310 Dr Fleming on the Expediency of forming Harbours 



sea with a velocity which few commanders of vessels, for ob- 

 vious reasons, care to take advantage of even when the current 

 is in their favour ; and when the current is in opposition, it pre- 

 vents vessels from entering the harbour in states of weather 

 when property and life are in jeopardy. 



In the range of coast which we have at present chiefly in 

 view, viz., from the Moray Frith to the Frith of Forth, there 

 is not a single harbour which can be taken at all times of tide. 

 Some have no obstacles, such as bars or river-floods, charac- 

 ters which destroy the value of Aberdeen, Montrose, and Dun- 

 dee, as harbom's of refuge. But, in the absence of these evils, 

 the remaining harbours become dry, or neai'ly so, at low water ; 

 and, consequently, can only be approached towards high wa- 

 ter. In such circumstances are the tide-harbours of Peter- 

 head, Stonehaven, Aberbrothick, and St Andrews. 



Should a sailing vessel be overtaken by an easterly gale, 

 when off the intermediate part of the coast, between Fifeness 

 and Kinnaird's Head, her situation would be dangerous in the 

 extreme. In but few cases could the tide harbours and those 

 having bars, or under the influence of floods, be approached 

 with any prospect of safety. She must either stand out to 

 sea or bear away, if practicable, for Cromarty Bay or the Frith 

 of Forth. If her course be northward, she has to dread the 

 possibility of being unable to weather Kinnaird's Head, as the 

 turning point of the Moray Frith ; or if she steer for the south, 

 she has Fifeness as the turning point of the Forth to weather. 

 Should a failure at either of these points take place, very little 

 chance would be left of saving either life or property.* 



When we consider the vast amount of shipping, at all sea- 

 sons of the year, frequenting the coast referred to, and keep- 

 ing in view, that in its whole extent of upwards of a hundred 

 miles there is not a single harbour of refuge, the expediency 

 of directing public attention to so great a defect, must at once 

 be obvious. Besides, it deserves to be kept in view, that, in 



* Even steamers are not exempt from the evil above referred to. The 

 London Steamer, which last week should have delivered her goods and 

 passengers at Aberdeen on Tuesday morning (February 21st), was obliged 

 by the easterly gale to seek for shelter in the Frith of Forth, and could not 

 enter her port until Friday morning (Februaiy 24th.) 



