CALAIS, ( Med. Lat. Cataitia.('ainisis).
A seaport town and fortress of the first class in the Department of Pas-de-Calais, France, on the Strait of Dover. near its narrowest part, the distance from the town of Dover. England. not being more than 1$ miles (Nap: France. II 1). On the south and east, low, marshy grounds. which can be la id under water for the defense of the city, extend almost to the walls. The town. adjacent country, and port are commanded by the citadel, which is situated at the west end of the town, while seven forts, by their cross-fire, defend the weakest points. The harbor, was for merly shallow, has been greatly improved. has a light-house 190 feet high, and a port accessible to the largest vessels. As one of the chief ports of debarkation for travelers from England to France, it has frequent steam communication with Dover and London. The city is square in form; its streets are, for the most part, broad and well paved; and its ramparts form pleasant prom enades. Among its objects of interest, the most noticeable are the Church of Notre Dame, the old Hotel de Ville, and the Hotel de Guise. It has become a manufacturing town of some im portance. The chief manufactures are bobbin net (tulle). machine-made lace, hosiery, etc. A number of mills produce silk, wool, cotton, and linen goods, and hats and gloss are extensively made. Calais has also distilleries, salt-refin
eries, and shipyards. Calais sends numerous boats to the herring and cod fisheries on the coasts of Scotland and Iceland. Its exports con sist of eggs, corn, wine, brandy, etc.. and it is the entrepot for the produce of the district. It also does a large business in petroleum. In 1S73 a school of artillery was established in Calais. It has an abundant water-supply, brought from the neighborhood of Gaines. Population, in 1896, 56,940.
In the Ninth Century Calais was a small fish ing village. In the following century it was much improved by Baldwin IV., Count of Flan ders, and enlarged and strengthened by the Count of Boulogne. In 1347, after a long siege, it was captured by Edward III. of England, whose hard terms, and the self-devotion shown by six of the citizens, who were saved by Queen Philippa, form one of the most interesting passages of history. The English retained it until 1558, when it was captured by the Duke of Guise, since which time (with the exception of two years, 1596-98, when it was in the possession of the Spaniards) it has remained in French hands. Consult: Calton, Annals and Legends of Calais (London, 1852) ; P. W. T., "Modern Calais," in Nautical Maga zine, Vol. LXVII. (London, 1898).