Komuthand British ] ROADS ; PORTS ; SHIPPING Somaliland 27 (2) EXTERNAL (a) Ports British Somaliland possesses in Berbera the only sheltered anchorage on the south side of the Gulf of Aden. The harbour lies within a low sandy spit extending westward for nearly l } miles, and affords complete shelter from all but westerly winds. The Aden mail-boats and buggalows come alongside the pier off the European town, and ships of 2,000 to 3,000 tons can approach within 250 yds. in 30 ft. of water. At the head of the pier there is a depth of 10 ft. of water at high tide. The water -supply, which is slightly brackish , is brought in pipes from Dubar, 8 miles from the town. It is laid on to the pier, where there is a delivery of 237 gallons per hour, and to tanks in the town with a capacity of over 19,000 cubic feet .

Zeila and Bulhar are both very exposed ports.

Large steamers have to anchor off them at some dis tance and trust to small coasting boats for loading or discharging cargo. During the south-west monsoons landing is difficult and sometimes impossible. Both places are very inadequately supplied with water.

> (6) Shipping The number of steamers which entered the ports of British Somaliland during the year 1914–15 was 263, with a tonnage of 70,000. The number of sailing vessels (native-owned dhows) was 1,340, with a tonnage of 18,000. The number of ships cleared would be about the same. Considerably more than half the tonnage entered the port of Berbera. The great majority of the ships were of British nationality.

The coasting trade between Aden and East African ports entirely ceases during the south-west monsoon