British Association Notes and Comments . 
247 
SEA DEFENCE. 
Mr. M. Du-Plat -Taylor, speaking of coast erosion, said : — 
The loss can be prevented by coast defence works, such as sea 
embankments or sea walls, the drainage of clay cliffs, and 
groyning. Although reclamation of land from the sea for 
industrial purposes may be an economic process it is not so 
for agricultural purposes unless it is carried out in combination 
with dredging or the disposal of waste materials. Material 
deposited on reclamation areas may be material dredged from 
adjoining navigation channels, which can be pumped ashore 
by suitable plant. This is often cheaper than sending it out 
to sea to be dumped in deep water. House refuse may also be 
used for raising the level of such low-lying lands if economical 
means can be found for so depositing it. In London alone, 
the quantity of house refuse to be disposed of annually is 
ij million tons, and in addition, 3 million tons of sludge from 
sewage disposal is sent out to be dumped at sea. The Author 
suggests that means of disposing of all this upon marsh or 
mud land should be investigated. As regards coast defence 
works, various forms of protection will be discussed and 
approximate costs given ; and finally, various schemes for 
enclosure and reclamation which have already been put 
forward will be examined from the point of view of probable 
ultimate profit and the relief of unemployment. 
RIVER HULL POLLUTION. 
Mr. Sheppard, who is also chairman of the River Hull 
Pollution Committee, had been asked to address the delegates 
on this question. He pointed out that in its lower reaches the 
River Hull is tidal and very brackish. 'When it is re- 
membered/ he said, ‘ that the Humber is fed by the Trent 
and Ouse, and their tributaries, which carry the sewage from 
a large proportion of the towns of the north of England, it 
will be understood that this area is not of much interest to 
anglers/ The area reviewed by him, therefore, was a matter 
of 16 miles between the top lock at Beverley, where the tidal 
influence ceases, and Driffield, about which the trout streams 
are pure and well stocked with fish. 
EPIDEMIC RECALLED. 
The growing population at Driffield and Beverley (with 
its increase in factories), sewage disposal works, the more 
modern methods of agricultural drainage (with the contamina- 
tion caused by the increase of artificial and other manures on 
the land), as well as the effect of tar sprays and petrol washed 
from the roads, all had helped to change the nature of the 
fauna and flora of the river. ‘ Many years ago/ said Mr. 
1933 Nov. 1 
