24 ON THE RECLAMATION 



been accomplished. The Elver Dee Company, incorporated by 

 Act of Parliament in 1732, has from time to time reclaimed from 

 this tide -covered waste a large tract of land extending to about 

 4000 acres, which is now in full cultivation ; and alongside of 

 this gradually gained territory the river has been conducted from 

 Chester to near Flint, for the purpose of navigation, in a narrow 

 canal of about 8 miles in length, and 400 feet in width. A 

 considerable portion of land has also been reclaimed on the 

 Flintshire side of the estuary, though not by the proprietors 

 of the Dee Company ; and it is believed that the aggregate amount 

 which has, from first to last, been gained from the sea is about 

 7000 acres. 



The process followed in carrying out these land-making 

 works was to construct a high bank rising 9 feet above the 

 level of high water, so as to confine the river to the south 

 side of the estuary. The tidal water, which was admitted to 

 flow freely between this bank and the north coast, gradually 

 deposited layer after layer of sand and silt, and, in fact, shut 

 itself out ; and so soon as the surface had attained a sufficiently 

 high level, a cross bank was constructed between the main 

 embankment and the north shore, and thus the large area as 

 above stated was lit ly lit reclaimed. The reclaiming banks 

 were gradually strengthened and pitched with stone on the 

 outer face, and substantial self-acting sluices were formed, which 

 close against the ingress of the rising tide, but being open at low 

 water, allow the drainage water to escape from the reclaimed 

 ground, some of which is still below the level of high water. 



It may here be well, in passing, to observe, that land-making 

 schemes constructed on such a principle prove generally in- 



