BUTE AND ARK AX. 7 



adjudicated to have the best managed farm. This cup was 

 awarded in 1867 to the late Mr Alexander Hunter, Mid St 

 Colmac ; in 1868, to Mr James Duncan, Culivine; and in 1872 

 to Mr Eobert McAllister, Mid Ascog, who, having again been 

 awarded it in 1875, now holds it in possession. 



BUEGH OF EOTHESAY. 



As the onward progress of industry in the island of Bute is 

 intimately connected with the wellbeing of the burgh of 

 Eothesay, a few particulars regarding tlie latter may not inaptly 

 find a place here. 



Eothesay is situated on the east side of the island, and has 

 a population of well-nigh 8000 inhabitants. A considerable 

 amount of trade was until recently carried on in the town, and a 

 plentiful water-supply, suitable for use as a motive power, 

 peculiarly adapted it as a centre for carrying on the business of 

 cotton-spinning. One of the first cotton-spinning mills in 

 Scotland was erected in 1780 on a site adjacent to the " lade " 

 which runs from Loch Fad, nearly opposite to the present 

 Ladeside Mill. The incipient stages of this industry were nothing 

 very wonderful, but in course of time more extensive works were 

 erected, and the business was prosecuted for about fifty years with 

 tolerable success, until the dearth in cotton, caused by the Ameri- 

 can civil war and several concurrent causes, brought about the 

 stoppage of the works, which have never been re-opened, and 

 are indeed now partially demolished. 



The weaving trade was once represented in Eothesay by three 

 mills, but about eight years ago the Vennel Factory suspended 

 operations, and within the last two years the Broadcroft Factory 

 has followed its example, so that there is now only the Ladeside 

 Mill workim,^ Various causes mi^dit be assimed for the cessa- 

 tion of this industry, but the chief are perhaps the isolated 

 position of the town and the great improvements recently effected 

 in the style of machinery, against which less modern machinery 

 is not able to compete. 



The general adaptation of steam-power to shipping dealt a 

 severe blow to the timber shipbuilding trade, which was carried 

 on in Eothesay with great success for a long period of years. 

 This business latterly was represented by two firms engaged in 

 separate branches of the trade ; the " Town Yard " dealing speci- 

 ally in those small vessels of from 100 to 150 tons register, 

 known as " Coasters," while the " Ardbeg Yard " was chiefiy 

 employed in the building of fishing-smacks. The failure of the 

 west coast heiring fishing during the past ten years has, however, 

 ruined this branch of the trade ; and although the building of 

 the coaster class of vessels might have been persevered in, the 



