fishermen¡¡during¡¡the¡¡herring¡¡season£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡hoped¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡they
could¡¡be¡¡induced¡¡to¡¡form¡¡a¡¡settlement¡¡at¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡their¡¡example
might¡¡exercise¡¡a¡¡beneficial¡¡influence¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡population¡£
Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡reported¡¡that£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡expenditure¡¡of¡¡about¡¡5890L¡££»¡¡a
capacious¡¡and¡¡well¡protected¡¡tidal¡¡basin¡¡might¡¡be¡¡formed£»¡¡capable
of¡¡containing¡¡about¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡herring¡busses¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Commission
adopted¡¡his¡¡plan£»¡¡and¡¡voted¡¡the¡¡requisite¡¡funds¡¡for¡¡carrying¡¡out
the¡¡works£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡begun¡¡in¡¡1808¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡new¡¡station¡¡was¡¡named
Pulteney¡¡Town£»¡¡in¡¡compliment¡¡to¡¡Sir¡¡William¡¡Pulteney£»¡¡the¡¡Governor
of¡¡the¡¡Fishery¡¡Society£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡harbour¡¡was¡¡built¡¡at¡¡a¡¡cost¡¡of
about¡¡12£»000L¡££»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡8500L¡£¡¡was¡¡granted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Forfeited
Estates¡¡Fund¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡handsome¡¡stone¡¡bridge£»¡¡erected¡¡over¡¡the¡¡River¡¡Wick
in¡¡1805£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡design¡¡of¡¡our¡¡engineer£»¡¡connect's¡¡these
improvements¡¡with¡¡the¡¡older¡¡town£º¡¡it¡¡is¡¡formed¡¡of¡¡three¡¡arches£»
having¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡waterway¡¡of¡¡156¡¡feet¡£
The¡¡money¡¡was¡¡well¡¡expended£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡result¡¡proved£»¡¡and¡¡Wick¡¡is¡¡now£»
we¡¡believe£»¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡fishing¡¡station¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡place
has¡¡increased¡¡from¡¡a¡¡little¡¡poverty¡stricken¡¡village¡¡to¡¡a¡¡large¡¡and
thriving¡¡town£»¡¡which¡¡swarms¡¡during¡¡the¡¡fishing¡¡season¡¡with¡¡lowland
Scotchmen£»¡¡fair¡¡Northmen£»¡¡broad¡built¡¡Dutchmen£»¡¡and¡¡kilted
Highlanders¡£¡¡The¡¡bay¡¡is¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡frequented¡¡by¡¡upwards¡¡of¡¡a
thousand¡¡fishing¡boats¡¡and¡¡the¡¡take¡¡of¡¡herrings¡¡in¡¡some¡¡years
amounts¡¡to¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡barrels¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡harbour¡¡has
of¡¡late¡¡years¡¡been¡¡considerably¡¡improved¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡growing
requirements¡¡of¡¡the¡¡herring¡¡trade£»¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡additions¡¡having
been¡¡carried¡¡out£»¡¡in¡¡1823£»¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bremner£»*£§1£§¡¡a¡¡native¡¡engineer
of¡¡great¡¡ability¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Folkestone¡¡Harbour¡£
Improvements¡¡of¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡kind¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Fishery
Board¡¡at¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coast£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡snug¡¡and¡¡convenient
harbours¡¡were¡¡provided¡¡at¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡fishing¡¡stations¡¡in¡¡the
Highlands¡¡and¡¡Western¡¡Islands¡£¡¡¡¡Where¡¡the¡¡local¡¡proprietors¡¡were
themselves¡¡found¡¡expending¡¡money¡¡in¡¡carrying¡¡out¡¡piers¡¡and¡¡harbours£»
the¡¡Board¡¡assisted¡¡them¡¡with¡¡grants¡¡to¡¡enable¡¡the¡¡works¡¡to¡¡be
constructed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡substantial¡¡manner¡¡and¡¡after¡¡the¡¡most
approved¡¡plans¡£¡¡Thus£»¡¡along¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bold¡¡northern¡¡coast¡¡of
the¡¡mainland¡¡of¡¡Scotland¡¡which¡¡projects¡¡into¡¡the¡¡German¡¡Ocean£»¡¡many
old¡¡harbours¡¡were¡¡improved¡¡or¡¡new¡¡ones¡¡constructedas¡¡at¡¡Peterhead£»
Frazerburgh£»¡¡Banff£»¡¡Cullen£»¡¡Burgh¡¡Head£»¡¡and¡¡Nairn¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡Fortrose£»
in¡¡the¡¡Murray¡¡Frith£»¡¡at¡¡Dingwall£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Cromarty¡¡Frith£»
at¡¡Portmaholmac£»¡¡within¡¡Tarbet¡¡Ness£»¡¡the¡¡remarkable¡¡headland¡¡of¡¡the
Frith¡¡of¡¡Dornoch£»¡¡at¡¡Kirkwall£»¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡town¡¡and¡¡place¡¡of
resort¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Orkney¡¡Islands£»¡¡so¡¡well¡¡known¡¡from¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡¡Scott's
description¡¡of¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡'Pirate£»'¡¡at¡¡Tobermory£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡island¡¡of
Mull£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡other¡¡points¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coast£»¡¡piers¡¡were¡¡erected¡¡and
other¡¡improvements¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡to¡¡suit¡¡the¡¡convenience¡¡of¡¡the
growing¡¡traffic¡¡and¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡£
The¡¡principal¡¡works¡¡were¡¡those¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡harbours¡¡situated
upon¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡coast¡¡extending¡¡from¡¡the¡¡harbour¡¡of¡¡Peterhead£»
in¡¡the¡¡county¡¡of¡¡Aberdeen£»¡¡round¡¡to¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Murray¡¡Frith¡£
The¡¡shores¡¡there¡¡are¡¡exposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡full¡¡force¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seas¡¡rolling¡¡in
from¡¡the¡¡Northern¡¡Ocean£»¡¡and¡¡safe¡¡harbours¡¡were¡¡especially¡¡needed
for¡¡the¡¡protection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shipping¡¡passing¡¡from¡¡north¡¡to¡¡south¡£
Wrecks¡¡had¡¡become¡¡increasingly¡¡frequent£»¡¡and¡¡harbours¡¡of¡¡refuge
were¡¡loudly¡¡called¡¡for¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡one¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coast£»¡¡as¡¡many¡¡as
thirty¡¡wrecks¡¡had¡¡occurred¡¡within¡¡a¡¡very¡¡short¡¡time£»¡¡chiefly¡¡for
want¡¡of¡¡shelter¡£
The¡¡situation¡¡of¡¡Peterhead¡¡peculiarly¡¡well¡¡adapted¡¡it¡¡for¡¡a¡¡haven
of¡¡refuge£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡port¡¡was¡¡early¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡a
matter¡¡of¡¡national¡¡importance¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡are
the¡¡famous¡¡Bullars¡¡or¡¡Boilers¡¡of¡¡Buchanbold¡¡rugged¡¡rocks£»¡¡some
200¡¡feet¡¡high£»¡¡against¡¡which¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡beats¡¡with¡¡great¡¡fury£»¡¡boiling
and¡¡churning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡caves¡¡and¡¡recesses¡¡with¡¡which¡¡they¡¡are
perforated¡£¡¡¡¡Peterhead¡¡stands¡¡on¡¡the¡¡most¡¡easterly¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the
mainland¡¡of¡¡Scotland£»¡¡occupying¡¡the¡¡north¡east¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay£»
and¡¡being¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡country¡¡on¡¡the¡¡northwest¡¡by¡¡an¡¡isthmus
only¡¡800¡¡yards¡¡broad¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡Cromwell's¡¡time£»¡¡the¡¡port¡¡possessed¡¡only
twenty¡¡tons¡¡of¡¡boat¡¡tonnage£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡only¡¡harbour¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small¡¡basin
dug¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rock¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sixteenth
century¡¡the¡¡place¡¡was¡¡but¡¡an¡¡insignificant¡¡fishing¡¡village¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is
now¡¡a¡¡town¡¡bustling¡¡with¡¡trade£»¡¡having¡¡long¡¡been¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡seat
of¡¡the¡¡whale¡¡fishery£»¡¡1500¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡port¡¡being¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡that
pursuit¡¡alone£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡sends¡¡out¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡building¡¡to¡¡all
parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡its¡¡handsome¡¡and¡¡commodious¡¡harbours¡¡being
accessible¡¡at¡¡all¡¡winds¡¡to¡¡vessels¡¡of¡¡almost¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡burden¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Peterhead
It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡mentioned¡¡that¡¡about¡¡sixty¡¡years¡¡since£»¡¡the¡¡port¡¡was
formed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡island¡¡called¡¡Keith¡¡Island£»¡¡situated¡¡a¡¡small¡¡distance
eastward¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡between¡¡which¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mainland¡¡an¡¡arm¡¡of
the¡¡sea¡¡formerly¡¡passed¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡causeway¡¡had£»¡¡however£»¡¡been¡¡formed
across¡¡this¡¡channel£»¡¡thus¡¡dividing¡¡it¡¡into¡¡two¡¡small¡¡bays£»¡¡after
which¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡one¡¡had¡¡been¡¡converted¡¡in¡¡to¡¡a¡¡harbour¡¡by¡¡means
of¡¡two¡¡rude¡¡piers¡¡erected¡¡along¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡north¡¡inlet
remained¡¡without¡¡any¡¡pier£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡very¡¡inconvenient¡¡and¡¡exposed
to¡¡the¡¡north¡easterly¡¡winds£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡little¡¡used¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Peterhead¡¡Harbour¡£
The¡¡first¡¡works¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡at¡¡Peterhead¡¡were¡¡of¡¡a¡¡comparatively
limited¡¡character£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡piers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡south¡¡harbour¡¡having¡¡been
built¡¡by¡¡Smeaton£»¡¡but¡¡improvements¡¡proceeded¡¡apace¡¡with¡¡the
enterprise¡¡and¡¡wealth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie£»¡¡and¡¡after
him¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford£»¡¡fully¡¡reported¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡capabilities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡port
and¡¡the¡¡best¡¡means¡¡of¡¡improving¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie¡¡recommended¡¡the
deepening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡south¡¡harbour¡¡and¡¡the¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jetty¡¡of
the¡¡west¡¡pier£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡cutting¡¡off¡¡all¡¡projections¡¡of¡¡rock
from¡¡Keith¡¡Island¡¡on¡¡the¡¡eastward£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡render¡¡the¡¡access¡¡more
easy¡£¡¡The¡¡harbour£»¡¡when¡¡thus¡¡finished£»¡¡would£»¡¡he¡¡estimated£»¡¡give
about¡¡17¡¡feet¡¡depth¡¡at¡¡high¡¡water¡¡of¡¡spring¡¡tides¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡also
proposed¡¡to¡¡open¡¡a¡¡communication¡¡across¡¡the¡¡causeway¡¡between¡¡the
north¡¡and¡¡south¡¡harbours£»¡¡and¡¡form¡¡a¡¡wet¡¡dock¡¡between¡¡them£»¡¡580
feet¡¡long¡¡and¡¡225¡¡feet¡¡wide£»¡¡the¡¡water¡¡being¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡by¡¡gates¡¡at
each¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡further¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡an¡¡entirely¡¡new¡¡harbour£»
by¡¡constructing¡¡two¡¡extensive¡¡piers¡¡for¡¡the¡¡effectual¡¡protection¡¡of
the¡¡northern¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡channel£»¡¡running¡¡out¡¡one¡¡from¡¡a¡¡rock¡¡north
of¡¡the¡¡Green¡¡Island£»¡¡about¡¡680¡¡feet¡¡long£»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Roan
Head£»¡¡450¡¡feet¡¡long£»¡¡leaving¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡between¡¡them¡¡of¡¡70¡¡yards¡£
This¡¡comprehensive¡¡plan¡¡unhappily¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the
time¡¡for¡¡want¡¡of¡¡funds£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡have¡¡formed¡¡the
groundwork¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been¡¡subsequently¡¡done¡¡for¡¡the
improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡port¡¡of¡¡Peterhead¡£
It¡¡was¡¡resolved£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡to¡¡commence¡¡operations¡¡by
improving¡¡the¡¡south¡¡harbour£»¡¡and¡¡protecting¡¡it¡¡more¡¡effectually
from¡¡south¡easterly¡¡winds¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harbour¡¡was
accordingly¡¡deepened¡¡by¡¡cutting¡¡out¡¡30£»000¡¡cubic¡¡yards¡¡of¡¡rocky
ground£»¡¡and¡¡part¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie's¡¡design¡¡was¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡by
extending¡¡the¡¡jetty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡west¡¡pier£»¡¡though¡¡only¡¡for¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of
twenty¡¡yards¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡works¡¡were¡¡executed¡¡under¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford's
directions£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡completed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1811£»¡¡and
proved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡great¡¡public¡¡convenience¡£
The¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡however£»¡¡so¡¡much¡¡increased£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡port¡¡was
found¡¡of¡¡such¡¡importance¡¡as¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡refuge¡¡for¡¡vessels
frequenting¡¡the¡¡north¡¡seas£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡1816¡¡it¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡to
proceed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡harbour¡¡on¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the
old¡¡channel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡having¡¡agreed¡¡among¡¡themselves¡¡to
contribute¡¡to¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡10£»000L¡£¡¡towards¡¡carrying¡¡out¡¡the
necessary¡¡works£»¡¡they¡¡applied¡¡for¡¡the¡¡grant¡¡of¡¡a¡¡like¡¡sum¡¡from¡¡the
Forfeited¡¡Estates¡¡Fund£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡eventually¡¡voted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡£
The¡¡plan¡¡adopted¡¡was¡¡on¡¡a¡¡more¡¡limited¡¡scale¡¡than¡¡that¡¡Proposed¡¡by
Mr¡£¡¡Rennie£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡direction¡¡and¡¡contrived¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same
object£»so¡¡that£»¡¡when¡¡completed£»¡¡vessels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡burden
employed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Greenland¡¡fishery¡¡might¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡one¡¡or
other¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡harbours¡¡and¡¡find¡¡safe¡¡shelter£»¡¡from¡¡whatever
quarter¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡might¡¡blow¡£
The¡¡works¡¡were¡¡vigorously¡¡proceeded¡¡with£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡made¡¡considerable
progress£»¡¡when£»¡¡in¡¡October£»¡¡1819£»¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡hurricane¡¡from¡¡the
north¡east£»¡¡which¡¡raged¡¡along¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡for¡¡several¡¡days£»¡¡and
inflicted¡¡heavy¡¡damage¡¡on¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡harbours£»¡¡destroyed
a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unfinished¡¡masonry¡¡and¡¡hurled¡¡the¡¡heaviest
blocks¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡tossing¡¡them¡¡about¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been
pebbles¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡finished¡¡work¡¡had£»¡¡however£»¡¡stood¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡the
foundations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡piers¡¡under¡¡low¡¡water¡¡were¡¡ascertained¡¡to¡¡have
remained¡¡comparatively¡¡uninjured¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡help¡¡for¡¡it¡¡but¡¡to
repair¡¡the¡¡damaged¡¡work£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡involved¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡additional
cost£»¡¡one¡half¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡borne¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Forfeited¡¡Estates¡¡Fund¡¡and
the¡¡remainder¡¡by¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡£¡¡¡¡Increased¡¡strength¡¡was¡¡also
given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡more¡¡exposed¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pierwork£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡at
the¡¡sea¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡breakwater¡¡was¡¡considerably¡¡extended¡£*£§2£§
Those¡¡alterations¡¡in¡¡the¡¡design¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡out£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡a
spacious¡¡graving¡dock£»¡¡as¡¡shown¡¡in¡¡the¡¡preceding¡¡plan£»¡¡and¡¡they
proved¡¡completely¡¡successful£»¡¡enabling¡¡Peterhead¡¡to¡¡offer¡¡an¡¡amount
of¡¡accommodation¡¡for¡¡shipping¡¡of¡¡a¡¡more¡¡effectual¡¡kind¡¡than¡¡was¡¡at
that¡¡time¡¡to¡¡be¡¡met¡¡with¡¡along¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡eastern¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡Scotland¡£
The¡¡old¡¡harbour¡¡of¡¡Frazerburgh£»¡¡situated¡¡on¡¡a¡¡projecting¡¡point¡¡of
the¡¡coast¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡Mount¡¡Kennaird£»¡¡about¡¡twenty¡¡miles¡¡north
of¡¡Peterhead£»¡¡had¡¡become¡¡so¡¡ruinous¡¡that¡¡vessels¡¡lying¡¡within¡¡it
received¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡little¡¡shelter¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡exposed¡¡in
the¡¡open¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie¡¡had¡¡prepared¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡for¡¡its¡¡improvement
by¡¡running¡¡out¡¡a¡¡substantial¡¡north¡eastern¡¡pier£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡was
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü