362 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
fronds almost covered the surface, but it would in all probability die off when the
winter's cold came on. It was a coincidence that Mr. L. B. Hall had found the
plant in a pond at Highgate, flourishing under like circumstances.
Papers Read.—Mr. F. W. Reader read a paper, "Further Notes on the
Lake-Dwelling Settlement at Skitts Hill, Braintree." The paper (which was
illustrated by a number of lantern-slides) dealt mainly with points of detail
concerning the depth of the "relic-beds" described in Mr. Kenworthy's paper
already published in the Essex Naturalist (Vol. xi., pp. 94-126). Mr. Reader's
paper will be published in due course.
A short discussion was carried on by the President, Prof. Meldola, and the
Author, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Reader.
Coast Erosion in East Anglia.—Mr. John Spiller, F.I.C, F.C.S., gave
a short lecture on this subject, consisting mainly of a summary of his own obser-
vations on the coast-line from Dunwich to Covehithe since his Report to the
British Association in 1895. Having referred to the importance of the subject of
coast erosion, as evidenced by the papers recently presented to the Institute of
Civil Engineers and to the Norwich Conference, Mr. Spiller said that, with the
exception of Yorkshiremen, East Anglians were the people most interested in the
matter. Erosion was going on all around the coast, from Cromer to Walton-on-
Naze, and Lowestoft had spent £68,000 in defensive works. For many years he had
taken measurements systematically, and had compared his results with the figures
returned by members of the Geological Survey. The photographs he submitted
of Dunwich showed the recent fall of the land east of the church, carrying with it
about 6ft. of the northern buttress of the church. Here 31ft. had been lost in
two years ; at Temple Hill, close by, 55ft. disappeared in the same period. From,
the cliffs North and South the fall had been greater, and the lifeboat could not be
used, for much of the shingle had been carried away, and the boat-house was left
perched on a terrace. Northwards, to the mouth of the Blyth, the shingle had
been cut back ; but at Southwold the lengthening of the old pier and the
erection of a new one had increased the width of the beach, though the lifeboat-
house was still threatened. In the last nine years, 350ft. had been lost from the
cliff at Easton, 163ft. from the roadway, and 77ft. from the High Cliff. And
these figures would have to be increased, for there had been much destruction
since they were verified in the early summer. At Covehithe, where his personal
observations ended, 129ft. had been lost in the same period. In conclusion, Mr.
Spiller expressed a hope that some members of the Club would undertake
similar observations from Harwich to the mouth of the Thames.
Some discussion ensued, carried on by the President, Mr. Avery and Prof.
Meldola, who pointed out that the disintegration of the cliffs was due to-
terrestrial and subaerial forces—such as land-springs, wind, and rain—and what
fell was carried away by the sea.
In answer to a question, Mr. Spiller said that the gain of the land upon the
sea amounted to about one-fifth of the loss.
A vote of thanks to Mr. Spiller for his address was proposed by the President,
and carried by acclamation.
Professor Meldola having taken the chair, Mr. Rudler gave his report as the
Club's Delegate at the Cambridge Meeting of the British Association. [This
report is printed in the E. N., ante, pp. 337].
Professor Meldola remarked on various recommendations in the report, and
Mr. Rudler was warmly thanked for the summary of the proceedings, and for
his kindness in representing the Club at the Conference.