Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/152

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CAMEL RIVER.

relating to the upper portion of the Cam, was passed in the first year of the reign of Anne, and is entitled, 'An Act for making the River Cham, alias Grant, in the county of Cambridge, more navigable from Clayhithe Ferry to the Queen's Mill, in the University and Town of Cambridge,' from which it would appear that it was navigable previous to this early date, but from what period we cannot learn.

The navigation, which is only about seven miles in length, is managed by conservators appointed under the authority of the above-mentioned act.

Another act of parliament was obtained in 1813, entitled, 'An Act for extending and amending an Act of Queen Anne, for making the River Cham more navigable from Clayhithe Ferry to the Queen's Mill, in the county of Cambridge,' but it does not contain any clauses wherein the public are generally interested.

The principal uses to which this navigation is put, is to export the surplus agricultural produce of the country through which it passes, and to facilitate the import of coal and general merchandize.

CAMEL RIVER.

This river rises three miles north of Camelford, in Cornwall, on the east side of which town it passes; thence by Tredethy and Penhargate, to Dunmeer Bridge, where it changes to a north-eastwardly course, by Guinea Port, to Wade Bridge, where it enters an estuary which falls into the sea at Stepper Point, three miles east from Padstow.

It is navigable, as a tideway river, from Guinea Port, near Wade Bridge, to the sea, a distance (by the low water channel) of eight miles and a half. An act was obtained in 1797 to extend this navigation, by means of the Polbrook Canal, but it has not yet been carried into execution. It was entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal, from Guinea Port, in the parish of St. Breock, in the county of Cornwall, to Dunmeer Bridge, in the parish of Bodmin, in the said county; and also a certain collateral Cut, from Cood, to, or near to, Ruthern Bridge, in the said parish of Bodmin.'