| Description | Letter to James Riddel from John Bertie. Letter head: "Beeston near Nottingham, 21st December 1837." Letter reads as follows: "Sir, I take the liberty of writing to you having seen in the Montrose Review of the first instant what management the Town of Aberdeen was giving to the Herring Fishery- I and two others having invented a mode of machine to make fish nets or herring nets which casts the proper knot that is to say the same that is cast by the hand which we believe never was done before- therefore if you think a manufacturing of herring nets would be advantageous to your town be so good as to let us know what encouragement you would give as the plan might be secured by a patent and all the advantage given to Aberdeen. The speed of the machine will be at least two herring nets per day, it will work by turning a handle therefore it may work by power of steam, if you think well we will send you a sample of the net made from the model. There is a factory at Musselburgh making herring nets but if you will inquire of the fishers you will find the know is not fast though they are sold on account of coming cheaper than hand nets and we understand they cannot make a net under two or three days. Of course you will wish to know who we are thereis two of us natives of Montrose and the other a native here we are all in the lace making way about 13 years ago I had a number of lace machines at work at Montrose, I can refer you to Mr. James Barnes, late Provost, Mr. James Glen Joiner and Mr. Charles Barclay, late Provost of Montrose. I am Sir, your obedient servant, John Bertie." |