65 L^^2 
distant to slielter it. A jetee would be required to fulfil this object, 
and the materials to erect it, would be found on the shore itself An 
inner harbor could easily be dug in the salt marshes through which 
the canal runs before its termitiation. 
\Ye have only now to determine whether this canal should be Uuilt 
with a summit and inferior levels, or be all const) ucted on one level, 
and fed by the tide. 
The only stream which could feed its summit level, would be the 
outlet of Herring pond, 52 feet above high tide in Buzzard's bay. It 
yielded, on the 30th of October. 1824, 9i cubic feet per second, and 
it h';d rained during the preceding days. This quantity would not 
sufiico even for one half of the minimum of its lockage if the locks ad- 
mit sea vessels. Of course we have no choice. The canal must ex- 
tend on one level from one bay to the other, be fed by the tide of Barn- 
stable bay, and provided with a tide-Ioi k and [loit at each of its ex- 
tremities. Its bottom will be at least 82 feet below the neap tides or 
92 below the common tides in this bay. It is needless to add, that its 
dimensions should be adapted to sea vessels. 
riiis short analysis proves that the {wacticability of tlie Buzzard*3 
bay aiwl Barnstable canal does not admit of a dnubt, and that its con- 
struction will meet with no serious obstacle. The expense will not 
be great, if we compare it with that of the Delaware and Chesapeake 
canal, which extends fourteen miles in length, and requires a deep 
cut of thiee miles, through a ridge which rises 84 feet abo\e tide wa- 
ter, and 76 feet above its summit level. The maximum cost of this 
last canal has been valued at S 1.354, 364. 
The Board have not examined the navigable character of Buzzard's 
bay. as the season was too advanced to j)erform this task in a satis- 
factory manner. The following information has, however, been pro- 
cured with respect to it. 
The Northwest winds, which reign chiefly during the winter and 
autumn, are favorable to ascend the bay, as well as the Southwest 
winds, which reign chiefly during the summer. Its shores oiler sev- 
eral anchorages^ and the rocks which arc found amongst thejn, may 
be marked, in order that the coasters may avoid them. They may 
pilot themselves into the bay. It is not affected by fogs more tlian 
the Vineyard sound. In its lowei* parts the tide jises 2] knots in an 
hour — on the shoals, 4 knots. In the winter, the ice formed on the 
northern shore, when thawed by the southwest winds, is driven to 
the opposite shore, when the northwest blows. In consequence, this 
bay is therefore longer obstructed by floating ice than the Vineyard 
sound. 
As to the canal itself, it would freeze during 2| nwnths, at most, 
and six weeks, at least; but this inconvenience is in some measure 
diminished, as the port of Boston is frequently inaccessible during 
two or three weeks in the winter from the same cause. 
Buzzard's and Barnstable canal is the eastern link of the great 
line of internal communication along our Atlantic frofitier, which i$ 
destined to connect all its ports from Georgia to Massachusetts* 
9 
