138 



Scientific Intelligence, [no. S } new series, 



of the Pier-head being 40 feet, the outer end of the Pier will be 

 1,000 feet from high- water mark on the beach. 



From the best information that is obtainable it appears probable 

 that the surf never breaks at a greater distance from the shore 

 than from 500 to 600 feet, at times when cargo boats could ply ; 

 though it may do so in stormy weather when the waves of the bay 

 are so broken that the outer surf cannot be distinguished. 



Mr. Taylor, when Astronomer at Madras in 1844, offered the 

 following opinion upon the distance to which the surf extended : 



" From a careful measurement in the months of October, No- 

 vember and December 1838, it appeared that on occasions such 

 as it would be considered dangerous to permit a boat to go off 

 from the beach, the surf extended to a distance of 450 to 500 feet 

 from the shore : but that during a smart gale on the 6th December 

 the surf extended to or beyond a buoy which was 828 feet from 

 the shore, but the confusion was such as to render the distinction 

 between breakers (such as occur at sea) and the surf, very difficult." 

 Captain Biden who has given his attention to the same subject, 

 and has had even better opportunities of judging than Mr. Taylor, 

 also gave an opinion upon this point, at the time Mr. Piron's 

 proposed Pier was under consideration. He expressed himself as 

 follows : 



" The surf broke at 350 feet from the coping stone on the 14th 

 October 1844, when the last survey was made, and then the wea- 

 ther was moderate." " About 500 feet from the road-bulwark or 

 barrier, and 400 feet from the inner wash of the surf, is a ledge of 

 sand, and just outside this bank the depth increases from 10 to 15 

 feet, but within and without this ridge of sand, and excepting that 

 sudden change, the soundings are very regular ; this bank doubt- 

 less causes the break of the outer surf in lough weather." From 

 these statements and the opinions of others who have either like 

 Mr. Taylor or Captain Biden taken the subject into considera- 

 tion, or who having passed much of their time in sight of the surf 

 have become acquainted with its peculiarities, the Committee do 

 not hesitate to say that if the head of the Pier is placed as Messrs, 



