42 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF cbap. /. 



encreased by tlie accession of several small 

 streams that descend from the high grounds on 

 either side, and has a course of about eighteen 

 miles. Formerly, from its having little descent, 

 and from its frequent and sharp turnings, it 

 very often overflowed its banks, and did consi- 

 derable damage to the ground on either side, 

 by washing away the soil. But some of the 

 proprietors, through whose lands it runs, have 

 now partly remedied this evil, by straighting 

 and deepening its channel. Mr Johnston of 

 Lathrisk, in particular, so far as he was con- 

 cerned, spared no- labour or expence in order 

 to render the work as complete and effectual as 

 possible ; and his operations have been equally 

 successful and advantageous to his estate. He 

 caused a spacious canal to be made for the wa- 

 ter, twelve feet wide at the bottom, and thirty 

 feet at the top, secured, on the sides, by em- 

 bankments and hedges, which include a space 

 of seventy feet in breadth ; so that, in time of 

 a flood, there is sufficient space for containing 

 the water, and preventing its overflowing and 

 damaging the adjacent grounds. Upon this 

 water there are some mills, and a bleachfield 

 near Cupar. It abounds with excellent red and 

 white trout, pikes, and eels : and there is a sal- 

 mon-fishing at its mouth near the sea. 



Besides the waters just now mentioned, there 

 are a great many smaller streams, upon which 

 mills for corn, flax, &c. have been erected j 

 and springs of good water are so numerous, 

 that, upon a judicious inclosing of the grounds, 

 there would be few fields of any considerable 

 extent without a sufficient supply. 



