212
14:
This I think would make an obstruction, which no ship would dare to charge, and though irregular in depth, not easy to pass at any point - even for boats.
224
This scheme would require a total of 363 junks, comprising 139 large junks (57 x 80 feet) and 224 smaller junks. Taking the average cost of a junk at £100, the total cost of the junks would be £36,300.
The big junks would carry 150 tons and the smaller ones 80 tons; this would give the total amount of stone required as 44,720 tons. Taking the cost as $2½ a ton, we have as the total cost of the material £3,726 ($6 = £1). Thus for the stone and junks, £40,036 would be required at the lowest computation. To this would have to be added money for the hire of launches and various contingencies; probably £45,000 would be near the mark.
It should be borne in mind that the price of junks would be enormously raised if it were known that nearly 400 were wanted.
As a permanent breakwater, this would appear to be a barbarous scheme. As a measure to be adopted at the last moment in case of necessity, it seems risky.
If it were decided upon, it would modify the plans of the submarine mining defence. The efficiency of the submarine mining defence would be affected by the presence of the junks.