264 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



In the Trias, near Cushendall ; in the Forth River Yalley ; in 

 the Woodburn Yalley, between Kilroot and Whitehead ; and in 

 the Yalley of the Lagan, gypsum occurs in the marls ; but 

 although the veins in places are numerous, none that are known 

 are thick enough to pay for working. 



The Salt mines at Duncrue are of recent date, the salt having 

 been discovered in 1850 while boring in search of coal. As 

 mentioned in Part I., page 252, the Salt Measures may extend east- 

 ward towards Eden, and northward towards Larne, as saline wells 

 are found in those directions. 



In remote and recent years there have been workings for coal 

 and iron in the Ballycastle Coal-field. The rocks are com- 

 monly called Coal Measure ; but correctly they are a portion 

 of the Calp division of the Carboniferous limestone : they are, 

 however, the equivalents of the so-called " Lower Coal Measures" 

 of Scotland. The earliest works were during the time that 

 "stone implements" were in use, as about 1770, during the 

 mining operation, then in progress, old galleries, having in them 

 wicker-work baskets and stone implements, were broken into. 

 In recent years the Macgildowneys were those who worked the 

 coals, the royalties at the time belonging to the Boyds. 



At what time, or by whom, the ancient galleries were driven is 

 now unknown ; but it is evident the industry ceased and was 

 forgotten. In 1700, Ballycastle 1 was quite a poor place, contain- 

 ing some sixty-two house-holdings, and extending over an area of 

 about three acres. But about the year 1784 it had advanced, and 

 became a prosperous town, having its iron works of various kinds, 

 its manufactures of salt and soap, its weaving and bleaching 

 establishments, its tanyards, its glass-house, and brewery. The 

 enumeration of these is in part foreign to the present inquiry; but 

 as they were in a great measure adjuncts of the mining operation, 

 it may be allowable to refer to them. 



The prosperity of the place was in a great measure due to the 

 energy of Hugh Boyd, the proprietor, and it began to decline 

 about 1670 or 1680, after his death, the decline being aided by 



1 This place got its present name from the castle huilt in 1609 by Eandolph, Earl 

 of Antrim. Correctly the coal and iron works should be called the Culfeightrin 

 collieries ; but this name has been quite superseded by that of Ballycastle. 



