6Q ox THE AGEICULTURE OF EDIXBURGH AND LIXLITHGOW. 



Lasswade, Balerno, Auchenclinny, and some otLer places on the 

 rivers Leitli and Esk. A silk mill was erected on the banks of 

 the Union Canal, a little to the west of Edinbnrgh, in the year 

 1835, but the speculation did not turn out so successfully as the 

 promoters expected. In the town of Bathgate, about 600 to 800 

 hands are employed in the parafhn works of Messrs Meldrum. 

 Printing and publishing are carried on in Edinburgh perhaps to 

 a laroer extent than in anv other town in the United Kino^dom, 

 London excepted. 



Fishing. — A small portion of the population residing along the 

 banks of the Forth still obtain their livelihood, either wholly or 

 in part, from the sea, but the fisheries are by no means extensive 

 when compared with those of some districts along the eastern 

 seaboard of Scotland. Cured fish are exported to Germany, 

 Holland, Eussia, and other countries. 



Shipping Interests. — These are well represented by the seaport 

 towns dotted along the estuary of the Forth, particularly by 

 Leith, which has a foreign and colonial trade with Eussia, Hoi- 

 land, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, East and West Indies, America, 

 China, and Australia, besides a considerable coasting trade. In 

 1692 the shipping comprised 29 vessels, of 1702 tons in the 

 aggregate; in 1855, 168 sailing vessels, of 19,067 tons, and 25 

 steam- vessels, of 6327 tons. In 1859 the customs revenue 

 amounted to L.572,872. The total value of exports in 1859 was 

 L.872,973. Since then both the export and import trade have 

 increased. The chief exports are coal, iron, firebrick, and paraffin ; 

 the imports, grain, tallow, timber, and live stock. In 1875 the 

 principal imports of grain were : — wheat, 2,248,589 cwt. ; barley, 

 652,930 cwt. ; oats, 363,117 cwt. ; rye, 69,465 cwt. ; beans, 

 167,669 cwt.; pease^ 116,467 cwt.; Indian corn, 351,345 cwt.; 

 and flour, 254,005 sacks. 



The seaport of Borrowstounness, or Bo'ness, enjoys a little 

 trade. About the end of the 17th century it ranked next to the 

 port of Leith. The number of vessels which entered the port in 

 1870 was 390, representing a burthen of 41,851 tons, and the 

 clearances 1420, or 157,577 tons. Coal is the chief article of 

 export. 



Shipbuilding is carried on at Leith pretty extensively, ^ and 

 the yards have turned out some very fine steamers and sailing 

 vessels. 



