402 



ABERDEEN HARBOUR. 



PART V11I. 



the inhabitants were industrious, and their plaiding, 

 linen, and worsted stockings were in much request as 

 articles of merchandise. Cured salmon was also ex- 

 ported in large quantities. As early as 1659 a quay was 

 formed along the Dee towards the village of Foot Dee. 

 " Beyond Futty," says an old writer, " lyes the fisher- 

 boat heavne ; and after that, towards the promontorie 

 called Sandenesse, ther is to be seen a grosse bulk of a 

 building, vaulted and flatted above (the Blockhous they 

 call it), begun to be builded anno 1513, for guarding 

 the entree of the harboree from pirats and algarads ; 

 and cannon wer planted ther for that purpose, or, at 

 least, that from thence the motions of pirats might be 

 tymouslie foreseen. This rough piece of work was 

 finished anno 1542, in which yer lykewayes the mouth 

 of the river Dee was locked with cheans of iron and 

 masts of ships crossing the river, not to be opened bot 

 at the citizens' pleasure." l 



After the Union, but more especially after the rebel- 

 lion of 1745, the trade of Aberdeen made considerable 

 progress. Although Burns, in 1787, briefly described 

 the place as a " lazy toun," the inhabitants were display- 

 ing much energy in carrying out improvements in their 

 port. 2 In 1775 the foundation-stone of the new pier 

 designed by Mr. Smeaton was laid with great ceremony, 

 and, the works proceeding to completion, a new pier, 

 twelve hundred feet long, terminating in a round head, 

 was finished in less than six years. The trade of the 

 place was, however, as yet too small to justify anything 

 beyond a tidal harbour, and the engineer's views were 



1 ' A Description of Bothe Touns 

 of Aberdeene.' By James Gordon, 

 Parson of Rothiemay. Quoted by 

 Turreff, p. 109. 



2 Communication with London was 

 as yet by no means frequent, and far 

 from expeditious, as the following ad- 

 vertisement of 1778 will show : 

 " For London : To sail positively on 



Saturday next, the 7th November, 

 wind and weather permitting, the 

 Aberdeen smack. Will lie a short 

 time at London, and, if no convoy is 

 appointed, will sail under care of a 

 fleet of colliers the best convoy of 

 any. For particulars apply,'' &c., 

 &c. 



