Counties > Moray (Elgin) and Nairn Shires > 1863 - Black's Morayshire directory, including the upper district of Banffshire

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North of Scotland Railway a line from Keith to Dufftown was opened in
1861, and the Strathspey Railway from Dufftown to Grantown is now in
course of construction. This line follows the course of the river Fiddich
from Dufftown to Craigellachie, where the Morayshire Railway will be
connected with it by a viaduct across the Spey. From the point of
junction it proceeds along the east side of the Spey to Carron, thence
along the west side to a point a little above the confluence of the Avon
and Spey, and thence again along the east side to its terminus at
Nethy Bridge, in Abernethy. The whole distance between Dufftown
and Nethy Bridge is about thirty-five miles. Another and still greater
undertaking is also in progress. To bring Morayshire and the counties
north and west of it nearer the Southern markets, a direct line is in
course of formation from Forres to Dunkeld, a distance of about 100
miles. This great trunk line, passing through Edenkillie, and round
the Knock of Brae Moray, enters Strathspey at Grantown, twenty-two
miles from Forres, and then proceeds along the west side of the Spey
towards Kingussie. The part of it within the county of Moray
(including the detached portion of the county south of Grantown) ia
nearly thirty miles. It is proposed to connect the Strathspey Railway
with this great through line by a branch across the Spey near Dulnain
Bridge. It is not too much to say that, when the railways now in
progress are completed, every place of importance within the county will
have the advantage of this cheap and expeditious mode of conveyance.
Herring fishing is prosecuted at four villages on the coast of
Morayshire — Lossiemouth, Hopeman, Burghead, and Findhorn. The
following figures will give an idea of the value of this branch of indus-
try within the county. Taking the average of seven years (1856-62),
it appears that there have been —
Average No.
of boats.
At Lossiemouth, 106
At Hopeman, 48
At Burghead, 64
At Findhorn, 15
Average annual
Total annual
catch per boat.
catch.
95 crans.
10,070
129 „
6,192
85 „
5,440
69 „
1,035
Total average of last seven years, 22,737
These figures show that herrings (taking 27s per barrel as their
selling price) bring into the county upwards of £30,000 annually, not
to speak of the amount of money derived from the produce of the white
fishing, and the fine salmon fishings at the mouths of the Spey and
Findhorn, and all along the sea coast. The Duke of Richmond's salmon
fishings at the mouth of the Spey are alone worth some £12,000 a-year.
Shipbuilding has long been carried on extensively at Garmouth,
at the mouth of the Spey. For this purpose, Garmouth has the
advantage of obtaining Strathspey wood, floated down the river in
rafts, at a cheap rate. Railways, however, have to some extent neu-
tralized this advantage, and the same trade is now rising to importance
at Lossiemouth. The last-mentioned port has by far the most exten-
sive shipping in the county, and some very fine vessels belong to it.
Besides coasting traffic, it trades with the Baltic, and imports wood
from America. Its harbour accommodation has cost upwards of