CUT-OFF FOE A BESD. 259 



which may seriously injure the banks below, and totally 

 upset the slowly acquired stability of the stream. An 

 illustration of the channel of a river, that has established 

 a winding course, and has formed bends or flats that may 

 be brought under improvement, is given in fig. 137. This 



Fig. 138. SECTION OF CUT-OFF. 



may be either a tidal river, or otherwise. The course of 

 reclamation of the extensive tongue of land, surrounded 

 by the bend, will be the same in either case. Here is an 

 excellent opportunity for a cut across the narrow neck, 

 as shown. The cross section of the cut, with its embank 

 ments, is shown at fig. 138. By this cut the current is 

 diverted from the bend, which at times of flood may be 

 covered with muddy water, and gradually silted up. Two 

 gates are made in the right bank of the stream, as shown 



Fig. 139. MODE OF PROTECTING THE BANK. 



at a, b, fig. 137. The in-flow gate is at a, and the out 

 flow at 5. 



The banks of the cut should be protected from the 

 abrading action of the increased velocity due to the greater 

 fall, by means of rubble stone, retained in place by 

 piling and planking, or by the piling alone. Bundles^of 

 brush may be used in place of stone, and covered with 

 earth, as shown at fig. 139. Nothing tends more to the 

 permanence of a river s banks, than a smooth surface 

 upon which the water can find no irregularities to beat 



