148 Captain Hall’s Account of the Dundee Ferry. 
and Woodhaven, and the steam- vessel was made to ply from 
Dundee, alternately, to these two landing-places. A few weeks’ 
experience, however, shewed, that the greatest public inconve- 
nience must ever attend this alternate system ; for not only was 
punctuality (which, it ought always to be recollected, is essential 
to the existence of a proper ferry) entirely broken in upon, but, 
in spite of every notification that could be given, passengers were 
perpetually mistaking the proper point of call. Sometimes the 
tide, sometimes the wind, did not serve for Woodhaven, and it 
often happened, that, when circumstances obliged the boat to 
steer out of the direct course, the people, who were waiting her 
arrival, were inevitably misled, and so, by repairing to the wrong 
place, lost their passage altogether. The complaints of the ex- 
cessive inconvenience of this plan, by every class of passengers, 
after a few months’ trial, became so loud and general, that the 
Trustees, in July 1822, directed the boat in future to call at 
Newport only, on the Fife side. The effect was instantaneous; 
— the public regained confidence, and the revenues of the ferry 
increased rapidly. The following is the amount of the fares 
collected for the last five years : 
In 1820, 
. - - 
L. 2510 
6 1 
1821, 
- 
2526 
13 9 
1822, 
- 
3209 
9 0 
1823, 
- 
3552 
4 10 
1824, 
- 
- 3790 
12 10 
It will give a good idea of the importance of this ferry, to 
state the exact number of passengers, cattle, &c. which crossed 
in the year 1824. 
Foot Passengers. I Carriages. I Gigs. I Cattle, I Sheep. I Horses. I Loaded Carts, 
100,536 I 130 I 474 j 6,627 | 15,449 | 4,777 | 2,564 
The distance from Dundee to Newport, in a straight line, is 
one statute mile and a little more than a half, or very nearly 
2,760 yards. At certain times of tide, the passage cannot be 
made directly across, owing to the mud-banks which lie near- 
ly in the middle of the stream ; so that the average distance 
of the passage, allowance being made for the set of the tide, 
may be stated at about two miles and a third. This passage is 
made by the twin-boat in seventeen minutes, at an average, in 
neap tides ; and in twenty-three at spring tides. In very blowing 
