KiNAHAN — 0)1 Sea-beaches. 205 



■vvincls a breakwater could have been erected in the strait between 

 Crossfarnoge and the North Saltee. Such structures would have con- 

 stituted a harbour protected from all bad winds, and at the same time 

 would not have presented any obstacles to the free driftage past of 

 the sands and beaches. 



Baxltgeahy Ship Pier. — This is now in course of erection. It is 

 to consist of a pier in deep water, which is to be connected with the 

 land by a viaduct. The shipping will have harbourage on the east 

 side of the pier, while the beach can drift past under the viaduct and 

 thence westward along the shore line. When it was commenced, a 

 short land pier was run out to low water of spring tide, from which 

 the viaduct should start : this land pier, however, acted as a groyne, 

 and the small embayment to the east rapidly filled up. To this 

 we will return hereafter in connexion with the description of 

 groynes. 



"Wexford Harbotje. — The shifting sands at the entrance into Wex- 

 ford Harbour have been, from time immemorial, a source of annoy- 

 ance and expense to the inhabitants of the town ; but as that eminent 

 engineer Sir John Coade, M. Inst. C. E., has lately reported on them, 

 it would be presumptuous in me to make any remarks or suggestions 

 about them. 



PotTLDTjFE Quay (Cahore). — This was built for the convenience of 

 the boats during the herring fishing, and for landing the cargoes of 

 vessels during calm weather. It is a pier running out at right angles 

 to the beach, and having in the centre of it a culvert to carry off the 

 drainage from the Cahore flats ; while at a little distance from the 

 end of the pier, and connected to it by a wooden bridge, is a short break- 

 water (Fig. 2, PI. 6). This has been a complete failure in every way, 

 as north and south of the pier great " fulls " have collected, which not 

 only prevent boats approaching the pier, but also have stopped the 

 mouth of the culvert. As previously mentioned, the driftage south 

 of Cahore Point moves northward, and after it passes the point it 

 turns westward into the Poulduff beach, where it is stopped by the 

 pier. IN". E. winds cut the " full " to the north of the pier, but they 

 are prevented from acting on the south "full" by that structure ; 

 and as long as the south ''full" remains, the pier continues banked 

 up ; for as fast as the north " full " is cut out it is replenished from 

 the south one. This pier is never clear, except after a storm from 

 the S. E., which has caused both the south and north " fulls " to travel 

 rapidly northward. 



When the conditions of this locality are considered, it would 

 appear that when the pier was first contemplated the site chosen for 

 it ought to have been near Cahore Point. If it had been erected there 

 it would not have interfered with the present driftage, while it 

 would have given shelter to the boats from the S. and S.E. winds. 

 Under present circumstances, the pier might be greatly improved by 

 securing and making permanent the south "full." This could be 



