HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION IN THE WEST. 
161 
some slight regret when Millbay (now the site of the Great 
Western Docks) was a beautiful rock-bound inlet, and the only 
engineering work within sight was the present Millbay Pier, built 
from the designs of Mr. Rendle in his younger days. And even 
Millbay Pier is interesting as being the prototype of the great 
Portland Breakwater, which Mr. Rendle subsequently designed 
and carried out. The experience gained in the construction of 
this small work was, Mr. Meadows Rendle told me, of the greatest 
value to his father when carrying out the larger work. This 
Millbay Pier, constructed in 1848, rapidly developed a traffic 
which increased steadily till 1851, when the number of vessels 
dealt with was 428 with a register tonnage of 91,792. 
From that year till 1857, when the present Millbay Docks were 
opened, it progressed rapidly. The number of vessels that year at 
Millbay Pier was 629, with a register tonnage of 135,120. As I 
have said before, the Millbay Docks were opened in the year 1857, 
and to give you an idea of the advantage which these excellent 
docks have been to the port, I would refer you to Table IV. 
Table IV. 
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF TRAFFIC AT THE PLYMOUTH 
GREAT WESTERN DOCKS 
From January 1, 1848, to December 31, 1883. 
Year. 
Number of 
Registered 
Year. 
Number of 
Registered 
Vessels. 
Net Tonnage. 
Vessels. 
Net Tonnage. 
1848 
3 
698 
1866 
1843 
385,547 
1849 
141 
30,311 
1867 
1910 
429,752 
1850 
292 
62,654 
91,792 
1868 
2016 
421,137 
1851 
428 
1869 
2059 
443,165 
1852 
465 
99,505 
1870 
2079 
410,947 
1853 
491 
104,965 
1871 
2375 
399,484 
1854 
529 
112,964 
106,616 
1872 
2441 
453,869 
1855 
500 
1873 
2663 
445,152 
1856 
609 
130,993 
1874 
2524 
461,427 
1857 
629 
135,120 
1875 
2308 
469,811 
1858 
910 
195,414 
1876 
1988 
464,420 
1859 
1256 
269,675 
1877 
2207 
475,111 
1860 
1564 
335,966 
1878 
2502 
525,178 
1861 
1620 
333,132 
1879 
2336 
515,289 
1862 
1698 
346,929 
1880 
2193 
472,687 
1863 
1675 
343,762 
1881 
2397 
512,644 
1864 
1692 
348,904 
370,699 
1882 
2391 
525,222 
1865 
1758 
1883 
2554 
563,995 
VOL. IX. M 
