710 
BLAKENEY POINT IN 1913. 
much of the vegetation. Careful observations, checked by the 
results of enclosing small areas at suitable spots, showed that 
the rabbits exerted a profound influence on the plants — notably 
on the Suceda bushes within their radius. 
Moreover, the sand-hills were unduly subject to wind erosion 
from the constant renewal of the burrows. It was consequently 
decided that their numbers should be very materially reduced — 
an operation carried out in the late autumn. At the same time 
it is not intended, at any rate at present, to carry this thinning 
out to the point of extermination. For, curiously enough, 
several of the choicest species of plants of the area ( e.g ., Statice 
reticulata) occur in profusion in the gaps between the Sitceda 
bushes caused by the browsing of the rabbits, and with the 
closing of these gaps it seems likely that the ground flora of 
the localities in question would suffer extinction. The matter 
illustrates the complexity of the inter-relations which exist 
between the various organisms occupying the same area, and 
shews the necessity for careful study before drastic action is 
taken. 
The Cley Channel. 
Another matter that is receiving the serious consideration of 
the Committee is the state of the Cley Channel where it runs 
close under the beach between the Marrams and the Cley 
bathing huts. For many years this section of the beach, which 
is very sterile, has been advancing landwards and has now 
encroached on the North bank of the Cley Channel. The 
intermittent discharge into the channel of shingle from the lee 
talus of the beach has blocked the channel even to minor 
navigation, except at the higher spring tides. A more serious 
consequence of this obstruction is the incapacity of the 
restricted channel any longer to carry off adequately the 
drainage from the systems of reclaimed marshes that lie 
between Cley and Salthouse. If things are left to take their 
course, liability to flooding of the reclaimed marshes must 
increase and ultimately the marshes will become derelict. The 
