HERRING FISHERIES. 209 



fuch port, during a period equal to the time in which 

 fhe might have completed a fhort voyage, had 

 fhe kept in the open Tea. This is particularly the 

 cafe with all vefTels which put in at Campbeltown. 

 The bay is capacious, fafe, and abundantly deep 

 for vefiels of any burden ; but the entrance is fo 

 remarkably narrow that no veflel can get out with 

 a flrong head-wind, and confequently the whole fleet 

 of bufTes, by putting in at that place, are obftructed 

 in their voyage ; and fhould the wind check about 

 before next day 1 they run the chance of being de- 

 tained from one to two or three weeks. In the 

 mean time 1000 men or upwards are living in 

 idlenefs, confuming the provifions, and otherwife 

 incurring expences, to the detriment of their fami- 

 lies and the owners ; while the feafon is exhaufted* 

 and the herrings are moving from the fhores. 



The inconveniencies of limiting the place of ren- 

 dezvous to this port were, confequently, reprefented to 

 government, and in the ftatute of 1778,11 was left to 

 the option of the adventurers to rendezvous either at 

 Campbeltown or Stranrawer. From the latter place 

 verTels can get in or out almoft with any wind, and 

 the bay or loch is alfo commodious and fafe. But 

 notwithftanding the natural advantages of this bay, 

 fknown by the name of Loch Ryan) the buffes 

 found no great relief therefrom. 



Their courfe to the Hebrides is by the Cape of Can- 

 tire ; which having doubled, they proceed due north. 

 Campbeltown, the place of rendezvous appointed by 

 the former act of parliament, is fituated near the 

 extremity of this cape, and confequently in the 

 direct track of the builes to the place of their defti- 

 nation. Whereas Stranrawer lies at the diftance of 

 forty miles fouth-eaft of the cape, and the fame 

 number of miles out of the courfe of all veffels 

 bound from the Clyde to the Hebrides. To make 

 this intelligible to our Englifh readers, let us fup- 

 that a number of veflels cleared out annually 

 O from 



