ID: | 1309 [see the .xml file] |
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Identifier: | WCRO CR2017/ TP212/1 |
Previous letter: | 1308 |
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Cite: | 'Hugh Davies to Thomas Pennant 1775' in Curious Travellers Digital Editions [editions.curioustravellers.ac.uk/doc/1309] |
Snafield the highest hill in the Island, is of the form of a truncated cone, covered with verdure, not a rock upon it – find upon it 3 species of Lycopodium –1 Viz. clavatum – alpinum & Selago, which are found only on hills of considerable height, –on a hill to the N: E. find Ophris cordata,2 festuca vivipara,3 and Vaccinium vitis Idæa.4
Near Ramsey Buccinum5 N. 3 Lister. tab. 3. in plenty the fishermen use them in codfishing ^a considerable article near the point of Ayr –six or eight men to a boat; each earning 2. or 3 shillings a day.
Black water river6 affords the Mya margaritifera7 Sison verticillatum8 a plant I think not found in England [...] plentifully in meadow grounds – Œnanthe pinpinelloides [sic] an uncommon vegetable near Castle town at scarlad, ^Fucus esculentus9 found here where there is a quarry of black marble, considerable quantity exported to Scotland & Ireland – tombstones chimney pieces &c–
Stares breed in the walls of houses| [sic] and assemble in flocks as soon as they are able to fly –––––
Trout in almost every river & Salmon in the larger ones.
Haddock on the northern coast in February & March –––––
N:B. on the Anglesea coast in May, June &c –
British pPost on Barowl a few stones on end surrounded by a fosse almost fill'd up with vegetable earth.
Scallops Ostrea maxima10 Linn. taken near Manshold head
from Christmas to May and sold at 3 pence per dozen.
Oyster beds near Laxey only – sold at two shillings per hundred. Salmon taken on the coast of Duglas –seldom sooner
than July – generally sold from two pence to 3 pence a pound –
[...]rings taken from July to October.
Not a Wear [sic] in the Island
as I am informed.
Number of Capital Exported about 1000–1100 –
Weight per quarter Cow-beef – 90 – 100 – Ox – 150–200.
Indigenous ^[...] sheep small 7–9, pounds per quarter.
Number of Puffins taken annually about 6–7000.
Green plover Br. Zool. p. 379.11 breeds upon the hills snafield
& Barowl. –
[...]Kirk Braddan Cemetery remarkably full of graves –
A cross five feet high curiously
ornamented on three sides on the [...] a runic inscription, –––––
Another Six feet high, the to[...] circular three feet three inches in
diameter and decorated ^with f[...] of animals &c– on the
East end of the church a rude Crucifix ––––– A Rookery near this Church –
Endorsement in Thomas Pennant's hand: By Mr Hugh Davies 1775