On reclaiming Marsh Land, 59 



The duration of a sluice of good materials and well 

 laid, may reasonably be computed at thirty years. From 

 my own observation, I am decidedly of opinion, that 

 sluices should aluays be preferred to flood gates. My 

 objections to a flood-gate are, 1st. Because the cost is 

 more than double that of a sluice. 2d. A flood-gate, o\\ 

 the average, will not last more than from ten to twelve 

 years, while a sluice will last from twenty to thirty 

 years. 3d. A fl:jod-gate is frequently out of repair ; 

 from the construction of a sluice, it can seldom want any 

 thinsj^ done to it, and when necessary, it is easily repaired* 

 4th. Should a muskrat work a hole under the flood-gates, 

 and they blow out, they are then good for nothing. 

 Should a sluice blow out, we have only to make a coun- 

 ter dam, and relay it on the same bed, or dig another 

 close to the one on which it before rested, and there lay it» 

 The sluice is just as good as before the blow out. These 

 are my reasons for giving the preference to the sluice, 



DESCRIPTION OF A SLUICE* 



A sluice is a trunk on an enlarged scale, for the con- 

 structing of which the usual way among farmers is to cut 

 down a large tree, and by reducing its sides to the thick- 

 ness of from ten to twelve inches, it is hoisted up, and 

 slit through by a whip-saw, which forms the two side 

 planks for the sluice, each being about eighteen or twenty 

 inches broad, and in length from thirty-five to forty-five 

 feet. These planks are then set up to the width intend- 

 ed for the sluice, (usually about four feet) and covered 

 over with good two-inch plank, well secured with inch 

 wooden pins. The door is made of two- inch plank also^ 

 and hung within these side- planks about six feet from 

 the mouth. The method of hanging the door is, by pin- 

 ning two pieces of scantling, three by five or six inches 



