The following notes record some of the features of interest seen by visitors to collieries, works, etc., which were, by kind permission of the owners, open for inspection during the course of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne meeting on September 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th, 1902:—

Blyth harbour, situate about the centre of the Northumberland coal-field, is the natural port of shipment for upwards of 40 collieries. Although coals have been shipped at the mouth of the river for upwards of 600 years, it is only during the last 20 years that Blyth has risen to prominence as a coaling-port. From 1818 to 1867, the harbour consisted of a short length of the river-channel, nearly dry at low water, having a few small coaling-staithes on the south side, and a ballast-quay on the north side. The sea-channel of the river Blyth runs south-south-eastward, following approximately a line of fault in the rocks which form an extensive reef, dry at low water, upon its eastern side.

In 1856, a pier, consisting of timber-framing, enclosing a hearting of rubble-stone, was built upon this reef and on the west side of the channel a training jetty of timber was constructed. At this time, the channel, although dredged to a depth of 4 feet at low water, was shoaled by every storm to about low-water level. In 1867, two coaling-staithes were opened at the north side and a depth was dredged alongside sufficient for vessels of 1,200 tons.

This condition of the harbour obtained until 1881, when the Blyth Harbour Commissioners, in conjunction with the North-eastern Railway Company, constructed two coaling-staithes at the south side. In 1885, a new west pier was constructed to protect the channel from shoaling upon that side, and the east pier was extended in solid concrete. In 1887, a new entrance-channel, having a depth of 10 feet at low water, was dredged about 210 feet to the west of the old channel, thus clearing a reef of rocks, which extended on the line of the old channel for 1,500 feet outside of the pier-head, the great cost of removing which would have made it impracticable to provide a deep-water channel upon the old line. In 1888, two additional coaling-staithes were constructed at the south side of the harbour. In 1896, the harbour was enlarged and deepened, and four additional coaling-staithes were constructed on the north side. In 1898, the entrance-channel was widened, and deepened to 16 feet at low water. In 1899, a new south harbour of 25 acres in area was completed, having a depth varying from 30 to 38½ feet at high water, with wharves, cranes and railway-connections.

The following is summary of the improvement of the harbour during the last 20 years — In 1882, the harbour-area was about 25 acres and, except at the Cambois staithes, was practically dry at low water; it could not accommodate more than about 40 small sailing-vessels, while the channel to sea was frequently shoaled to about low-water level.

At the present time, the area of the harbour is about 83 acres, the depth varies from 22½ to 38½ feet at high water, and it is capable of accommodating over 100 large steamships, and ships up to 10,000 tons capacity have used the harbour. The sea-channel has a depth of 15 to 16 feet at low water, and is capable of being deepened to 20 feet.

The following shows the increase in the coal-shipments —

	Tons		Tons.
1883	146,264	1893	2,342,020
1884	362,879	1894	2,643,778
1885	526,667	1895	2,534 558
1886	561,749	1896	2,506,916
1887	585,484	1897	2,722,024
1888	1,018,335	1898	3,033,976
1889	1,263,327	1899	3,297,596
1890	1,715,406	1900	3,318,010
1891	2,047,480	1901	3,230,885
1892	2,157,140	1902	3,279,350

In addition to coal-shipments there is a considerable import trade in timber. There is also an extensive shipyard, and five large graving-docks at the port.

The chief improvements at present in progress are the widening of the entrance-channel, by two steam-hopper dredgers, and the reconstruction of the old east pier, by enclosing it in concrete.