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Arklow Beach and Rivers. 953 
the results of the other works, was a channel over ten feet deep 
at the time of a four-feet rise of tide. Since then, these works 
have gradually fallen more or less out of repair; this, combined 
with the beach and the land driftage, has madethe bar and channel 
unsatisfactory. . 
This short resumé of the history of Arklow harbour shows 
that, although the moneys expended on it have given results far 
short of those that were expected, yet the port has been vastly 
improved ; for while in older times the fishing boats drew only 
three or four feet of water, now most of them draw eight, nine, 
and ten feet, or even more. 
When we take into consideration the travelling of the beach 
and sand, it would appear ; that at the first the mouth of the 
harbour ought to have been made as far north as possible, instead 
of having opened a direct cut. This, however, seems to have been 
a very universal mistake with the “ old men,” as nearly invariably 
we find, rivers similarly circumstanced, thus treated. It may 
even now be a question, if it would not be cheaper to make the 
permanent entrance to the harbour to the northward, at the Sea- 
bank Cliff The advantages of such an entrance would be— 
First, it would only be necessary to build one short pier on the 
south side of the channel ; Second, the formation of a channel from 
the Chemical works to this pier would cost very little, as a freshet 
turned into a small cut along the site of the proposed channel 
might be made to do all the excavation ; Third, there would be 
a wide entrance to the harbour, approachable by boats in all 
winds; and Fourth, in the channel between the Chemical works 
and the new pier there would be a harbour, safe from gales from 
every quarter. 
The present entrance is defective; First, on account of its 
narrowness, which makes it unapproachable in gales or when 
there is a sea on ; and Second, on account of the bar which is due 
to the northward travelling of the beach, and the land driftage 
of sand into the river. These latter objections must be remedied 
before anything else is done. For while the beach and sands travel 
north, if the south pier is extended straight out the strand will fol- 
low it, while if curved the sand willrun round it into the harbour ;* - 
* When Barton made his report in 1859, he was assured by the “ Authorities” that 
the beach would not follow further than it had; yet, results proved that it did. 
