about four acres 
of the “beach end” have been washed away, and vessels of light 
draught can now enter the harbour at high water by the old lead- 
ing marks. 
At Brindisi it has at length been determined to form a dry 
dock 120 metres in length; the works are to be thrown open to 
competition, and offers are to be made under the obligation of con- 
structing the basin sufficiently large to receive vessels of 2,000 
tons. 
Important works are being executed at Barcelona, the most 
considerable port of Spain on the Mediterranean. The depth of 
water is being increased to 33 feet, and the port will be protected 
by two jetties, to the east and west, so that it will comprise alto- 
gether a space of 286 acres, into which ships of the heaviest burden 
and war frigates will be enabled to enter. The cost of these works 
is estimated at 450,0007. 
The Northern Lights Commission have determined to erect a 
new lighthouse on Dune Point, in the Island of Islay, and another 
at Scurdy Ness, at the south side of the entrance to the harbour of 
Montrose. 
