OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 241 



the open fhore, but neither the one nor the other are of 

 fo good a quality as formerly, owing to the avarice of 

 the labourers employed in making it, who, to increafe 

 the weight, mix more than the proper proportion of 

 gravel with the afb.es, after they are reduced to a fluid 

 ftate; the proper proportion is as one to twenty, but, 

 by putting more than that quantity, the kelp is not fo 

 much in demand as it formerly was. - If I recollect 

 aright, there is a law againft the adulteration of kelp, 

 which directs it to be broken in pieces, and thrown 

 upon the fields, excepting, however, the fields of the 

 perfon fo adulterating it. Befides thefe manufactures 

 above mentioned, there are others immediately de- 

 pending upon the linen trade. The firft of thefe is -the 

 making of oil of vitriol ; the ear Heft, and, I believe, the 

 moft extenfive work is that near LUburn in this 

 county, where oxygenated muriatic acid is alfo made, 

 and is now under trial as a bleaching material; if it an- 

 fwers it will be a great faving, as it is fo much cheaper 

 than vitriol. There is likewife a manufacture of vitriol 

 at Moyallan, and another on this fide the bridge of 

 Belfaft, but, notwithflanding, vitriol is {till imported 

 from Scotland. 



The other branches, which are particularly con- 

 nected with our ftaple commodity, are Shuttles and 

 reeds, of various finenefs; to the French refugees we 

 are indebted for our knowledge in this art; to them we 

 are indebted for the introduction of wheels, looms, &c. 



x i upon 



