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XXX. Report of further Observations upon the Tidal Streams of the North Sea and 
English Channel, with Remarks upon the Laws by which those Streams appear to 
be governed. By Captain F. W. Beechey, R.N., F.R.S. Communicated to Sir 
Francis Beaufort, K.C.B., Hydrographer, and presented to the Royal Society by 
G. B. Airy, Esq., F.R.S. , and Astronomer Royal, Sfc. 
Received March 27, — Read May 15. 1851. 
Sir, London, March 11th, 1851. 
In pursuance of directions from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that I 
should make further inquiry into the phenomena of the tidal streams of the Channel, 
I commenced a systematic investigation of the whole feature of tidal-streams through- 
out the strait which separates England from the Continent, and I have now the 
satisfaction to lay before you for their Lordships’ information the result of these 
labours. 
In order to prosecute this inquiry with as much advantage and as little delay as 
possible, I have combined with the information furnished by the vessel appropriated 
to this service as many observations from various authentic sources as were recom- 
mended by the known reputation of their authors. 
These consisted of various observations upon the streams of the English Channel Authorities 
and the North Sea by Captain Martin White, R.N., Captain Washington, R.N., 
Captain Hewitt, R.N., and Captain Bullock, R.N. Also by Monsieur Monnier, 
M. Beautems Beaupres, and by the Engineurs Hydrographiques, published in the 
‘ Pilote Frangaise.’ To these have been added some by Mr. Gr^me Spence about 
the Scilly Islands, and a few by Captain Anderson, as given in the Philosophical 
Transactions; numerous observations along the shore by the Coast Guard, and a 
series of observations kept on board the light-vessels by order of the Trinity Board, 
which are particularly valuable as being made simultaneously, and, like those of 
Captain Washington, continued throughout several days at each station. 
The method pursued in making the observations, was to anchor the vessel at each Method pur- 
of the stations* for twelve hours and upwards, and to observe the direction of the tide, the 
ebb and flood, every half-hour. The rate of the stream, in addition to the usual method obsen ations. 
by the common log, was detected by current logs, constructed for the purpose by 
Mr. Massey, and which registered feet ; and that it might be ascertained whether 
the stream was confined to the surface or extended to the depth of a vessel’s hull 
* See Chart of the Stations, Plate XXXII. 
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