258 The Spittal at Filey Brig . 
So far as the necessarily brief examination afforded by the 
tide permitted, it seemed quite evident that the Spittal was 
not connected, geologically, with the Brig. It apparently 
consisted of a comparatively flat -topped ridge, 20 feet or so 
in width, and 200 yards in length, and we were assured by the 
Filey ' Cox ’ and other fishermen that there was a steep face 
to the ridge on its south-west face, about 15 feet in depth, 
whereas on the opposite or seaward side the depth was only 
about 5 feet, and gradually shelved to deeper water. 
It was noticeable that on the lower part of the dip-slope 
of rock there was an enormous mass of boulders derived from 
the weathering of the adjacent rocks. . These seemed to be 
held in place on the slopes of the Brig from the point of Carr 
Filey Brig from Carr Naze, at low spring tide, r showing the line 
of the Spittal on the right. 
■ 
Naze to the Spittal, whereas precisely at the latter position 
the accumulation of boulders disappeared, and the line of the 
Spittal clearly seemed to be a continuation of the curved line 
of boulders. This was borne out by the evidence of the 
Filey fishermen, who averred that the scour of the incoming 
tide in the bay formed a huge whirlpool, along the side 
of the Brig, and again to the south. This being so, 
the Spittal may be accounted for as a ' cranch * or bank of 
boulders formed as the result of tidal action, just as cranches 
occur at the mouths of rivers and estuaries, and in the same 
way as Spurn Point and Selsey Bill were formed. Bearing 
upon this, the direction of the Spittal, namely, south-south- 
east, is in keeping with this theory, whereas, if it were an arti- 
ficial pier, the direction would surely be at right -angles to the 
Brig, or even south -south -west. 
Naturalist 
