LEIXOES  , a seaport and

harbour of refuge of northern Portugal; in 41° 9' 10" N., 8° 40' 35" W., 3 M . N. of the mouth of the Douro . Leixoes is included in the parish of Matozinhos (pop . 1900, 7690) and constitutes the main port of the city of Oporto (q.v.), with which it is connected by an electric tramway . The harbour, of artificial construction, has an area of over 220 acres, and admits vessels of any size, the depth at the entrance being nearly 50 ft . The transference of cargo to and from ships lying in the Leixoes basin is effected entirely by means of lighters from Oporto . In addition to wine, &c., from Oporto, large numbers of emigrants to South America are taken on board here . The trade of the port is mainly in British hands, and large numbers of British ships call at Leixoes on the voyage between Lisbon and Liverpool, London or Southampton .