WISBECH CANAL.
34 George III. Cap. 92, Royal Assent 9th May, 1794.
THIS canal commences in the Nene River, at Wisbech, in the county of Cambridge, and after running a short course of about six miles in a south-easterly direction, it terminates in the Old River at Outwell, at the commencement of Well Creek, which connects it with the River Ouse at Salter's Load Sluice.
The act of parliament authorizing this canal, is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from Wisbech River, at or near a Place called the Old Sluice, in the town of Wisbech, in the Isle of Ely, and county of Cambridge, to join the River Nene, in the parish of Outwell, in the said Isle of Ely, and in the county of Norfolk, and for improving and maintaining the Navigation of the said River from Outwell Church to Salter's Load Sluice.' It incorporates the subscribers by the name of " The Wisbech Canal Company ;" empowers them to raise amongst themselves, for the purposes of the act, the sum of £14,000, in shares of £105 each, and, if necessary, a further sum of £6,000, and to take the following
TONNAGE RATES.
| For every Chaldron of Coal, Lime, Hundred of Battens, Half Hundred of Single Deals, Quarter of Hundred of Double Deals, Load of Fir Timber, Four Packs of Wool, Five Quarters of Oats, Load of Turf, Reed, Sedge, Hay, Flax or Hemp, Five Hundred Pantiles, One Thousand Flat Tiles, Five Hundred Bricks, Twenty Cubic Feet of Stone, Pipe, Butt, Puncheon or Tierce of Wine or Spirituous Liquors, Six Sacks of Flour, Five Barrels of Ale, Beer and Porter | 1s 0d. |
| For every Five Quarters of Wheat, Barley, Mustard.seed, Hemp-seed, Rape-seed, Line-seed, Rye, Peas or Beans | 1s 6d. |
| For all other Goods | 1s 0d per Ton. |
Materials for the Bedford Level or for Roads, to be exempted from Rates.
Goods lying on a Wharf more than Twenty-four Hours, to pay such Rate as may be agreed on.
For Cranage of every Ton of Goods (except Coal) Sixpence.
All Goods passing into or out of this Canal to the Nene River to pay Three-pence per Ton; out of the Produce of which the Commissioners of the Nene Navigation are to have One Hundred Pounds per Annum, and the remainder is to be applied in the Repair and Improvement of Well Creek.
This canal is very little higher than the sea, being embanked through the level fens; there are flood locks at its extremities. It forms a ready connection between the Nene and the Ouse, by which the intercourse between the counties of Lincoln, Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk, is rendered more complete and easy.
