VI. OF THE FLOOD TIDE. 5 



meet with obstructions, but must press upou the land, in some parts, precisely as 

 the advancing flood does upon the exterior coast. In a group like the Nantucket 

 Shoals, the ebb, carrying with it the sand that has been loosened on the shore, and, 

 being hindered in its course by the inequalities of the bottom, must also contribute 

 to build up the deposits. These cases are not alleged as exceptions to a law, but 

 are stated as modifications merely, through which the action of the ebb is brought 

 to resemble that of the flood. In general, as the deposit of the flood is made on 

 the shore in the direction of its progress, so the deposit of the ebb is buried in the 

 bosom of the ocean. The former furnishes the material for the alluvial deposit 

 above water ; the latter supplies the substances found in the depths of the sea. 



" It is not meant to say by this, that the action of the flood and ebb tides is 

 reciprocal. On the contrary, the mode of operation of the flood is essentially 

 accumulative. Its tendency, also, is continually to carry onward the deposit, in the 

 course of its current, so that it performs the double office of increasing the collection 

 at every successive tide, and of advancing from place to place the matter at its 

 disposal." This process, and the law by which it is produced, were proved by the 

 manner in which the materials of wrecks are conveyed along the shore, and the 

 direction (always that of the flood) in which the various forms of deposit are 

 increased. Many well-authenticated instances of the transportation of wrecked 

 matter were adduced. 



Since writing that Memoir, I have endeavored to add to the number of these facts 

 and instances, and to extend the inquiries to other parts of the coast of the United 

 States. It is difficult, if not impossible, to make these inquiries through another 

 person, with a perfectly intelligible and satisfactory result. It is safe to rely upon 

 such information only as is collected in personal communication with the wreck- 

 masters themselves. It has not, therefore, been possible to add many facts to those 

 already collected. The following statements, which are well attested, appear to be 

 satisfactory, and to accord with the general law as it has been stated. 



I learned from Mr. Joseph H. Skillman, Lispector of the Port, at Greenport, 

 Long Island, that in the month of October, in the year 1842, the whale shij? Plato, 

 of New Bedford, was wrecked on Neapeaque beach, on the south side of Long 

 Island, and was sold to the wreck-masters. He took part in the purchase. After 

 removing the oil, the upper frame separated from the lower timbers, and drifted to 

 the westward. The wreck-masters built a house on the beach, in which they lived 

 two weeks, employed in rescuing the cargo and materials of the vessel. During 

 this time bricks (spare ones for the "try-works") and wood drifted to the westwai-d, 

 and were collected on the beach in that direction only. Nothing was carried to 

 the eastward. The top frame that had separated was heavy, water-logged, and 

 weighed down with iron fastenings, it floated deep ; and, at the time of its drifting 

 to the westward, the wind was blowing from the west. The bricks and firewood 

 constantly advanced in a westerly direction. During three of the fourteen days, 

 passed by the wreckers on the beach, the wind was from the north-west, and one 

 day very strong ; at no time did it blow from the east. Before the top timbers 

 broke off, the decks were burnt out to lighten the hull, and get out the copper 

 fastenings ; after this was done, the lightened hull began to work to the westward. 



