VOL. XIX. (I) Tin-: CONTROL OF RIVER CHANNELS 
^9 
ON THE CONTROL OF RIVER CHANNELS. 
By T. S. ELLIS 
A great geographer has said that “ When man attempts 
to meddle with Nature he can only succeed in permanently 
modifying her aspects by studying the constant laws of her 
phenomena and by making his work conform to them.”^ 
Rivers, and the laws which govern them in their course, would 
seem to be a fitting subject for discussion by a Naturalists’ 
Field Club, and not the less so if taken in relation to the control 
of their channels. In doing this we shall be acting in ac- 
cordance with the expression of Professor Lapworth that 
“ The Economic Geology, as such, is as much the province of 
the Geologist, and demands as respectful a treatment, as the 
stratigraphical details of a country." He quotes the advice 
of Sir Michael Foster that no branch of Science should be 
neglected " though it be conspicuously, and even glaringly, 
useful. I hope, too, that no apology will be needed if sug- 
gestions be offered to those whose province it is to “ meddle " 
with the aspects of Nature and whose endeavours to " roll 
obedient rivers through the land ” are not always successful. 
My own interest in the Natural History of Rivers has 
been stimulated as I have felt, more and more, the importance 
of the subject from the utilitarian point of view.^ I have always 
somewhat realized this ; thirty-three years ago I wrote that 
" the real cause (of river curves in alluvial plains) w'ould seem 
to have a bearing on the formation of warths (a local name for 
new lands) and the maintenance of navigation channels.”'^ 
Of these, which are identical with the low-water channels, I 
am going to speak. The purpose of my paper is to show that 
they can be controlled and fixed in the intended line. As to 
floods, I am not concerned with them, but only with that which 
1 Reclus, “The Earth,” p. 261. 
2 Hist. Geol. Soc. (Woodward), p. 240 and Geol. Mag., 1899, p. 519. 
3 “ The idealistic motive becomes the realistic purpose." — Prof. Schuster, President’s Address 
Brit. Assoc. Manchester, 1915. 
4 Formation of Severn Valley. Gloucester, 1882. 
D 
