92 DR. J, W. HE8L0P HARRISON ON 



section of his chart, Hewitt was relying on some earlier one. 

 By this barrier great bodies of water, infinitely greater than 

 one would suspect from the chart, bearing the aspect of long 

 narrow lakes came into being. These are the several " fleets " 

 which form an interlacing system of channels so intricate as to 

 render it difficult for the uninitiated to extricate himself, and 

 render Saltholme and Cowpen Marshes so interesting. They 

 are the home of countless birds and dragon flies. More com- 

 plete study of these and their ultimate passage into " stells " 

 will be reserved until Saltholme Marsh is considered in detail. 



North of Greatham Creek, the erection of the slag wall has 

 had parallel effects in isolating sheets of water in Greenabella 

 Marsh ; these, however, are neither so deep as the Saltholme 

 Fleets nor have they lost their original saltiness for, by perco- 

 lation through the slag wall or otherwise, they still obtain 

 constant supplies of salt water. 



Striking across the marshes, now passes the new road to 

 Hartlepool ; certain portions of this, however, are of some 

 age. For long stretches on the Saltholme side, this is followed 

 by a drainage ditch or lode into which drain secondary lodes 

 which in turn are fed by " stells," sometimes, but not always, 

 continuous with the main fleets. When first surveyed, the 

 new road, where it struck the earthwall, followed it. Now it 

 swings somewhat abruptly to the east to cross Greatham 

 Creek by a substantial iron bridge, thence traversing Greena- 

 bella Marsh and on to Seaton Carew. Enclosed between the 

 abandoned section and the road as it actually exists, is a 

 triangular patch of ground of some botanical importance as 

 will appear later. 



Between the Creek and the wall with its westward con- 

 tinuation, is the saltmarsh proper, displaying all the phenomena 

 of primary and secondary marsh with their more or less active 

 or decadent sets of " pans." A similar wall cuts off another 

 salting on the north side of the creek, although this is not so 

 perfect in its development, and further, is hopelessly spoilt by 

 the picturesque " house boats " of the numerous " gunners " 

 who live here durinj? the week-ends. 



