Ythan mouth

The river Ythan is about a quarter of a mile east of the village. It is here of a serpentine form, and is navigable nearly a mile and a-half. The ships are loaded and unloaded at low water; but it is hoped that a pier will soon be built, which would prove a great accommodation to the farmers, particularly those at a distance. The river abounds with salmon, sea-trout, flounders, and a great many other small fish; but it is chiefly famed for its abundant produce of mussels. The quantity taken out of the river annually amounts to some hundred tons, and is sold at £1, 10s. per ton.

It is much to be regretted that the entrance to the river is bad, and occasionally dangerous, owing to the sand shifting at its mouth, and there seems to be no remedy for it. The sandy beach extends from the mouth of the Ythan, about one mile and a-half north, and eight or ten miles south. On the south beach, there were lately many stake-nets for catching salmon, but bag-nets have now been substituted in their room, as they are worked with less trouble and expense.

From: The New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)

I am now signing off for a few days, but will be back!