There is one course whereby this condition of things, where it exists, may be prevented. It has been suggested that a new Government Department should be created, with entire charge of and control over all estuaries and navigable channels, and presided over by a member of the Cabinet. The interests at stake are sufficiently large to justify this.[39] They are as vital to our commerce and industry as any matter now dealt with by the State, affecting our material well-being, and they are every year increasing in extent and importance. As regards the principal rivers—the Mersey, the Tyne, the Tees, the Clyde, and the Wear especially—they are now controlled in accordance with the recommendation made by the Duke of Richmond’s Select Committee, that “each catchment area should be placed under a single body of conservators, who should be responsible for maintaining the river, from its source to its outfall, in an efficient state.” There are other rivers, however, that are administered rather in the interest of the landed proprietors than in that of navigation, and where these two come into conflict the State should have powers that would enable the public interest, which is both national and international, to be effectually protected. The following table gives the area and length of some of the chief rivers of England:— NORTH-EAST OF ENGLAND. Area. Length. Miles. Miles. Coquet 240 40 Wansbeck 126 22 Blyth 131 16 Tyne 1,130 34 Wear 456 45 Tees 708 79 Esk 147 21 Humber 10,500 ·· Hull 364 20 Foulness 133 14 Derwent 794 64 Ouse 1,842 40 Aire and Calder 815 78 Don 682 57 Trent 4,052 147 Ancholme 244 25 Ludd 139 7 Withern Eau 189 13 EAST ANGLIAN RIVERS. Area. Length. Miles. Miles. Bure 348 45 Yare 880 48 Blyth 79 17 Alde 109 24 Deben 153 27 Orwell 171 16 Stour 407 45 Colne 192 24 Crouch 181 15 Roding 317 33