Tniiik Drainage. 
55 
J Hstuiicc 
I ottll Al'Oflllt 
from sea 
Situution. 
Area. 
Tidal Area. 
Iligh-WiULT. 
in miles. 
Super, feet. 
Super, feet. 
Super, feet. 
3 
At Skate's Corner .... 
11. 
5612 
6746 
8 
At North-Level Sluice . 
508 
2888 
3396 
131 
At Wisbech Budge .... 
1 10 
686 
796 
At Giiyhiru Ferry .... 
187 
549 
736 
26 
At one mile below the Dog-and- 
Doublet Sluice .... 
100 
97 
197 
3:2 
At Peterborough Hridge 
500 
162 
688 
The depth of the channel at low-water was still more irregular. 
Above Wisbech Bridge it shoaled to only 6 inches ; for neailv 
2 iniles upward it was 6 feet, then 1 foot 1) inches, then for 1 
mile increasing to 2 feet 9 inches, at a mile further beginning 
to increase to 4 feet 6 inches at Guyhirn, and varying from 4 
feet to 2 feet until it reached 9 feet at Peterborough Bridge. 
The river bed is in no better condition at this date ; the abso- 
lute deptii of the water of course being allowed for, according to 
the dryness or wetness of the season, when the observation was 
taken. Up to the present time neither the contractions and 
irregularities of the river channel between Peterborough and 
Wisbech, nor tlirough the latter town, have been remedied. At 
the North Level Sluice, and at two other points between it and 
Wisbech, where the channel is wide and good, the sectional 
areas of waterway at low-water are now 721, 367, and 362 super- 
ficial feet, while at five points in the town, choked by the 
bridge, wharfings, stoneings, &c., the areas are 100, 86, 100, 
105, and 105 superficial feet. Comparing the widths at low- 
water level we have at tlie three former places 120, 118, and 
83 lineal feet ; and in Wisbech town five places, only 70, 43, 40, 
44, and 59 lineal feet, considerably less areas and widths than 
occur also above the town. As we might expect from this 
restraint, the fall of the surface of the river at low-water through 
Wisbech is 4 feet in a distance of a mile and a half, or 2 feet 
8 inches jier mile, instead of 7 inches, the present average of the 
river. 
Such bein? the wretched state of the Nene from Peterboroush 
to a point immediately below the harbour of Wisbech, it may 
be asked, how is it that this channel has remained neglected 
so many years in close neighbourhood to some of the greatest 
river-works of the age ? If the same blindness that vainly, 
though vexatiously, opposed the Nene Outfall cuts, out of fear 
for commerce, had not compelled the secession of the North 
Level from union with the other Nene interests, the thing would 
have been done. And, in the mean time, this important drainage 
artery and means of water-traffic has decayed, because there has 
