1815.} Scientific Intelligence. 313 
ouit the stable manure from Edinburgh on the backs of horses ; and 
a journey from Dalkeith to Edinburgh (six miles) for this manure, 
and back again with the load, occupied a whole day. 1 myself re- 
member when the vessels trading between Leith and London took up’ 
two months in the voyage, and they were constantly laid up during 
the winter. At present an average passage is less than a week, and 
they sail regularly twice every week all the year round. For this 
very great improvement in the coasting trade, we are indebted to 
the inhabitants of Berwick-upon-Tweed. They first employed 
smacks, and were thus enabled to perform their voyage in a short 
space of time. The consequence was, that almost the whole carry- 
ing trade between Edinburgh and London fell into their hands ; and 
about 50 waggons were constantly employed in carrying the goods 
between Berwick and Edinburgh. The proprietors of the Berwick 
smacks, in order to save the expense of this land carriage, made 
their vessels sail directly from London to Leith, and from Leith to 
London. This continued for several years ; till at last the inhabitants 
of Leith and Edinburgh built smacks of their own, and drove the 
Berwickers out of the trade. 
IX. Description of the Woaps: and Observations on the Sixe of 
the Whale. 
(To Dr, Thomson.) r 
SIR, Whitby, dug. 17, 1815. 
Your publication being peculiarly adapted for the dissemination 
of facts which are not of sufficient importance to be expanded into 
a distinct volume, I beg leave to present to you the following, which, 
if ig you will oblige me by inserting in the Annals of Philo- 
sophy. 
There is a phenomenon familiar to the fishermen of the east coast 
of England, resembling a distant cannonading, which | do not re- 
collect of ever seeing noticed in any scientific work. It consists of 
distinct reports, like those of guns, which sometimes are heard 
singly, or at distant intervals; at others they follow each other sq 
regularly and closely as to resemble a ship saluting. It cannot be 
distinguished from distant cannon, but that it often occurs when no 
vessel whatever is within sight, though the horizon be perfectly 
clear. It is most commonly heard by the crews of the farm boats 
or cobbles, when anchored upon the Doggerbank, or other situations 
at a distance from the shore. It isnever observed but in the summer 
season : it then occurs most frequently in cloudy weather, and about 
the time of sun-rising, It is not attended by any light, flash, 
smoke, or other visible consequences. It is occasionally heard 
from the shore, but by no means so frequently as at sea. ‘The phe- 
nomenon is probably electrical. Our Yorkshire fishermen attribute 
it to foul air, and distinguish it by the name of woaps or whops. 
_Lconsider it my duty at this opportunity to offer a few remarks 
upon the size of the whale, in reference to some observations pub- 
