COAST EROSION IN FRANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 6

COAST EROSION IN FRANCE.

Every -ear a certain number of acres arc devoured by the sea on our coasts. Tho tame loss occars on . the French coast, and a serious situation hns arisen in the village of Aiguillou, on the Brittany coast. An entire farm is in danger of being swept away at this point of this coast, for the sea is slowly devouring the sand dunes which form the natural protection of the land. It is feared that the nest storm on this coast will flood 1000 aoves, and the Government is exhorted to take steps at: once to build a'sea-wall. The village, of Aiguillou is not tho only place threatened on tho French coast. All along , tho coast, from the mouth of tho Somme to the Seine the same process of erosion is going on. On tho left bank oi the mouth of the Soinme a strip of 10,000 acres , is in danger, its only protection being a breach of shingle which is being gradually umlormined. Tho beach of Onival has been half-ruined by tho recent storms, and the collection of ;;tonc3 from the bank of shingle that surrounds the coast, fer building purpesos, has greatly assisted the encroachments of the sea. Even Treprat is suffering from the attacks of the sea. The local authorities will bo obliged to take slops to prevent the danger fioinu any further. Hut the w.irk of strengthen)!!;: the natural defences of the coast is laborious and expensive, and the Government will k> allied fur assistance. In such cases a stitch in time saves nine.