Chap. VIII.

BRITAIN.

343

A pier, 350 feet in length, was constructed here under Mr. Telford's direction, on one sideof the harbour, which is defended by the west rock on the opposite side. Nature has

COURDON

SECT! ON'

IROUCR A n

Fig. 339.

GOURDON HARBOUR,

done much in scooping out many natural bays on this coast, some of which have deepwater.

Stonehaven , 15 miles from Aberdeen, has a secure harbour or a natural formed basin,sheltered on the south-east by a high rock, which runs into the sea, and on the north-eastby a quay.

Aberdeen Harbour, which is 106 miles from Edinburgh , was extremely difficult to enter,in consequence of a bar formed just outside the mouth of the Dee, composed of a shiftingbed of sand, gravel, and shingle, deposited on the north side of the entry ; this, with anorth-easterly wind, was driven into the main channel, and choked it up ; the quantitydriven depended upon the state of the tides, the land speats, and floods or freshes of theriver, which here falls into the sea.

Fig. 340.

ABERDEEN HARBOUR

When Mr. John Smeaton , in the year 1769, sounded at the mouth of the harbour, hefound 4 feet upon the bar at low water; on the sixth day after new moon, and at high

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