August io, igi i] 



NATURE 



187 



is of first importance, and it may be considered as the 

 final word on the subject, as it is improbable that we 

 shall ever learn much more about the Veddas. The 

 Ceylon Government is to be congratulated in having" 

 secured the services of Dr. and Mrs. Seligmann for 

 this important research. A final word of praise is 

 due to the number and excellence of the photographs ; 

 those illustrating various ceremonies are of exceptional 

 interest. A. C. Haddon. 



THE COAST EROSION COMMISSION. 



IN July, 1906, a Royal Commission was appointed 

 to inquire and report as to the encroachment of the 

 sea on the coasts of this country, and as to what 

 means are desirable for the prevention of such 

 damage; also as to the reclamation of tidal lands as 

 affecting the subject of unemployment. Two years 

 later the duties of the Commission were extended to 

 an inquiry as to whether it is desirable to make an 

 experiment in afforestation as a means of increasing 

 employment during periods of depression. 



The Commission consisted of thirteen members, 

 representing landowners, experts in coast defence 

 works, geologists, lawyers, the Board of Trade and 

 other Government departments. The Hon Ivor Guest 

 was appointed chairman. The first report, containing 

 the minutes of evidence heard in the earlier part of 

 the inquiry, was issued in 1907 ; the second report 

 or. the subject of afforestation in January, 1909 ; that 

 now issued being the final report containing the find- 

 ings of the Commission. 1 



The witnesses who appeared before the Commis- 

 sion represented all branches of the subject, including 

 representatives of the Board of Trade, local authori- 

 ties and their officers having charge of the sea coast 

 in England, Ireland, and Scotland, owners of land 

 abutting on the coast, engineers having expert know- 

 ledge of sea defence works, and geologists. Com- 

 mittees of the Commissioners made inspections of 

 various parts of the coasts where erosion was going 

 on, and where reclamations had been made; and also 

 of the works of sea defence in Holland and Belgium. 



As the subject of coast erosion had not been dealt 

 with by any previous Commission, the Commissioners 

 thought it necessary to make an ample and thorough 

 examination of the whole subject. The report is 

 divided into an inquiry into the physiographical and 

 geological conditions affecting the coast-line; an esti- 

 mate of the extent of erosion and accretion of land; 

 and where artificial reclamation has been carried 

 out on the coasts and in tidal estuaries; engineering 

 questions as to the type of work which has been 

 adopted for sea defences ; the central and local ad- 

 ministration of the foreshore ; and whether it is desir- 

 able to promote facilities for reclaiming tidal land ; 

 and also as to whether the defence of the coast is a 

 national duty towards which grants of public funds 

 ought to be made. 



The inquiries of the Commission extended over 

 five years, and the resulting report gives a very clear 

 and able digest of the large amount of evidence taken. 

 It deals with the subject in an exhaustive and com- 

 prehensive manner, and contains an able account of 

 the technical considerations which should govern the 

 , design of works of defence. The finding of the Com- 

 missioners appears to be a fair exposition of the 

 evidence brought before them, and it deals in an 

 even-handed way with the rights of the owners of 

 land abutting on the coast, on one hand, and of the 



1 Third and Final Report of the Roval Commi; 

 The Reclamation of Tidal Lands and Afforenatio 

 by his Majesty's Stationery Office, 1911.) Price 3^ 



NO. 2l8o, VOL. 87] 



State, as representing the other tax-paying members 

 of the community, on the other. 



The recommendations of the Commissioners are 

 practically unanimous. There are reservations as to 

 some of the subjects dealt with, the most important 

 relating to the subject of the obligation of the State 

 to protect the sea coasts. 



The findings of the Commissioners may be sum- 

 marised as follows : — 



That there is a considerable amount of erosion and 

 consequent loss of land taking place on certain parts 

 of the coast; on the other hand, land is being re- 

 claimed from the sea. Taking the last thirty-five 

 years, it was shown by the evidence of the Ordnance 

 Department that 6640 acres have been lost, while 

 48,000 acres have been gained by reclaiming tidal 

 lands. This reclaimed land is due principally to the 

 accretion of material brought down in suspension bv 

 the rivers. The amount and rate of erosion along the 

 coast is governed by the nature and form of the 

 coast. The natural protection of the coast is afforded 

 by accumulations of sand and shingle derived almost 

 entirely from the material eroded from the cliffs. The 

 amount of beach material therefore depends on the 

 amount of erosion going on, and the quantity is 

 limited, and is not inexhaustible. 



The material eroded travels along the coast in 

 definite directions, due to the action of the tides, the 

 wind and the waves. Its travel may be arrested by 

 projecting headlands and river mouths. 



Much damage to the coast has been incurred by 

 the removal of this beach material in some places for 

 road-making and constructional purposes. 



The evidence shows that if works of protection are 

 carried out with due regard to the local peculiarities 

 of the district to be dealt with, and on sound engineer- 

 ing lines, erosion of the coast may be prevented. The 

 fact also is disclosed that a very large amount of 

 money has been wasted on groynes, sea-walls, and 

 other defence works, owing to a want of knowledge 

 of the conditions prevailing in the neighbourhood 

 where the works were carried out; also that works 

 designed solely with regard to the protection of a 

 particular line of coast may lead to increased erosion 

 on the coast to the leeward side, owing to the 

 stoppage of the travel of the beach material. If the 

 land to be protected is ordinary agricultural land, the 

 cost of protection may be greater than the value of 

 the land to be protected. 



The Commissioners advise that the whole care of 

 the coast should be placed under the administration 

 of the Board of Trade, who should be constituted 

 the central authority of the United Kingdom 

 for the purpose of sea defence. That the Board 

 should be invested with power to enable it to control 

 the removal of materials from the shore, making it 

 illegal to remove any sand, shingle, or stone without 

 their previous consent being obtained ; the approv- 

 ing of works of construction on the shore ; the super- 

 vision of existing local authorities concerned with 

 sea defences, and, where required, the creation 

 of new authorities for the purposes of super- 

 vision of the coast to employ a staff of scien- 

 tific experts to secure systematic observation of 

 the movement of beach material and for watching the 

 coast in order to prevent removal of such material 

 where doing this would be injurious ; also to sanction 

 the borrowing of money by local authorities for 

 defence works, and to determine the period over which 

 repayment should be made. At present this duty 

 rests with the Local Government Board, which only 

 allow a period of ten years for groynes and twenty 

 vears for more solid works. This limit appears 



