94 IMPRO VED FISHER Y HARBOUR A CCOMMODA TION 



face-work. It is also of vital consequence that the backing 

 should not be slurred over by being loosely assembled, 

 but should on the contrary be carefully set, and regularly 

 bonded with the face-work as the building proceeds. The 

 outside of the parapet^ though of smaller dimensions, should 

 be similar in quality to the sea-wall, while its inside, from 

 not being exposed to the wash of the sea, may be built of 

 good heavy rubble." 



" From the risk of damage already referred to, it comes to 

 be a difficult question to decide whether the roadway pitching 

 should be built with open joints, or be made altogether 

 impervious to water." Mr. T. S. Hunter mentions the 

 following instance of damage to the pitching at Granton : 

 " A portion of the pitching, which had just been grouted 

 previous to the storm, was completely doubled up like a 

 sheet of paper, but after the grouting was removed, and 

 the same stones set dry, they were never again disturbed." 

 " The safe course is probably not to attempt the formation 

 of an altogether impervious surface where the sea-wall is 

 built of dry masonry." The doubling-up of this pitching 

 at Granton was doubtless owing to condensation of air, 

 through the pressure of the sea water which had entered 

 through the dry stone masonry of the sea-wall. It is well 

 known that hydraulic pressure may be so intensified that 

 no known material may withstand it. 



Such an occurrence as the above would be termed by 

 labourers and mechanics, " a blow up." 



" The quay-wall requires no particular notice. The 

 upper portions are sometimes set in mortar, but the rest is 

 set dry." This is not universal ; a very extensive and 

 important work, with which the writer is acquainted, has 

 the whole of the quay-wall carefully pointed with cement. 

 " The rubble-hearting should be free of earthy or clayey 



