ON THE EROSION OF THE SEA-COASTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. 355 



I 1« 



17, 



13. If sliingle, sand, or rock is being 



artilicially removed, state — 



a. From what part of the foreshore 

 (with respect to the tidal 

 range) the material is mainly 

 taken. 



!>. For what purpose. 



c. By whom — Private individuals. 



Local authorities. Public 

 companies. 



d. Whether half-tide reefs had, 



before such removal, acted as 

 natural breakwaters. 



14. Is the coast being worn back by the 



sea ? If so, state — 



a. At what special points or dis- 



tricts. 



b. The nature and height of tlie 



cliffs at those places. 



c. At what rate the erosion now 



takes place. 



d. What data there may be for de- 



termining the rate from early 

 maps or other documents. 



e. Is such loss confined to areas 



bare of shingle ? 



15. Is the bareness of shingle at any of 



these places due to artificial causes ; 



a. By abstraction of shingle. 



b. By the erection of groynes, and 



the arresting of shingle else- 

 where. I 



?r.B. — A nsrvers to the forrgoliiri questions will 

 aiid valuable hy slietches illustratinff tJie jwints r 



18. 



19. 



Apart from the increa.se of land by 

 increase of shingle, is any land 

 being gained from the sea '.' If so, 

 state- — 



a. From v;hat cause, <as embanking 



salt-marsh or tidal foreshore. 



b. The area so regained, and from 



what date. 



Are there ' dunes ' of blown sand in 

 your district ? If so, state — 



a. The name by which they are 



local I3' known. 



b. Their mean and greatest height. 



c. Their relation to river mouths 



and to areas of shingle. 



d. If they are now increasing. 



e. If they blow over the land ; or 



are prevented from so doing 

 by ' bent grass ' 01 other vege- 

 tation, or by water channels. 



Mention any reports, papers, maps, 

 or newspaper articles that have 

 appeared upon this question bear- 

 ing upon your district (copies will 

 be thankfuU}' received by the 

 Secretaries). 



Picmarks bearing on the subject that 

 may not seem covered bj^ the fore- 

 going questions. 



7ft viost eases he rendered more iweeise 

 •ef erred to. 



First Report.^ 



In this report is included General Report A, ' On the South-eastern 

 Coast of England,' by Mr. J. B. Redman, C.E. .He points out the disasters 

 which inevitably follow injudicious interference with the littoral movements 

 of beach, and that the erosion of the soutli-east coasts by the action of wind- 

 waves is assisted and increased by artificial agency, by removal of material, 

 and by the treatment of works of defence in a selfish spirit, unaccom- 

 panied by concerted action, resulting in injury to adjoining frontages for 

 the benefit of those operated on, and he states that this is abundantly 

 illustrated in the records of such public departments as the Admiralty, 

 Woods and Forests, Office of Works, the Board of Trade, the Trinity 

 Corporation, and by the experience of nearly every harbour board, river 

 conservancy, and local drainage and sewage authority ; and he refers to 

 the Blue Books of the House of Commons as regards tidal harbours, 

 harbours of refuge, lighthouses and shipping, showing the confusion 

 caused by the division of local authority, and personal opposition of lords 

 of the manor to imperial requirements as to the conservation of the Biitish 

 Isles from the ravages of the wind-wave, accelerated by the wholesale 



' Brit. Asfoc. FepoTt, 188?, pp. 404-46 • 



