Appendix 4: Copy letter from C. White, Assistant to the Masters Attendant at Chatham...

Appendix 4: Copy letter from C. White, Assistant to the Masters Attendant at Chatham Dockyard, to Sir Robert Barlow. He has observed no significant increase in shoaling in the ship channel in the River Medway, except in the Eastern Passage in Pinap Reach. The channel has been significantly contracted by a build up of mud and shoals on either shore and the entrances to St. Mary's and Hoo Creek are rapidly silting up. The edges of the marsh all along the river are eroding and obstructions such as the remains of the Military Bridge, the Wharf and Hards at Chatham, the practice of mooring by head and stern and building projects such as Rochester Bridge may all have contributed to the shoaling. He has marked on the Admiralty chart the recently taken soundings in green and those taken by Mr. Hemmans in red.

Enclosure.