PLYMOUTH SOUND: ITS TIDAL CURRENTS, 281 
formed by the western stream at the opposite end. A considerable 
part of the eastern stream, surviving the interruptions from the 
rocks on the east and the Breakwater on the west, makes in a 
north-west or westerly direction, until, near the New Grounds, or 
further north, it meets the main stream from the western opening, 
which flows on the first part of the flood tide, generally in a direc- 
tion from the Breakwater Lighthouse to Mount Batten. At the 
point where these streams meet there is an eddy, but it is only one 
focus of several in a larger one, extending from near the New 
Grounds to the Fort behind the Breakwater, from the Fort to the 
Lighthouse, and from the Lighthouse to the New Grounds or 
beyond, as the strength of the currents and their directions 
determine. Vessels anchored in the return of this eddy near the 
Breakwater during strong spring tides, may be seen riding at 
anchor during a strong south-west wind with their bows pointing 
to Mount Batten, or further east. 
This eddy is also taken advantage of by seamen when going out. 
to sea from Millbay at half-fiood tide. Starting from Millbay, they 
steer almost with the current towards Ravenness Point, and when 
well inshore at this point put about, and cut diagonally across the 
main stream flowing through the western channel towards the 
Beacon on the eastern end of the Breakwater. About half way 
between Ravenness Point and the Beacon the eddy is met with, 
and immediately taken advantage of. In a short time, with a 
strong, favourable current, the Lighthouse is reached. Here comes 
the tug of war, to round the end; but fortunately this is of short 
duration, and the seaward face is reached on a strong flood from 
Millbay with a favourable stream for little short of half the 
distance. This course is only taken by vessels drawing a small 
depth of water, and towed by steam. 
To return to the western stream. It runs, as mentioned, in 
the early part of the flood, in a direction from the Breakwater 
Lighthouse to Mount Batten; but as the tide rises, an increasing 
body of water can escape into the Hamoaze over the bridge 
between Drake’s Island and Mount Edgcumbe. On the earlier 
part of the tide the combined west and east stream keeps its body 
well up to the Mallard, but as the tide grows a large and 
increasing body of water flows off landwards between Drake’s 
Island and the Mallard. This latter stream is very rapidly diverted, 
and at Millbay there is a strong, deep current, flowing generally 
