They  have  just  untertaken  a  new  series  of  works  for  the
improvement  of  the  canal.  These  works  have  for  object
to  create  at  Temeuzen  a  new  channel  of  access  800  metres
long  and  7  m.  3g  deep  at  low-tide,  with  a  maritime  lock
18  metres  wideandi4o  metres  long;  tounifythelevelof  tlie
water-line  in  the  Belgian  and  Dutch  sections  of  the  canal ;
to  dig  on  the  East  side  of  Sas-de-Grand  a  new  derivation
which  will  be  provided  with  a  great  lock  200  metres  long
and  26  metres  wide,  destined  to  remain  open  in  ordinary
times ;  to  straighten  certain  parts  of  the  canal  the  sharp
curves  of  which  embarrass  navigation ;  to  rebuild  all  the
bridges  with  an  opening  of  24  metres ;  finally,  to  increase
considerably  the  width  and  the  depth  of  the  canal.
When  tliese  works  are  finished  the  canal  from  Ghent  to
Terneuzen  will  consist  of  a  single  reach  33  kilometres
long,  24  metres  wide  at  the  bottom,  66  metres  wide  at  the
water-line  and  with  a  depth  of  8  m.  75  under  the  waterlevel.
The  maritime  road  thus  improved  will  make  Ghent  an
important  center  of  international  shipping  trade.
Harboar.
The  harbour  of  Ghent  includes  four  docks  of  a  total
area  of  3o  hectares.  They  are  :  the  «  Bassin  da  Com-
merce »  (Trade-Dock),  the  «  Bassin  an  Bois  »  (Timber-
Dock,  the  ToZ/i Mis-Dock,  and  the  outer-harbour.  The
town  is  now  making  a  new  dock  which  will  be  connected
with  five  oblique  subsidiary  docks.
The  total  area  of  these  docks,  together  with  that  of  the
manoeuvriug  basin  which  will  connect  it  with  the  canal  of
Ghent  to  Terneuzen,  will  bo  85  hectares.
