EEMAEKS ON THE TIDE TABLE. 289 



(6.) The Western portion of the stream, after passing the Saltees. nans 

 nearly in the direction of the Tuskar, sets sharply round it, and then takes a 

 N.E. ^ N. direction, setting fairly along the coast, but over the banks 

 skirting the shore ; so that vessels tacking near the inner edge of the sands 

 on the flood, and on the outer edge on the ebb, have been carried upon 

 them and lost, especially upon the Arklow and Codling Banks. Abreast 

 of the Arklovr is situated that remarkable spot in the Irish Channel, where 

 the tide scarcely rises or falls. The stream, notv^ithstanding, svs^eeps past 

 it at the rate of 4 knots at the springs, and reaches the parallel of Wicklow 

 Head. Here it encounters an extensive projection of the Codling Bank ; 

 and while the outer portion takes the circuit of the bank, the inner stream 

 sweeps over it, occasioning an overfall and strong rippling all round the 

 edge, by which the bank may generally be discovered. Beyond this point 

 the streams unite and flow on towards Howth and Lambay, growing gra- 

 dually weaker as they proceed, until they ultimately expend themselves 

 in a large space of stiU water situated between the Isle of Man and Car- 

 lingford. There we have not been able to detect any stream ; for there 

 another remarkable phenomenon occurs — the water rising and falling, 

 without having any perceptible stream. This space of still water is marked 

 by a bottom of blue mud. Such is the course of the flowing water at the 

 Southern Channel. 



In the North Channel, the stream enters between the INIull of Cantyre 

 and Eathlin Island simultaneously with that passing the Tuskar into the 

 Southern Channel, but flows in the contrary direction. It runs at the rate 

 of 3 knots at the springs, increasing to 5 knots near the Mull, and to 4 

 knots near Tor Point, on the opposite side of the channel. The main body 

 sweeps to the S. by E., taking nearly the general direction of the channel, 

 but pressing more heavily on the "Wigtonshire coast. 



The central portion, midway between the Mull of Galloway and the 

 Copeland Islands, presses on towards the Northern half of the Isle of Man ; 

 and while one portion of it flows towards the Point of Ayre, the other 

 makes for Contrary Head, and is there turned back to the N.E. nearly at 

 a right angle to its early course. Passing Jurby Point, it re-unites with 

 the other portion of the stream, and they jointly rush with a rapidity of 

 from 4 to 5 knots round the Point of Ayre, and directly across all the 

 banks lying off there, and catching up the stream from the South Channel 

 off Maughold Head, they hurry on together towards that great point of 

 union, Morecambe Bay. This bay, the grand receptacle of the streams 

 from both channels, is notorious for its huge banks of sand, and also 

 remarkable for a deep channel scoured out by the stream, and known 

 as the Lune Deep, which is the great haven to all vessels bound to Fleet- 

 wood, &c. 



Such is a general description of the streams in the Irish Channel, which 

 are produced by the flowing of the water, or which, for the purpose of 

 distinction, we may designate the ingoing streams. 



The ebbing, or outgoing streams, do not materially differ from the reverse 

 of those, except that in the Southern Channel they press rather more over 

 towards the Irish coast. 



N. A.O. ■ 38 



