oner were these four lights erected than their importance to
navigation was immediately acknowledged, and frequent applications
were made on the part of the shipping interest to erect others.
Accordingly as the funds of the board allowed, lighthouses or other
means of exhibiting lights have been erected upon many promontories of
the main land, or upon islands and reefs lying off the coast of
Scotland, including the Isle of Man.

These lighthouses being for the most part situated in remote and
inaccessible districts, it was resolved 'that the engineer should
charter a vessel annually, to carry a full complement of stores and
other necessaries for the use of the lights, and such artificers,
implements, and materials, as might from time to time be found
necessary for making repairs at the lighthouses;' the engineer was
also to pay an annual visit to each lighthouse, and report upon the
state and condition of the buildings, and the conduct of the
light-keepers.

No public lights on the Scotch coast are in the hands of private
individuals. All the light-dues collected from the general shipping in
Scotland are received by the commissioners for public use. There are
now twenty-five land-lights under the charge of the commissioners, for
which due-lights are levied; and there are twenty-eight local or
harbour-lights under the management of trustees and corporate bodies,
maintained by the dues levied on the trade of the respective ports
where the lights are situated, and on vessels resorting to them. Some
of these lights are established by Acts of Parliament, others are
secured by ancient charters to the fraternities of the ports, and
others were erected and are maintained by the ship-owners and
merchants of the ports.

The earliest public light on the Scottish shores is that situated on
the Island of May. This island holds a prominent position at the
entrance of the Frith of Forth, and from its connection also with the
estuary leading to the capital of Scotland and the principal ports of
her commerce, the want of a light seems to have been experienced at an
early period. Over the entrance-door of the old lighthouse-tower a
stone, neatly cut into the figure by which the sun is usually
represented, bears the date 1635.

Much dissatisfaction was produced after the Union, in consequence of
English and Irish vessels being charged with double rates as
foreigners. The light being also a coal-fire exposed in an open
chauffer, was