6 CHESIL REACH. 



Returning to the general question of the sources of suppl}-, we 

 perceive that the Chesil Beach obtains but Uttle material at the 

 present day either from its north-west end or from its landward 

 connections. There is a fair supply of easily identifiable 

 material from the Portland end, but where do the bulk of the 

 pebbles come from ? It would seem as if the geologist alone 

 can answer that question. The Chesil Beach, or Bank, is 

 doubtless a feature of considerable antiquity, going back most 

 probably in its origin far beyond the historical period. At 

 present it may be regarded as approximately in equilibrium ; 

 that is to say, the loss from attrition is about balanced by the 

 acquisition of fresh material. If there was a notable increase of 

 material, there would be an overflow at the eastern end, which 

 would probably take the direction of the Portland Roadstead. 

 If, on the other hand, there was no fresh supply whatever, the 

 loss from attrition would inevitably cause the Beach, or Bank, 

 to shrink. If that shrinkage was small in amount, it could only 

 be detected by periodical measurements. I must leave this 

 question in the hands of the Admiralty. 



I have already observed that we must look to the geologist for 

 further information as to the source of the pebbles on the 

 existing beach, and an answer has been practically given by the 

 Government Surveyors, Messrs. Strahan and Reid. The views 

 of the former may be summarised in the statement that the 

 Chesil Beach represents the accumulated gravels and hard parts 

 of the whole land surface that once occupied the West Bay. To 

 the lay mind this may appear an astounding conclusion, since it 

 practically regards the beach itself as partaking somewhat of the 

 nature of a fossil beach. To a certain extent I am in accord 

 with this view, though possibly differing in some of the details. 

 The shape of the great Bay of Lyme indicates pretty clearly 

 that the sea has eaten up the land in comparatively recent times, 

 and I doubt not that there were accumulations of gravel within 

 that area. But when we bear in mind that a large quantity of 

 chalk must have been destroyed in the operation, of which chalk 

 such a fragment as Beer Head is but a monument of what has 



