' THE PORT AND DOCKS.

The present-day eminence of the Port of Bristol crowns a long and ancient historical record reaching back for a thousand years. The large volume and variety of commodities which at the present day pass over the quays of the docks of the Port constitute Bristol one of the chief centres of maritime trade of the United Kingdom. Some hundreds of different classes of goods from and to -re than 250 ports of the Empire and foreign parts contribute to the trade of the Port.

Geographically the Port of Bristol is in a commanding situation to serve a large area covering the West, South-West, Midlands and South Wales. This area extends to 100 miles radius, and embraces a population of more than 12 millions - nearly one quarter of the population of Great Britain. THE CORPORATION OF BRISTOL are the owners of the entire dock system : the Port, consisting of the docks at Bristol, Avonmouth, and Portishead, and hey are also the conservators of the Port. The administration is vested in a Docks Committee of the Corporation functioning under the title of the Port of Bristol Authority. The total of the capital sum invested in its various dock undertakings by the City of Bristol amounts to over 8 million pounds sterling.

The docks comprised within the Port are :-

The ROYAL EDWARD and AVONMOUTH DOCKS, situated on the east side of the mouth of the River Avon ;

The CITY DOCKS, entered through Cumberland Basin, about seven miles up the River Avon ; these docks traverse the centre of the city ; and The PORTISHEAD DOCK, situated to the westward of the mouth of the River Avon.

The ROYAL EDWARD DOCK premises (Avonmouth) have a total area of 854 acres, including 63 acres of water area. The entrance lock, 875 feet long by :oo feet wide, has a depth of water on the sill of 46 feet at ordinary spring tides ind 36 feet at ordinary neap tides; thus the docks are able to receive practically the largest vessels afloat, and have already catered for vessels of dimensions extending up to 655 feet in length and nearly 80 feet beam. The length of wharfage amounts to 10,130 feet. Grain storage accommodation at the Royal Edward Dock is provided for by three silo granaries..... '