200 WAVES OF THE SEA 



consisted of sharp angular fragments with cutting 

 edges, as different in shape from the sand-grains 

 of a sandy shore as from the large rounded pebbles 

 on the west side of the promontory. The con- 

 clusion is obvious that they were the chips from 

 the attrition of the large pebbles on the west side, 

 which are banged against each other by the 

 breakers at high tide. If the current be then 

 running eastwards, as the general information on 

 the chart indicates, there would be a strong under- 

 tow from this position with a horizontal circula- 

 tion of water on the east of the promontory. Here, 

 except in easterly winds (which are not prevalent 

 during most of the year), the water is smooth and 

 the chips deposit. A true beach, where the sea 

 does not usually reach the land at high tide, begins 

 again at Eype mouth with very small shingle. 

 There is no natural promontory between here and 

 Portland, but the solid western pier of Bridport 

 Harbour has 14 feet of water against it at high 

 water of spring tides, and projects nearly to low- 

 water mark. Close to the western side of this 

 artificial promontory the shingle becomes much 

 larger, whilst on the east side of the harbour it 

 is again quite small. This is the situation usually 

 reckoned as the beginning of Chesil Beach, and 

 from here to Chesilton the shingle gets coarser 



