Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

32
valship of Glasgow, the foreign export trade of Ayr has
much declined. The principal trade of this port is now the
exportation of coal, of which article upwards of 60,000 tons
are annually shipped to Ireland alone. The exportation of pig-
iron, coal tar, &c. the produce of the iron works in the County,
is also considerable, — the whetstone, called Water of Ayr
Stone, deservesmentionalso, as an article of export. Besides
the Salmon Fishings on the Rivers Ayr andDoon, there is an
extensive White Fishery carried on here on the sand banks
on the coast. Both these fisheries are valuable, and there
are two companies with large establishments for the curing
and exportation of their produce. In both the Ayr and
Boon, the Salmon are plentiful ; and the fishings in these
rivers produce a rental of upwards of £500. per annum.
There are between sixty and seventy vessels belonging
to the Port of Ayr, and their Importations consist of Hides,
Tallow, &c. from South America, — Provisions, grain, &c.
from Ireland, — Timber from America, and Hemp and Iron
from the Baltic.
The manufacture of Leather is carried on to a large ex-
tent, and Soap making is on a large scale, — these are the
two principal manufactures; but there are others, as, Can-
dles, Ropes, Shoes, Hats, &c.
The Academy, founded by subscription in 1798, is a most
valuable institution. It is conducted by a Rector and five
Masters and Assistants, — this Seminary was created a
Body Corporate by the Crown, under certain directors, so
it is properly a Royal Academy. Here are taught the
English, Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon, French, Italian, Ger-
man, and Oriental Languages, — writing, arithmetic, draw-