480 REPORT—1899. 
‘The situation which appears to us of the greatest importance, and at 
the same time affords the most eligible position fora deep-water harbour, 
is Dover Bay. Independently of its proximity to the Continent, this bay 
possesses considerable advantages ; the depth of water at 400 yards from 
the shore is two fathoms at low water of spring tides, and but six fathoms at 
1,100 yards, which therefore affords sufficient width for the construction of 
a capacious deep-water harbour, without getting into such a depth for the 
site of the piers or breakwater as would greatly add to the expense of 
the works.’ 
The works recommended by the Commissioners were indicated on a. 
large cartoon, which was exhibited to the Section, by black lines, and 
were described as follows :— 
‘The principal feature of the proposed plan is a breakwater at the 
average distance of 1,000 yards from the shore, with piers projected from 
the land towards its eastern and western ends.’ 
The area at low water enclosed within the works would have been 
450 acres, of which 320 acres would have been seaward of the two-fathom 
line. It was pointed out that either one entrance, or two entrances, could 
be provided as desired. The advantages of two entrances were stated 
to be— 
‘That vessels might enter or leave the harbour with the wind from 
any quarter, and a ready access be afforded to the mouth of the present 
harbour from the western entrance, without passing through the centre 
of the new harbour.’ 
On the other hand the provision of only one entrance in the middle of 
the breakwater would have the advantage of rendering the interior of the 
harbour in some degree more quiet. The Commissioners were in favour 
of two entrances. The estimated cost of the works proposed was 
2,000, 0007. 
Chiefly on account of the terms of a report on shipwrecks made by 2. 
Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1843, a further Royal 
Commission was appointed in 1844 to consider :— 
lst. Whether it was desirable that a harbour of refuge should be con- 
structed in the Channel. 
2nd. What site would be the most eligible for such a harbour on 
account of its combining in the greatest degree the following grounds of 
preference :— 
(a) That it should be of easy access at all times of tide to vessels 
requiring shelter from stress of weather. 
(6) That it should be calculated for a station for armed vessels of war 
in the event of hostilities, both for purposes of offence and defence ; and 
(c) That it should possess facilities for insuring its defence in the 
event of an attack by the enemy. 
In reporting, the Commissioners agreed with their predecessors of 
1840 in pronouncing a favourable opinion of Dover aga site for a harbour 
of refuge, but gave special attention to the quality of the anchorage and 
the liability of the harbour to silt up. At the instance of the Commis- 
sioners, Captain Washington, in command of H.M.S. Blazer, made 
practical trials of the holding qualities of the anchorage, and reported in 
the following terms :— 
