12 



THE GUERNSEY BREED 



Rough sea at Alderney breakwater. 



endeavor to make a harbor of refuge for English war vessels 

 close to the coast of France. It was originally nearly a mile 

 long, 30 feet or more in width, and 50 feet above the average 

 sea level. It was scarcely completed when a great storm 

 washed away about one-third of it, and it was never re- 

 constructed. 



The British government still keeps a large force of men 

 at work quarrying granite, great blocks of which, together 

 with ponderous cement blocks six to eight feet square, are 

 constantly being swung off into the sea beside the breakwater 

 to protect it from the violence of the waves. One severe 

 storm will often destroy the product of a year's labor of this 

 force of men. Long rows of these blocks have been linked 

 together with iron two inches in diameter, and yet all have 

 been ground up by the force of wind and water. In the sea 

 on the inside of the breakwater may be seen pieces of rock 

 weighing tons that have been thrown over the breakwater 

 from the seaward side during storms. 



There are 10 forts around the shores of Alderney, only 

 two or three of which are now in use. One of these, Fort 

 Albert, commanding the entrance to the harbor, is situated 

 on a rocky point 300 feet above the sea, and is mounted with 

 large modern guns that doubtless would prove a formidable 

 defense aeainst any hostile vessels. There are from 500 to 

 800 British soldiers quartered at this fort. 



