86 



THE BRITISH ISLES. 



northern side of St. Austell Bay, lias a small liarbour defended by a breakwater, 

 and exports cbina clay and iron ore from the neighbouring mines of St. Blazoj. 



Foirci/, at the mouth of the estuary of the same name, has an excellent harbour, 

 defended by forts and batteries, and much frequented. Three hundred years ago 

 Fowey was the most important maritime city in the south-west of England. The 

 sit3 of Falmouth was at that time occupied by a solitary house, whilst Fowey 



Fig. 46. — Falmouth axd Tuuko. 

 Scnle 1 : 175,000. 



Depth under 10 Fathoms. 



iJeplii over 10 rathoms. 

 2 MUes. 



furiii-shed Edward III. with forty-seven vessels for the siege of Calais. It was a 

 noted place for pirates, and its mariners occasionally even fought vessels from other 

 English ports, including those of Rye and "Winchelsea. The town was burnt by 

 the French in 1457. Losficithiel is higher up on the Fowey, which yields excellent 

 trout and smelts. 



East and West Looe are two old-fashioned fishing villages at the mouth of the 



