EARLY PREMIUMS. 10/ 



two years. It may, we think, be assumed that this premium 

 was the first ever awarded in Scotland for cattle at ma- 

 turity. We have already seen that the Edinburgh Society 

 awarded premiums for calves fed for the butcher. The 

 offer of this premium does not appear to have been re- 

 peated by the Society. 



For Essays and Reports. 



On 6th January 1786, a gold medal of the value of 

 three guineas was awarded to Captain George Pitcairn, of 

 the City Guard of Edinburgh, for an essay on the Scots 

 fisheries, dated 12th October 1785. A gold medal of the 

 same value was awarded at the same time to John Watson, 

 Eyemouth, the author of a paper entitled ' Sketches of the 

 Herring Fishing at Eyemouth, Berwickshire, and more 

 particularly of 1784,' for the useful information contained 

 in these sketches, and as an inducement to others to publish 

 their thoughts on that subject. A gold medal of the value 

 of ten guineas was awarded, loth January 1789, to Dr 

 John Walker,* Prof of Natural History in the Edinburgh 

 University, for an essay on the cattle and corn of the 

 Highlands. A gold medal of the same value was awarded 

 at the same time to said Dr Walker for an essay on kelp. 

 On 4th January 1790, £/s^ 4s. were awarded to William 

 Ferguson, shipmaster, Peterhead, for a communication on 

 the fisheries, particularly its recommendation of some 

 public aid and encouragement to an effectual trial of the 

 deep sea fishery by vessels properly constructed and fitted 

 out for that purpose. A gold medal of the value of ten 

 guineas was awarded at same time to Mr James Headrick, of 

 Glasgow, who is designed ' Preacher of the Gospel,' for an 

 essay on salt. Mr Headrick afterwards became editor of 

 the first volume of the Society's Transactions. A gold 

 medal of the value of £^ 5s. was awarded at same time 

 to Patrick Henderson, Aberdeen, for an essay on the same 

 subject. A gold medal of the same value was awarded at 



* The same who won prizes offered by the Edinburgh Society. See 

 page 35- 



