58 ON THE AGFJCULTUEE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 



and Ayr. The number of tons shipped coastwise from Kirkcaldy 

 in 1858 was 35,773, and the number exported abroad 35,005, the 

 declared value of the latter being- L.15,754 In 1859, 39,026 tons 

 were shipped coastwise from Kii-kcaldy, and 60,695 tons ex- 

 ported abroad, the declared vahie of the latter being L.23,534. 

 In 1869, 56,272 tons were shipped coastwise, and 203,466 tons 

 exported abroad, the value being L.68,307. Tlie number of tons 

 shipped coastwise in 1870, was 60,081 ; and exported abroad, 

 204,890, the declared value being L.72,593. In 1873, the num- 

 ber of tons shipped coastwise was 76,180 ; and exported abroad 

 180,815, the declared value being L.147,946. Ironstone also 

 abounds very extensively in the Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy 

 districts, and is extensively worked. The quality is excellent, 

 and the percentage very high. There are several very large iron 

 works in the county, and at Inverkeithing and Kinghorn sailing 

 vessels and steamers are built of home-made iron. The quarries 

 are numerous and large. The freestone is of very line quality, and 

 is extensively exported, several magnificent buildings in Edin- 

 burgh and other Scotch to\^^ls being constructed of Fifeshire 

 freestone. As already stated, a large quantity of lime is burned 

 every year, part of it being used at home, and part exported to 

 other counties. Whinstone is quarried for building purposes in 

 considerable quantities, while there are a number of brick and 

 tile works in the county, the clays of Fife being specially 

 adapted for purposes of this kind. There are no obtainable data 

 upon which to calculate the exact increase in the annual value 

 of the coal mines in the county during the past twenty-five 

 years, but the increase in the yearly exports from Kirkcaldy 

 affords a very fair criterion. The total value (or rental) of 

 minerals and quarries in 1864 was L.35,025, and since then a 

 few collieries have increased by about 100 per cent., a great many 

 from 20 to 50 per cent., and some about 10 per cent. Ironworks 

 have advanced from 10 to 50 per cent., and quarries from 5 to 

 50 per cent. There are in all upwards of seventy coal pits in 

 the county, and over 3500 men and boys are employed in the 

 work. In the Dumfermline district the pits are very close to 

 each other, and have been worked for such a length of time that 

 a great deal of the land here is wholly undermined. The quality 

 of the Fifeshire coal is good. Inkstands, picture frames, brooches, 

 and various other articles of ornament, are carved out of the 

 cannel coal found at AVemyss. The Mines Inspection Act 

 divides Scotland into two districts — an eastern and a western — 

 and Fifeshire is included in the former, which in the year 1866 

 numbered 254 collieries, the nimiber of miners employed being 

 21,200, and the amount of coal raised 6,100,000 tons. The 

 western district numbered 1218 collieries, employed 20,046 

 miners, and pelded 5,931,638 tons of coal. The miners of 



