1791* ON THE BUI-rtSH FISHERIES. 213 



hi ts in one of your late Bces^ that this fubject has 

 not eluded your notice entirely^ But, believe nie, 

 what has already taken place is only a fmall prelude 

 to much more exteitfive emigration that mull foon en- 

 lue, unlefa they be guarded againfl. by fome general 

 plan, that fliall put it in the power of the people to 

 earn a fubfiftcncc for themfelves, by the labour of their 

 hands — which is not, in too many cafes, within their 

 reach at prefent. 



I had occaiion to call in at this place on my way 

 northward at prefent. It is much altered fince the 



year 1784, when you was here 1 wifli I could make 



a good drawing of it — I would gladly fend it to you ; 

 as the fcenery, if well executed, is not a little piclu- 

 refque. But as I am not pollclTed of the talent of 

 drawing, I mud content myfelf with a feeble defcrip- 

 tion of the buildings erected here. 



The moll ftriking part of the new work here is the 

 quay — a ftrong breaft-work of ftone, that extends from 

 one fide of the harbour to tiie other, covered on the 

 top with free ftone. This is a neat folid ftruelure, 

 and has a very pretty effe£t when viewed from the 

 found, or the entry into the harbour. 



Of the buildings erected by the fociety, the mofl 

 confiderable are — a large commodious ftorehoufe, one 

 end of the lower flat of which is rented by the board 

 of cuftoms as a king's warehoufe ; and the other end 

 of the lower flat is appropriated for private ware- 

 houfes : — A cultomhoufe, and houfe for the colle£lor — 

 another houfe of equal fize, dividetl between the 

 comptroller and furveyor — and a large and elegant 

 building for an inn ; — A blackfmith's Ihop, and a boat- 

 builder's fliade. The only houfes below the bank, 

 bcfides, are one large houfe built by tlic Mr. Stephen- 

 fons of Oban, who are, I find, of your acquaintance ; 

 in which they carry on the bufincf^ of Ihopkcepers 

 and merchants, and in which they have laid up large 

 (lore of materials for the fiflicricSw-^Ar.otiicr large 



