¢ 
1887.] 27 [Haupt. 
aging, and we only know that we do not know anything.” 
While this conclusion may be true as to the currents in the 
open sea, it cannot be applied to those along shore, for an ex- 
amination of our coast line reveals some striking and definite 
features. These are, the existence of four (4) prominent 
salients upon which the tidal crest impinges, and by which it 
is broken up into components, which are deflected into the 
bays on either side. At the points of incidence there will 
generally be found large inner sounds, extensive shoals and 
bars, and the heavy precipitation resulting from the checking 
of the momentum of the wave, the change in its direction and 
the interference and eddies produced thereby. Then follows 
the comparatively smooth reach of straight beach, along which 
the component tidal waves travel inland from the chord join- 
ing the salient capes, and finally, the indented and serrated 
shore where the opposing components in the same sinus meet 
at the point farthest from the chord, and where the tides are 
highest, the marshes most extensive, and the outlying cordon 
of sand is replaced by numerous islands and intricate “ back” 
channels. Here the tidal wave is brought to rest, and exerts 
its energy in a direction nearly normal to the coast, whilst 
along the flanks of the bay it is moving obliquely to the shore, 
but always towards the bight, except when locally disturbed, 
and with adynamic energy, begotten in mid-ocean, which com- 
presses the sand upon the shores and transports it in the direc- 
tion of that motion. 
The motor in the case of the flood tide is chiefly universal 
gravitation, which raises the crest of the flood wave from two 
(2) to five (5) feet, and rollsit forward upon our eastern coast 
line until its acquired momentum is met, modified and ulti- 
mately destroyed by the inertia of the mass of sand which it 
encounters. 
