46 REPORT— 1898. 



on the land so as to cover a whole pasture field. Nothing liad hitherto 

 been done to check these inroads beyond the provision of groynes. Many 

 old landmarks had disappeared, and the gun-battery was a thing of tl)(; 

 past. He thought Government intervention desirable, and that it would 

 be a good thing to obtain the co-operation of the Coastguard in noting 

 the changes on our shores. 



Mr. Tate said that the amount of Coast Erosion differed very much 

 in different districts. In some quarters there seemed to be a feeling in 

 favour of restrictions on the protective measures allowable in any giveii 

 case. It would, however, be difficult to obtain Government regulation 

 unless it should appear that there was a manifest public need for it. 



Mr. Wheeler thought that the retention of a considerable mass of 

 shingle in front of a place would furnish a better protection than a sea 

 wall. He greatly approved of an attempt to obtain the services of the 

 Coastguard in making a survey of the coast, as at present he had found 

 it very difficult to get trustworthy evidence, the most opposite stories 

 being told in almost every case. People did not know because they did 

 not really observe, while the occupation of a Coastguardsman neces- 

 sarily made him observant. He did not approve, however, of general 

 Government regulations. 



Mr. Scott-Elliot thought that it would be a very good thing to obtain 

 the co-operation of the Coastguard. 



Professor Meldola remarked that the general opinion certainly ap- 

 peared to be in favour of an attempt to obtain the appraval of the 

 Admiralty for their wish to secure the co-operation of the Coastguard, 

 and the Conference would be acting within its powers in sending up a 

 recommendation on the subject. He would therefore move :^ 



'That the Council of the British Association be requested to bring 

 under the notice of the Admiralty, the importance of securing systematic 

 observations upon the erosion of the sea coasts of tiie United Kingdom, 

 and that the co-operation of the Coastguard might be profitably secured 

 for this purpose.' 



Mr. Wheeler asked whether the matter should not be referred to the 

 Coast Erosion Committee of the British Association. 



The Chairman reminded the last speaker that the labours of that 

 Committee were ended. He thought that the Coastguard were perfectly 

 capable of doing the work proposed, and that they would be pleased to 

 do it. 



Discussion then ensued on various points of detail, among others on 

 the question where specimens of shingle collected at certain spots in order 

 to note its movements along our shores should be stored. In this Messrs. 

 Wheeler, Shore, Symons, and Gray took part. 



Professor Meldola remarked that the resolution did nut commit 

 either the Admiralty or themselves to any particular line. Should the 

 Admiralty ask how it was suggested that the Coastguard should make 

 observations, then it might be for that Conference to draw up rules for 

 their adoption. 



Mr. Gray seconded the resolution, and after some remarks from 

 Mr. Sowerbutts, Professor Meldola, the Chairman, and Mr. Hopkinson, 

 it was put to the meeting and carried. 



Professor Meldola then announced that he had just received the 

 following letter from Professor Watts : — 



