RATE OF EROSION OF THE SEA-COASTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. 917 



slope for two-tliirds of its width, and the widening of the bank to be done with well- 

 punned clay in thin courses. 



In other hays, where the margin of the slope has become undermined, it should 

 receive immediate attention; and in such cases I should recommend the exten- 

 sion of the slope seaward at an easier inclination, to be carried well under the 

 foreshore, with a footing as before described. 



In front of the east recess I recommend the construction of one groyne precisely 

 similar in direction and construction to those just described, about 115 feet east of 

 the east return in wall, or one third the frontage of the recess eastward of the 

 east groyne. A good deal of the waste on this portion of the frontage — whicli, 

 however, can onl}' be regarded as local — has been caused by the great height of the 

 groyne at the end of Neptune Terrace. The effect of the groyne I propose may 

 induce an increase of shingle, but my opinion is that ultimately it will be necessary 

 in future seasons to take further steps for the protection of the east end of your 

 frontage ; and I consider that a stone slope immediately behind the shingle, to pre- 

 Tent its retreat further inland from the angle of the present stone slope to the end of 

 the groyne at Neptune Terrace, would be the best remedy. 



Before concluding, I beg especially to draw attention to the general condition of 

 this shore, and beg to repeat the remark I made in a recent case where I had the 

 honour of reporting to your Board, that this is to a great extent a landowners' 

 question, and that there are practices going on all along the shore of the most 

 suicidal character, and in some cases quite stultifying the measures taken for defence, 

 arising from each owner merely looking to his individual interest and to the limited 

 frontage under his control, accounting, perhaps, for the irregularity of the walls and 

 varying directions of the groynes. The quarrying of cement-stone on the opposite 

 Essex shore has been loudly complained of in reference to Harwich harbour. The 

 mode in which it is taken from this shore at low water, over the enormous extent 

 then exposed, can hardly be complained of ; but the indiscriminate cartage away of 

 shingle and sand from the spit running out at Chene}' Point at low water, and along 

 the shore to the westward, cannot be too soon put a stop to; but whilst it is the 

 custom of your Department to remove material from Garrison Point it may be difficult 

 to prevent others to the eastward removing similar material from their frontages. 

 No doubt the removal of shingle from Garrison Point produces less harm, and it has 

 arrived at a point from whence it is desirable it should hot extend itself to the 

 westward. I do not, however, think that the manner in which this spit extends 

 itself — similar to other like formations — threatens the Dockyard, for it is increased 

 seaward by parallel ridges or ' fulls,' which would, as they increased, extend them- 

 selves eastward, and any abstraction at the western end must, if that view be correct, 

 be a loss eastward. 



On the other hand, what is abstracted eastward cannot pass westward, and robs 

 that quarter ; so far, it is a relative question of quantity. The two cases are, 

 however, really very different. I understand that the shingle has usually been taken 

 from Garrison Point, where it is highest, largest, and in greatest ma=s, and conse- 

 quently least missed ; but at Cheney Point, whilst I was there, carts went down at 

 low water and removed material from the shore, where it was most wanted for pro- 

 tection. Great mischief is, no doubt, being done, and this indiscriminate and 

 injudicious mode of removing this material for immediate gain appears to me most 

 hurtful to all interested in the neighbouring foreshores, and even to the prospective 

 advantage of the owner, who, however, if this be a public injury, can, I take it, be 

 stopped in these operations through the Woods and Forests Department. And I 

 may in illustration refer to a recent case at the mouth of the Humber, where, by the 

 indiscriminate removal of pebbles from the Spurn Point, for ballast and other pur- 

 poses, a breach has ensued, which has resulted in a very heavy expenditure in works, 

 which might have been avoided had attention been drawn to the matter earlier. 

 This particular case attracted considerable attention in the House of Commons in a 

 recent Supply debate. 



I feel that, viewing the mere letter of my instructions, this may appear a very- 

 lengthy report; but I felt it impossible to give any opinion on the particular subject 

 referred to me without reporting on all the attendant circumstances that must so 

 materially affect an inquiry like this. 



Having had surveys of the foreshore placed in my hands, which I verified, to a 

 certain extent, by taking bearings on the ground, as also cross-sections of the beach, 

 I did not consider it necessary to prepare any additional plan, but have merely 

 appended some marginal sketches, which, with a reference to the plan of July 18, 



