Notes on Burghead

27
" quarriers and stone-cutters, but the greater number
" follow a seafaring life ; seven large boats, with six
" people on board, are hired for the western fishery ;
" five of the same kind are employed in freighting
" commodities along the coast; two sloops, besides,
" are employed in transporting grain to the south of
" Scotland, and there are a few small boats employed
" in fishing. Here at present there is only a fishery,
" and but of small consideration. Cod, skate, ling,
" are sold at Id and ljd per lb. There are also hali-
" but, mackerel, saith, and whiting. Turbot are upon
" the coast, but the people are not instructed in the
" art of fishing for them. Haddocks have been for
" years in fewer numbers and farther from the land
" in deeper water than formerly ; they sell at Id each
" six times dearer than before." The new proprietors
of Burghead entered on a difficult undertaking — to
sweep away an old village, build a new one, and erect
a harbour suitable for the wants of the country ; but
they embarked in it very zealously, they got a plan
for the projected village, swept away the old houses
almost entirely, and laid off the place in regular streets,
the best buildings being intended to be nearest the
harbour, for which the highest feu-duties were to be
demanded, and the streets, as they extended eastward
to be charged at a smaller rate, the east side being
intended for the fishermen. In the course of a few