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Scientific Intelligence. [no. 3, new series, 



the bed of the sea; it might as well be suggested that it would per- 

 haps float away, but our best answer to this is, that the boat break- 

 water which was begun in these roads and never finished, remains 

 to this day. As to material, there is plenty of stone obtainable 

 on the Coast at Covelong, on the line of the S. Coast canal gene- 

 rally, and on that of the- Railway; as to the means of conveying it, 

 it may be done as that for the boat breakwater was, that is, pass- 

 ed over the surf on Catamarans if not by any better means that 

 may be proposed. 



2nd. Its effect. — The effects of breakwaters are fully ascertained ; 

 they afford a perfect shelter for vessels in all weathers ; under them, 

 if there is good holding ground, vessels can ride out the most se- 

 vere storms. As respects the communication with the shore, they 

 preserve smooth water, and ensure perfectly convenient landing at 

 all times, excepting perhaps during the height of a gale when a 

 boat could not exist any where excepting close under the lea of 

 some shelter. 



But it by no means represents the true state of the case to say, 

 merely that a breakwater forms a safe harbour ; it should be remem- 

 bered, that an artificial breakwater affords a harbour far superior 

 to any natural one. There is probably not a natural harbour in 

 the world, that has not some natural dangers connected with it, 

 for reefs and islands do not appear only where they are wanted 

 but too often just where they are not wanted* But in making an ar- 

 tificial harbour, artificial reefs are of course placed only where they 

 will be useful. Thus an artificial reef parallel with the Coast at Mad- 

 ras would nothave a range of sandheads with a stormy monsoon blow- 

 ing direct upon them, and covered with breakers to seaward of it, 

 warning ships off from the harbour behind them, nor would it have 

 a five knots current within it, in which ships must anchor ; nor 

 would it have a Back-bay in which vessels might be lost, nor a 

 stretch of 20 miles of water, over which if a hurricane blow, the 

 ships at anchor might be dashed against each other, as they have 

 been in Bombay. The port of Madras would be in every respect 

 superior to those of Calcutta and Bombay. There would be no 

 Pilotage, no time lost in running in or out at any time ; and land- 



