j7{? Improvements carrying en at Caithnefs In 1802. Feb. 



2. An acl for Making a Harbour at Thurfo, having pafled in tlic 



courfe of the laft Seflion, that important und<>^rtaking is ta 

 be fet about, as fcon as a proper contradlor for executing the 

 fame can be got. It is intended to make the Harbour as 

 complete as poinblc, fo as to admit velTels of from 300 to 

 500 tons, at lealt in fpring tides ; alfo to have a Graving 

 Dock, a Regulating Weir, and a Slip for Ship-building. The 

 whole expence will probably exceed 1 o,cool. ; but it is de- 

 firable to lay a foundation for that extenfive commerce to 

 which Thurfo, from its fituation and other advantages, feem-j 

 to be fo jullly entitled, About twenty houfes have been al- 

 ready built in the New Town of Thurfo, and about twenty 

 more will probably be erecled next year, in addition to a 

 number of houfes recently built in the Old Towti ; fo that 

 accommodation will foon be found for thofe who may be in- 

 clined to fettle in this thriving place, and to carry on com- 

 mercial, and other branches of induftry. Such is the fpirit 

 of improvement in that neighbourhood at prefent, that fome 

 inclofed land near Thurfo has let, on a ihort leafe, as high 

 as live pounds per acre. On a leafe of twenty-one years, a 

 field of five acres has been let for five guineas per acre for 

 ten years, and fix pounds per acre during the remainder of 

 the term. 



3. The Herring FiJJjery on the coaft of Caithnefs was rather more 



fuccefsful this year than the lail, above ten thoufand barrels 

 having been caught. Had the propofed harbour at Wick 

 been erecled, which we trufl will be the cafe next year, the 

 fifhery would of courfe have been carried on to a much 

 greater extent. Some calks, of different fizes, were cured 

 in the Dutch ftyle, and, it is believed, were of equal good 

 quality : But it is impoflible to carry on that branch of the 

 fifiiery with much fuccefs, until harbours are made upon the 

 coait, to accommodate, and, in cafes of neceffity, to fiielter, 

 the perfons who may engage in the deep-fea fifiiery. 



4. The celebrated pafs of the Ord of Caithnefs^ of which Mr Pen- 



nant, in one of Ins northern tours, has given fo terrific, but 

 fo juft a defcription, has long been remarkable for the lleep- 

 nefs of the afcent, and tlie danger of the toad acrofs it. In con- 

 fequence of dire6lions fent by Lord Pelham to Lieutenant- 

 General Vyse, it was furveyed this Summer by that excellent 

 engineer Mr Charles Abercrombie, who has difcovered 

 a mode of conducting the road without the fmallcft difficulty 



or 



