[Note 538.3]

From 1861 a comprehensive scheme of river improvement by widening, deepening and straightening was instituted, necessitating the acquisition of a fleet of dredgers, hoppers and barges. [Tyne and Wear Archives http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/DServe2/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(RefNo=%27IC.T%27)]