PEMBROKESHIRE, a maritime county, forming the extreme west of South Wales, is bounded E. by the counties of Caermarthen and Cardigan, on the other aides by the Irish and Bristol channels. It lies between 51* 36' and 52' 7' N. lat., 4' 80' and 5' 20' W. long. The length from Stromble Head on the north coast to St.. Gowan's Head on the south, is 31 miles; the average width from east to west hardly exceeds 21 miles. The area is 628 eqnare miles, or 401,691 acres. The population in 1841 was 88,044; in 1851 it was 94,140.
Surface, Cbast, surface is generally undulating. The county is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and intersected by the great sostuary of Milford Haven; the course of the rivers is therefore short, and none of them is large. There is little timber except in sheltered situations. The Precelli Mountains, a range running from near Fishgnard to the borders of Caermarthenshire, are about 10 miles In length ; Cwm Cerwyn, the highest summit, is 1754 feet above the sea.
The river Teivy, which forms the northeru boundary, runs into the sea between Cardigan Island and Cardigan Head; its mouth is impeded by a dangerous bar. Salmon abound in the Teivy. The fishermen ply their trade in light wicker boats or coracles covered with skins or tarpaulin. Fiehguard Bay, at the mouth of the Gwain, Is about three miles across, with from 30 to 70 feet of water and good holding-ground of sand and mud ; it is open to the north-west. Off St. David's Head, 51° 54' N. lat., 5° 17' W. long., are seven rocky islets called the Bishop and his Clerks, and to the south-east of these Ramsey Isle. The coast here turns to the south, and shortly after forms St. Bride's Bay, about 8 miles broad and as many in depth ; the projection of the mainland which forms the southern boundary of Bride's Bay, termi nates southward iu the peninsula of Dale, which shelters Milford Haven on the west.. There are two lighthouses on St. Anne's Head at the north entrance of Milford Haven. This great mstuary is about twenty miles in length ; the mouth is about two miles wide, and it varies from that width to half a mile throughout. It contains numerous
bays and creeks, completely land-locked, and forms one of the finest harbours in the world. Farther south are the Stack Rocks, high insulated cliffs which in spring and summer are the resort of innumer able sea-birds : a new tower has been recently erected on the Stack for the protection of Pembroke dockyard. On this part of the coast are the ancient chapel cell and holy well of-St. Gowan, situated at the bottom of a-terrific chasm in the rocks. The southern coast presents a wild and inhospitable appearance: the carboniferous limestone forms precipitous cliffs 150 feet high. Close to the Castle Hill at Tenby, on the west shore of Caermarthen Bay, is the small rocky island of St. Catherine's, on which are the ruins of a chapel. Ramsey island lies south of St. David's Head. It rises high out of the sea, is three miles long from north to south, about a mile broad, and terminates at each end in a precipitous hill. The island is the property of the 3ishop of St.. David's. Falcons and an immense number of sea-birds breed upon it; rabbits are plentiful. There is a solitary farm-house on the island. Caldy island, 24 miles S. from Tenby, is above a mile long, and about half a mile broad, and tho greater part of its surface is included in a well-cultivated farm. In the reign of Henry I., Robert de Tours founded a priory here, of which there are still some remains. Lime stone is quarried ; oysters, crabs, and lobsters abound round the island. Caldy lighthouse bears a stationary light, with two tiers of reflectors. St. Margaret's island, which has been separated from Caldy by the force of the sea, is perforated by vast caverns; it is reached over a ledge of rocks at low water of spring tides. Skomer island contains 700 flares. There is a farm-house upon it, and multitudes of rabbits. Skokharn isle, separated from Skomer by Broad Sound, has an area of about 200 acres, and is used chiefly as a sheepwalk. Rabbits are numerous.