46 
PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
1915 
likely to be quite satisfactory, or to be, permanently, the better 
of the two. 
Both of the channels mentioned are necessary — each has 
to take the land drainage on its own side of the river. There 
is, however, no need that both should be through-channels. 
The question which of them may be closed at the upper end 
has been settled alread^c Although the southern channel 
gives the more direct route from Trent Falls to Brough, the 
requirements of the Weighton canal make the upper one 
necessary, so it must be kept open. The southern might be 
closed by a groyne, shown as No. i, directed from a point a 
little above the sluice at Alkborough towards another point 
opposite the canal lock. This would perpetuate the direction 
of the stream against the north bank, for the protection of 
which the principal part of the proposed expenditure was 
intended. ^^90,000 was assigned to it. The stream is not at 
all likely to have caused much of the damage, but the tide, 
coming up in a long line from the south side of Read’s Island, 
must impinge on this bank and would be likely to damage it. 
If, however, the southern channel were closed by a groyne, 
shown as No. 2, the change would correspond to that in the 
diagram (Fig. 9) made by diverting the line c d to c e. If 
this were done, I feel sure that the river would assume some 
such line as that shown in Fig. 10. I cannot suppose that the 
stream, having to flow in a line due east, would unnecessarily 
curve northwards opposite the Whitton sands. The stream 
decides the line of the river, and the tide follows it as the line 
of least resistance. I am conscious that the high tide could 
not be turned without a wall of enormous strength ; but let 
the early tide be directed, the tide which, being heavier than 
the fresh water, flows below the level of the surface, it will 
be sufficient for the time. The raising of the groyne may be 
left until the new channel is formed. Much good has been done 
by extending eastward the outlets of the Broomfleet and the 
Crabley drains. More than twelve years ago I wrote : — 
“ Large sums of money have been spent in putting elements 
of strength into river banks. I suggest that it might be better 
spent in removing elements of weakness, by uniting affluent 
streams and bringing them, when united, into the river at fixed 
