C 293 ) 
Ihe Improvement ^j/Cornwa^l by Sea. fand^communkated by an Intelli;, 
gent Gentleman vpell acquainted in thofe parts to />n Dan, Cox. 
• — I^ISwell known, ttiat Lands are valued according to the 
j_ nearness or difiance of tha t cotBHiodity .Near the Sea, or a na- 
vigable River are few of thofe wafte and uniiuproved Lands^ I have 
much wondred,thac theSea-fand (being fo advantagions) has not 
been ufed in other parts of the Nation. ■ I know, there is the fame 
fljelly fand on mofl: of the Coafts of England^ yer. it lies wholly neg- 
lefted. The reafon of it is (I think) that the Labouringpart do fel- 
doin travel,or remove,fo as to learn by others experience : And the 
Gentry^ that ride abroad, do little mind thefe things. However ,fince 
our Country has the happy ufe of it, and would abundantly niore^ 
were it not for the charge of carriage ; I think it expedient to en- 
large upon this head. Tinn^^nd Fijhy are two noble Staples of the 
County, and this of Sea-fand (if I niiftake not) may be fo ordred as 
to be as good as either. 
Now becaufe this difcourfe may come to tbe hands of fome other 
Country men, to whom it may do good ; I fhall for their fakes de- 
fer ibe this Sand, to make them efteem and ufe it ( if they pleafe ) 
for their own advantage. 
This Sand is that which is commonly at or near the Sea-fKoar, 
which to diftinguifli from what is ufelefs j know. That the wafh of 
the Sea rolls a«d tumbles ftones & {hells, &iC.or\t over another, whofe 
grating makes this Sandjf the matter be /fc^/^ (as we call it)that is 
the grating of Jlones^'n is of fmall valew. But if it be notably /heUy^ 
then it is what we defire. And of this Jhelly Sanddxt three colours in 
our County. AboutP/;w(?/^^A and the Southern coaft the Sand isbleiv" 
ifh or gray, likeaflhes : which I conceive to be from the breaking of 
Mufclcs chiefly and Oyfter-fliells mixed with it. Weftwardnear 
the Lands end,the Sand is very tv^/^^,and in SciHy^gVJlering. This I 
think comes from the mouldring of Mooreftones^or a kind of Free- 
ftonemingled with very white fliells, fuchasare called ( when the 
fifli is preferved) Scollops. On the North-fea from about Pad/low 
and Eaft wards to Lmdie the Sand is rich and of dibrown reddifb' 
^c^y^»»?/^ colour, and is moftly of the broken fhells of Cockles 5 
which I.guefj to be of that colour there,from the waflj of ihtSevern^ 
which falls very dirty into the Severn- fea^znd perhaps that accre- 
tion of the (hells may be tinged thereby .This we know, that though 
there be little or noSea-fifh near the mouth oftJbe ^^'wr^.becaufeof 
the muddinefs thereof, and therefore fifh is carried to be fold as far 
Q^q as 
