568 REPORT— 1806, 
in use for general dock purposes, chiefly for the landing of cattle. Con- 
venient bridges connected with the quays and a floating roadway, similar 
to that at Liverpool, have been provided for wheel traffic. A second 
stage, half a mile further north, has also been provided for general pur- 
poses, but is chiefly used by cattle ships. 
A large amount of dredging is involved in keeping the docks on both 
sides of the River clear of silty deposit, and different kinds of dredgers are 
in use for that purpose. The material removed is chiefly composed of fine 
silt and mud, and is conveyed to the sea by steam hopper barges and 
deposited in positions indicated, on behalf of the Conservancy Commis- 
sioners, by their Acting Conservator, Admiral Sir George Richards, 
K.C.B., F.R.S. 
The total area of the Estate, both at Liverpool and at Birkenhead, 
amounts to 1,611 acres, subdivided into 546 acres of water space, made 
up of docks, half-tide docks and basins, surrounded by 35 miles of quays, 
warehouses, and sheds, with an aggregate floor area of over 150 acres, the 
remainder being made up of timber-yards, shipbuilding-yards, open quays 
and streets, with a residue of undeveloped land and foreshore. The unde- 
veloped portion of the Estate includes a large area of foreshore, amounting 
to about 200 acres at Tranmere, about one mile further up the river than 
Woodside. This has lately been acquired by the Board for future dock | 
extension whenever the trade of the Port demands it. 
The total number of graving docks belonging to the Mersey Docks and 
Harbour Boards is twenty-three, having an aggregate length of 14,920 feet. 
of floor. 
The total number of ships which entered the Port and paid tonnage 
rates for the year ending July 1, 1896, was 23,695, having a net tonnage 
of 11,046,459. In this figure the tonnage in or out only is represented. 
The total revenue of the Estate from all sources is about 1,400,000/. 
per annum. 
The affairs of the Dock Trust are administered by a body named the 
Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, with a number of members fixed by Act 
of Parliament at 28, of whom 24 are elected by the Dock ratepayers, the 
remaining four being nominee members appointed by the Mersey Con- 
servancy Commissioners. 
This important body consists of the First Lord of the Admiralty, the 
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the President of the Board of 
Trade, who are represented by an Acting Conservator. That position is 
now and has been for some years ably filled by Admiral Sir George 
Richards, K.C.B., F.R.S. The Commissioners are appointed under the 
authority of Parliament to preserve the navigation of the Mersey, from 
Warrington and Frodsham bridges to the sea. 
In submitting a Paper of this general character, the Author has been 
compelled, from the extent and variety of the subjects he has touched 
upon, to do so in the briefest possible manner, with a view to explaining 
the general features of the Dock Estate and its surroundings, rather than 
dwell upon details and special works of interest with which the history of 
the Estate abounds, and which, to be properly dealt with and understood, 
would require a lengthy paper to themselves. 
