276 REPORT— 1903. 



by groynes, but embankments have been put up here and there near high- 

 water mark. Occasionally loads of sand are removed. 



At Maryport, in Cumberland, erosion is also reported, especially about 

 half a mile N.E. of Maryport Harbour, where the loss is heavy. The 

 coast is low, and both sand and stones are taken from the shore. At 

 Sillotb, where the coast is sandy, and flat, no change is recorded. 



Ireland. 



From the northern part of the county of C'alioay, i.e. as far south 

 as Galway Bay, six records have been received, some of which meiition 

 losses of land. The coast between Slyne Head and Streamstown (Clifden) 

 suffers erosion at Slyne Head itself, at Mannin Bay and at Fahy Bay, and 

 also at Blackpool and Doalaghan. Tully Point (Killary Harbour) becomes 

 almost surrounded by water at high spring tides with northerly winds* 

 Previously under cultivation, it is now a sandy waste through storms. 



Mayo provides twelve reports. The first concerns the islands between 

 Westport and Newport Bays (Clew Bay), where the annual loss on those 

 most exposed is from 3 to 5 feet. A certain amount of beach material 

 is removed and coast defences are absent. In the neighbourhood of 

 Achill Sound and Achilbeg high spring tides, m ith strong winds from 

 the west or south-west, cause a loss of land where the cliffs are low and 

 composed of clay. Nothing is removed, and there are no artificial causes 

 to influence the natural changes. 



In Blacksod Bay (and Elly Bay) erosion of the coast is also on 

 record. In 1893 a horse and cart could pass along the cliff outside a 

 boundary- wall which is now lapped by high spring tides, and in one place 

 has been destroyed. From Doohooma a variable state of loss and gain 

 of coast is reported. 



On the northern coast of Mayo no alterations are recorded except a 

 gradual washing away of unprotected banks at Ross, Killala Bay, 

 during high spring tides. 



No changes are reported from the county of Sligo, and in Donegal 

 out of eighteen observations three only record alterations. 



Fi'om Ballyshannon in Donegal Bay observations extending over 

 nearly 41 miles give evidence of both loss and gain. On this stretch 

 of coast there are no artificial protections, and neither shingle nor sand is 

 removed. The other two alterations are on the north-western side of 

 Lough Foyle. On the northern side of Dunagree Point Lighthouse 

 (Greencastle C.G.S.) the sea has encroached about 50 yards during the 

 last forty years (up to 1899), and about half that distance during the same 

 period between Magilligan Point and Downhill in County Derry. At 

 Magilligan Point piles have been driven in the shore and have successfully 

 resisted further encroachments. Sand is removed from the bay at 

 Dunagree Point. Near the mouth of the river near the Ark House^ 

 Moville, groynes and stone work have been resorted to in order to save the 

 land. This loss appears to be owing to the cartage of gravel and sand 

 from the mouth of the river. In some places, on the other hand, hundreds 

 of acres have been reclaimed by banks, while changes are also made in 

 the channels by the work of steam-dredgers. 



In the county of Antrim thirteen reports include four of loss, one of 

 which is slight, and one of gain. Along the sandy coast of Portrush land 

 allotted for building purposes was perforce abandoned in 1894. This 



