First and only edition of a work on navigation around the Dutch island Texel, and improving the harbour of Den Helder, written by the sea merchant Laurens Brandligt (ca. 1730-ca.1800). Due to alluviation the stream velocity in the waters around Texel had decreased. Brandligt suggests several ways to improve the navigability of these waters, which was important since Dutch warships often took refuge in them. He also promoted Den Helder as a new harbour for both merchant- and war ships, stressing the poor accessibility of Amsterdam. However, since the harbour of Den Helder was too shallow at the time, he proposed to build a dam. This dam would reverse the current, pushing the sand at the bottom of the river back to sea to deepen the harbour. Brandligt worked on the plan, which he named Scylla and Charybdis, for 10 years. The dam was approved in 1781 and built in 1782. It remained in use until 1954 and played a pivotal role in turning Den Helder into a thriving harbour town.
The edges and corners of the boards are scuffed, the front joint is partly weakened, with some loss of material at the head of the spine. A small restored tear in the first free end paper, the title page is slightly browned. Otherwise in good condition. Bierens de Haan 558; Kemper 1566; STCN 160106095.