A curious anomaly connected with the flowing and ebbing of the sea, in the early part of each tide, is observable in the contrary currents which take place along the shore, and at a distance from it. For example, the flood-tide begins to flow in many situations two or even three hours sooner on the shore than at the distance of from one mile to four miles in the offing. The same thing also happens with regard to the ebb-tide, which begins to fall and run in a contrary direction to the flood-tide, two or three hours sooner on the shore than at a distance. These effects are very different from the state of things three or four leagues from the land, or in the open sea, where the lateral motion of the tide-waters is scarcely sensible. That an extensive tract of coast should produce changes on the current of the tides, is perhaps what we should expect; but it is somewhat curious to find the same appearances connected with small islets, and, as in the case of the Bell Rock, even with an insulated reef, situate at the distance of 12 miles from the land, and sunk to the depth of from 2 to 3 fathoms under the surface of high-water. So strikingly observable is this, that the tide begins to ebb about two hours sooner on the Bell Rock than at the short distance of one mile from it. In the course of the light-house operations this was rendered sufficiently obvious, by the swinging round of the several vessels at their moorings according to the flood and ebb tides. For example, the Floating Light-ship was moored about three miles in a north-west direction from the Bell Rock, and the moorings of the Tender and two Stone Lighters, were respectively laid down at the distance of ¾ and ½ mile from it, as will be seen from Plate V. Now, these vessels were all found to swing to the tide at periods proportional to their distance from the rock. Although it may, therefore, seem strange, that this comparatively small object should affect the tides in its vicinity in a manner similar to the shores of an extensive coast; yet, as the rock shelves outwards, with an extensive base, especially on the northern side, it must impede the under current of the tide, and indeed forcibly proves the existence of such under currents. [Sidenote: Not accounted for by Writers on the subject.]