52 IMPROVED FISHERY HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION 



HEIGHTS REACHED BY THE SEA IN GALES AND 

 STORMS. 



" Mistakes as to the level of the highest tides are 

 sometimes made by drawing too hasty conclusions from 

 the presence of vegetable life. I have seen the thrift or 

 1 sea-pink ' (A rmeria maritimd], which seems to indicate 

 unmistakeably the limit of the rise of the highest tide, 

 covered, even in calm weather, sometimes to a considerable 

 depth, during equinoctial springs." 



" Where there is no opportunity of making tidal observa- 

 tions, the level of the lepas, or barnacle, which is generally 

 very sharp and well defined, may be adopted. The highest 

 level at > which this shell-fish grows is about high water 

 of the highest neap-tides, or of the lowest springs. Nor 

 must the existence of grass and other land vegetation 

 be regarded as any decisive proof that the surf never 

 reaches it." 



" I would also add a caution applicable specially 

 to all inquiries regarding the occurrence of storms. It 

 is a common and dangerous mistake to trust to the 

 highest marks of the surf that may be visible on the 

 beach, and which are probably the vestiges of gales that 

 have occurred within the previous year or two. Any 

 such experience as this is greatly too limited. There 

 is a vast difference between a ' heavy gale ' and a 

 'great storm? such, for example, as that of January, 

 1839, when the wind assumed a force which has never 

 since been equalled. Storms occur but seldom, per- 

 haps not once in ten years, and very great storms are 

 of even rarer occurrence, whereas hardly a winter passes 

 in which one or two heavy gales do not take place." 



