THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. 463 



coast South of Boulogne. It is well to remember that the tidal streams 

 throughout the fairway of the English Channel set towards Dover while 

 the tide is rising there, and away from it while falling, so that the Dover 

 tide table answers for the whole distance between the Lizard and Beachy 

 Head. It is high water at Dover, on full and change, at llh. 12m. All 

 this is explained on pages 285-286. 



If the wind is favourable a W. f N. course for 59 miles brings you to a 

 position 4 miles off St. Catherine's Point ; from thence W. ^ N., 92 miles, 

 to 4 miles off the Start. In working down do not come nearer the Owers 

 than in 20 fathoms, and to St. Catherine's than 22 fathoms. From thence 

 to St. Alban's Head into not less than 22 fathoms, to avoid the indraught. 

 Between Portland Bill and the Start, if the weather be clear and 

 favourable, you may stand into Lyme Bay to 17 or 16 fathoms. Through- 

 out all this course keep off until in from 35 to 36 fathoms. From off the 

 Start to a similar position off the Lizard, the course and distance are 

 W. f N., 64 miles, which course continued for 49 miles farther brings the 

 ship 12 miles South of the Bishop light. 



Throughout the course as far as off Plymouth, the tides set fair up and 

 down ; Westward of this they revolve in all directions, and must be most 

 carefully attended to, as it is also most necessary when to the East of 

 Beachy Head. 



Incase of bad weather or contrary winds, and necessity for shelter, 

 the following places may be safely sought for. With the winds broad 

 Easterly or Westerly, ships may stop on either side of Dungeness, in East 

 or West Bays, and also on either side of Beachy Head, in Seaford Eoad, 

 Westward and Eastward of the shoals on the other side, and near Bexhill; 

 and with Westerly winds the Park inside the Owers Lightvessel is also 

 used. Within the Isle of Wight there is anchorage sheltered from all 

 winds. Westward of the Wight, Studland Bay (near Poole) affords good 

 shelter from Westerly gales. The Eefuge Harbour in Portland Eoadstead 

 affords security against nearly all winds. Good anchorage is also found 

 against Southerly winds in Torbay, Plymouth Sound, and Falmouth. 



Most sailors have had some experience of the detention caused by con- 

 trary winds in the English Channel. Some of the more remarkable of 

 these detentions have long lived in remembrance. Thus, the Eight Hon. 

 Maurice Fitzgerald, in some evidence respecting the Western Harbours of 

 Ireland, gave a curious illustration of the diflBculties in making way 

 against these Westerly gales. An oflBcer of considerable experience com- 

 manded a small vessel of war belonging to the Cork squadron, when 

 information was received that a smuggler was to land on the Western 

 coast, and he was ordered to cruise off the Skelligs to intercept her. He 

 sailed from Cork, but was brought up six different times at Crookhaven, 

 and, being extremely anxious to reach the ground upon which he was to 

 cruise, he determined to sail round the North of Ireland, and he did so, 

 and reached the Skellig in a very few days. 



The detention of Eear-Admiral Christian was proverbially known. He 

 sailed from Portsmouth with an expedition for the West Indies on 

 November 16th, 1779, and, after having been repeatedly blown back, he 

 did not ultimately clear the Channel till the end of the following March 



