28 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



between Donaghadee and the Scotch coast, at a point about half-way 

 between the Bill of the Mull and Port Patrick. 



According to the information on the charts, each chart offered for 

 sale is stated to be up to date, containing the latest information. 

 Sometimes, however, they seem to let their work get into arrears ; as 

 in the early part of 1897, when I first took up this inquiry, there 

 were six different charts of the area — the chart of the British Isles, 

 1867; a chart dated 1879; another of 1885; another of 1890; another 

 of 1894; and, another of 1897; since then there has been a great 

 change, as most of these charts have been cancelled and amalgamated 

 into three or four, viz. : — chart of British Isles (up to date) ; a chart, 

 No. I., Irish Channel, which seems, at least in part, old, 1825 a; and, 

 chart ]S'o. 45, east coast of Ireland; also, a map of the west coast of 

 Scotland, very similar to 45, east Ireland. This Irish chart is dated 

 July, 1897, and seems to be more recent than the Scotch chart. In 

 the Daily Graphic, July, 1899, Mr. Barton published a chart — pre- 

 sumably this is a correct copy from one of the cancelled charts, as 

 it is different to the charts now on sale. The last chart (IS'o. I., Irish 

 Channel) is said to be corrected up to November, 1898. It is a most 

 elaborate chart, as in it the colour as well as the composition of the 

 soundings are given. 



The following Table was drawn up from the charts procurable early 

 in 1897. The present chart of 1897 is slightly different from the early 

 one ; to this Table are added the figures taken from the 1898 chart : — 

 A. column gives the date, B. the soundings on a line from the Grobbins, 

 Larne, to Corsewall, and C. those on the direct line from Donaghadee 

 to Port Patrick : — 



A. 



B. 



C. 



1867 



126 to 138 fathoms. 



138 to 144 fathoms. 



1879 



126 



80 



1885 



123 



123 



1890 



139 



117 



1894 



126 to 139 ,, 



117 



1897 



130 to 139 



146 



1898 



127 



140 



It is to be regretted that I cannot produce the chart of 1894, as 



