TESTACEA. 79 



on the shores of some of the Western Islands, dry at ebb tide, and are 

 shovelled into carts to be carried away in numbers. 



There are considerable oyster beds in the restuary of the Forth, o[i- 

 posite to the city of Edinburgh, extending about sixteen miles, at inter- 

 vals, to east and west, and partly within a mile and a half or less of the 

 shore. The larger beds belong to the Corporation of the City of Edin- 

 burgh, to the Duke of Buccleuch, and the Earl of Morton, — all land- 

 holders in Mid-Lothian ; and to several landholders in the county of 

 Haddington. 



The largest and finest oysters are taken in the vicinity of Preston- 

 pans, nine miles east of Edinburgh. Towards the west they seem to be 

 smaller and less valued. But the produce of the beds does not get time 

 to grow. 



The fishery under the control of the Corporation of Edinburgh is 

 limited by special regulations, which are understood to be recognized by 

 the other Mid-Lothian proprietors ; as, T believe, the same fishermen, the 

 inhabitants of Newhaven, are tenants of all three parties. 



I have not discovered at what time this fishery was first turned to 

 account ; but, I observe that in the year 1732, a traffic in oysters was 

 carried on between Leith and Hamburgh, — whither they were ex- 

 ported in foreign vessels. Formerly the Scotish fisheries were chiefly 

 engrossed by the Dutch, who seem, indeed, to have monopolised those of 

 the whole world. About the preceding period they traded with England 

 for the same purpose. Their vessels arrived here in January, June, and 

 September. 



This traffic still subsisted in 1740 ; but it is doubtful whether con- 

 tinuing long afterwards. However, the Magistrates of Edinburgh had to 

 restrain the fishermen from dredging daily in 1751, and selling the pro- 

 duce to strangers, whereby the brood might be exhausted. Then they 

 granted the exclusive privilege of fishing to a certain company, on condi- 

 tion of supplying the inhabitants with oysters at a more reasonable rate 

 than previously. 



It rather appears that the Newhaven fishermen had been allowed to 

 take the oysters gratuitously, but they were afterwards prohibited from 



