126 THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF OYSTER CULTURE.
Robinson McLean, C.E. ; but their line took a route different altogether from
that now proposed. It went much further north, through the cold Essex clays,
and terminated in the deep sea, about midway between the rivers Blackwater and
Crouch ; and it was proposed :—(1) To establish pumping stations at which the
farmers, at a small rate per acre, could obtain manure to increase the fertility of
their land ; (2) To reclaim about 10,000 acres of land described on plans as the
Dengie Flats ; and (3) To create a final outfall in the deep North Sea to the
south of the Dengie Flats. This undertaking would have created no nuisance ;
it would have avoided Leigh, Southend, Shoebury, Burnham, and Canvey and
Fowlness Islands, and, at the same time, provided a boon for the farmers, who
would have been able for almost a nominal outlay to enrich their lands. I
remember going over the whole of the ground from Abbey Mills to the North
Sea wall, and believe that in the then proposed course no injury would have
resulted to either persons or property ; and if it is admitted that the London
sewage must be put into the North Sea, and not into the Thames, I would respect-
fully suggest the Peto project as an alternative and much better one than that of
Sir R. Rawlinson. If I remember rightly, a plan and section were deposited in the
Private Bill Office of the House of Commons, where they probably still are, and
can be inspected.
" The paramount point for consideration appears to be to protect the repute of
Leigh, Southend, and Shoebury, and Burnham and its oysters ; and so lay out a
line which should be a nuisance to nobody, and should ultimately terminate in
the deep sea to the south of the Dengie Flats, after accommodating the farmers
and reclaiming 10,000 acres of valuable agricultural land."
A new scheme for the disposal of the London sewage has been
brought forward by Messrs. Hassard and Tyrrell, which is to take it
by an immense aqueduct to Dungeness Point, where the water close
to the shore is ninety feet deep at low water, and where the strong
currents would prevent the sludge silting up on the coast, thus avoid-
ing some of the evils of the Essex flats proposal. But Hastings and
other south-coast towns may possibly have some strong objections to
this latest scheme of the London scavengers.
Marten at Chingford (E. N. iii. 271).—As Mr. Harting has seen this speci-
men there can be no question as to identity, and I hope satisfactory information
as to its capture will be forthcoming. Failing anything more precise I may as
well tell all I know of it. Under date Dec. 15th, 1888, Lord Clifton wrote to me
from Ramsgate : "The reason the capture was not published was that the wood-
man who set the trap was afraid of getting into trouble. They are said to know
all about it at the 'Baldfaced Stag.' The beast itself is at Mr. West's, 1, High
Street, Gravesend." On the day of the Loughton meeting (Dec. 29th, 1888), Mr.
H. A. Cole and myself called at the "Baldfaced Stag" to make enquiries. Just
previously serious changes had taken place at this house, and we could not learn
anything further than that the stable-boy knew something of a wild cat being
caught in the forest, and what a job they had to drown it. After this interval,
the fear of trouble to the woodman or any concerned in the transaction will pro-
bably have subsided, and it is very desirable that some of our members should
endeavour to get exact information about this interesting occurrence of so rare an
animal.—Edward A. Fires, Maldon.