Snipped......... so as actually to form a back-water or
> stream, when the horses were unable to make head, and therefore
> stopped until the equilibrium of the canal was restored."
>
> I have not heard of that phenomenon before. Has anyone else come
> across it?
>
> bjg
>
It was an accepted fact that the number of working boats heading north
on the W & E canal in a morning towards the collieries caused a rise in
the level. Thus the crafty boatmen always tried to be first loaded as
there was a distinct flow back towards Wolverhampton in the afternoon.
Although the effect was not huge it was a help with a horse and 30ton
of coal but of course only the first few boats away got the benefit.
John
