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those parts which are most likely to affordgood holding-ground ; for I have shown that, byselecting a proper locality, and even a particularpart of the section at the place chosen, banks,more or less deep and tenacious, may be foundin almost all rivers: it will therefore rest withthe persons applying these expedients, to avoidlaying anchors or moorings, whatever they maybe, in parts, which the current, moving withgreat velocity, will, by so much, have swept ofall the finer particles upon which good holding-ground depends, and to prefer those places wherethe stream, diverging from the main current,loses part of its celerity, or forms eddies; andwhere, consequently, the water deposits thesmaller particles which it had the power, page20, to move or keep suspended, when flowingwith greater velocity. It may be, that the bestholdings are neither near, nor directly abovethe boats; but it is much better to get anoblique, but firm holding, cither upon a bankin the river, or on the side of the river, than tolay anchors, as by rule, immediately and directlyabove the vessels, respectively, without con-sidering or ascertaining whether the bottomthere, may be favourable, or otherwise, to theholding of the anchors.