308 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF clap. X7. 



bad roads, and scanty population ; and as they 

 are under the necessity of collecting their hands 

 from different and distant parts of the country, 

 they must sink a considerable sum of money for 

 their accommodation. The steam-engine ob- 

 viates all these disadvantages, and bids fair to 

 make water-falls of considerably less value. 



Salt. -The southern coast of Fife, being wash- 

 ed with salt-water, and abounding in coal from 

 the one end to the other, is most advantageously 

 situated for the manufacturing of this article. 

 Accordingly we find, that the making of sea- 

 salt has been an established business in Fife for 

 many centuries back. This manufacture is car- 

 ried on chiefly at Dysart, Kirkaldy, Inverkeith- 

 jng West Wemyss, Methel, and in some places 

 within the district belonging to the port of An- 

 struther. The quantity annually made, is not 

 under 90,000 bushels. The duty, at 5 s. 6 d. 

 per bushel, will amount to 24,750 1. One hun- 

 dred and twenty loads of coals are required for 

 making every 100 bushels of salt. And from 

 1 10 to 120 hands may be employed in this bu- 

 siness. 



Sbip-luilditig. Before the conclusion of the 

 American war, little attention was paid to ship- 

 building in this county. But since that period, 

 and especially since the amendment of the Na- 

 vigation act, excluding all ships not British limit 

 from the trade of this country, it has made very 

 considerable progress. Within the last 15 years, 

 not less than 1,200 tons of shipping have been 

 built annually in our several ports, principally 

 at Dysart, Kirkaldy, Wemyss, and Anstruther. 

 Klost of the vessels have been built for our own 



