24 Shoaling of Creek. 



In Captain Bullock's Surveys, 1836-77, corrected to 1879 : 

 " The Benfleet and Leigh Creeks discharged through a single 

 channel, with a bar of 11 feet at low water, a little less than a 

 mile westward of the old end of Southend Pier." In Captain 

 Tizard's Survej^ 1883, the bar was only 5 feet deep, Canvey 

 Spit had been partially washed away (1881), and Holehaven 

 deteriorated in tidal capacity. In Captains Pirrie and Jarrard's 

 Survey, 1895, a reversion to the state of things of a century 

 before is manifest. Leigh Swatch and the Ray ( = Benfleet 

 Creek) have again separate entrances. The former's entrance 

 very shallow and not followed as a channel, the latter's " Low- 

 way "being a breach cut through marsh-end sand, almost a 

 mile west of the former. 



From a fisheries point of view it would be useful could it be 

 ascertained precisely what has been the predominating factor 

 of this inshore accretion, which bodes ill for Leigh. Southend 

 Pier was erected in 1832, and some regard this as one element 

 of change of the Swatch ; others assert the cultivation of 

 mussels has been the active agent (supra). But it should be 

 observed that the shallowing of Holehaven, latterly combined 

 with raised crossings to Leigh Marsh, doubtless also has con- 

 siderably lessened the ebb scour. 



Whatever may have been the impetus of one or other, the 

 full significance of the problem lies in the fact that these Leigh 

 shore alterations are part and parcel of modifications and inter- 

 mittent phenomena occurring for centuries and still proceeding 

 apace all along the estuary of the Thames. In some instances 

 the change of type of fisheries have been due to them. One 

 thing seems most certain viz., that provided the present ratio 

 of swatch and creek deterioration continues remembering that 

 of late it accelerates apace the threatened extinction of Leigh 

 as a fisheries (and even yachting) station is measurable and 

 not far distant. Some preventative measures, therefore, ought 

 speedily to be taken. 



