112 COAST CHANGES. 



generally speaking, be flooded again but for the banks raised to 

 protect it. Another notable instance of the land gaining on the 

 sea is to be seen at Dungeness, where an enormous mass of 

 shingle, larger than the Chesil Beach, because broader, has been 

 deposited. 



In the matter of coast-protection it is of primary importance 

 to study Nature's methods, for if one does anything contrary to 

 Nature she will bowl one out ; but we observe that Nature often 

 builds up banks of shingle to protect a coast, and if we go to 

 work properly we can help Nature to a considerable extent, and 

 make her work stronger and more lasting. We get to know that 

 along most coasts there is a definite line of travel taken by the 

 shingle, and along the Dorset coast it is distinctly from west to 

 east. We cannot make it travel the other way, and if we want to 

 protect the coast in some place we should give Nature every 

 opportunity to pile the shingle up. If any schemes are framed 

 for protecting a coast they ought to be fairly comprehensive, for 

 they could be much more effectively and economically carried 

 out on a large scale than by isolated local efforts. I deprecate 

 the removal of shingle from the coast, by which the coast is 

 robbed of the barrier erected by Nature for its protection. This 

 is a thing which ought to be stopped, except in some places 

 where no harm could be caused. 



