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Pacific ports. The raw materials of the industry are cotton
canvas, linseed oil, and paints. The oil is brought by ship
from Hull to Leith, while the cotton canvas comes from Manchester
and the U.S.A. Forty-five to fifty workers are employed,
three men and the rest girls and women. During the war there
were 70 employees. The girls come from Tranent, Prestonpans,
and Gockenzie, and travel by bus or bicycle ; owing to the
nearness of their homes they do not use the canteen for
meals. They work under trade union conditions. The factory
is equipped with the very latest machinery and is air-conditioned.
The firm originally started production in Prestonpans in
1875, but, when the fishing industry decayed there, it followed
the fishermen to Cockenzie and remained there until the
factory was destroyed by fire in 1938. After a year in temporary
premises in Prestonpans it moved to its present site in
1939. Cockenzie was considered too congested for a modern
factory and the proximity of the railway and other factors
made the site at Preston the most suitable in the vicinity.
Fishing.- A hundred years ago many of the men of
Prestonpans were employed in fishing. There was then a large
and extensive oyster fishery. In the Statistical Account
of 1839 it is stated that during the season 25,000 to 30,000
oysters were traded with Newcastle, Shields, and Hartlepool.
No doubt the oyster beds were overfished, and the industry
declined and finally died out, so that the " pandores,"
as the oysters were named, disappeared as a delicacy for
the table. Throughout the i9th century large fishing boats
went at the appropriate season to Lewis, Fraserburgh, Yarmouth,
etc., while many of the men of Prestonpans served in whalers
sailing from Leith. The fishing industry has now completely
departed from the town, but there is a strong fishing com-
munity in the neighbouring village of Cockenzie. The fishermen
had their own Fishermen's Society, and, after the summer
fishing, there occurred the Fishermen's Walk, when a large
oaken chest containing documents and the cash of the society
was carried in procession through the town. There- after
the members were entertained to a dinner by the " maister."
Similar walks are still held annually in Cockenzie and Fisherrow
(Midlothian).
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