PORTLAND STONE QUARRIES. 191 



blocks of from ten ton? and upward can be brought under the 

 quarrymen's hammer and squared. In squaring the largest side is 

 usually taken first in a vertical position. The tool used is called a 

 kivel , it is a kind of hammer weighing from six to eight pounds ; 

 the head is oblong, three inches in length and one inch and a-half 

 wide, slightly hollowed so as to give it two cutting edges ; the 

 other end is pointed and termed a broach ; the handle is a little 

 more than two feet long ; a larger kivel from 161b. to 201b. in weight 

 is used to break off the large pieces of rough stone, which is called 

 " knocking off the rough." The quarrymen are so accustomed to 

 the work that they can guide the tool with the utmost precision, and, 

 by keeping time with each other, make every stroke effective. As 

 soon as the rough portion is removed by the kivel the block is 

 chopped over with an axe, which gives the stone a rough finish ; it is 

 then turned over and squared. A competent man measures 

 the stone when it is finished and marks the number of cubic feet 

 it contains. The trade mark of the firm and the quarry mark are 

 cut upon the face of the block by the quarrymen. Sixteen cubic 

 feet is allowed for a ton of Portland stone or roach. A block may 

 be known whether it is sound by striking it with a piece of iron or 

 some hard substance. If sound it will give a good ring, but if 

 rotten or venty it will give a discordant sound, and by placing the 

 hand on the stone when striking it the vent may be detected by a 

 slight undulating motion. In some parts of the island the whit bed 

 is intersected by hard silicious seams or bars, as they are locally 

 termed. The stone is generally lifted or split along these bars. 

 At others there are two or three seams of shells which run parallel 

 to the bed ; they generally consist of Perna mytiloides and Peden 

 lamellosus. The stones from these quarries are generally of large 

 size but inferior quality. The stone from the north part of the 

 island is the best ; it holds its length from five to eight feet, it is free 

 from shells, and composed of oolitic grains ; its colour is brownish 

 or buff colour, and easily worked. It stands all weather, and can 

 be easily distinguished from the white whit bed. The usual fossils 

 met with in the whit bed are teeth, vertebrae, and bones of fish. 



