PALNACKIE, a village and sea-port, in the parish
of BuiTTLE, stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 6 miles
(S. E.) from Castle-Douglas; containing 200 inhabitants.
This place is situated on the river Urr, which is navigable
from its influx into the Solway Firth up to the village,
for vessels not drawing more than seventeen feet water
at spring, and twelve feet at neap, tides; and from the
village up to Dalbeattie, for vessels of smaller burthen.
The port appears to have grown into consideration with
the increase of Castle-Douglas, of which it is the chief
shipping-place; and at present carries on a good trade
in coal, lime, timber, slate, and various kinds of merchandise,
and in fat-cattle, sheep, and other agricultural
produce, with Glasgow and Irvine; with Liverpool,
Whitehaven, and Workington, in the north of England;
and also with North America. The number of vessels
registered as belonging to the port is twenty, of the
aggregate burthen of 1303 tons, and navigated by
seventy-five men. A custom-house officer is stationed
here; and all vessels in the coasting-trade are cleared
at the port both inward and outward. There is no
regular harbour; but on one side of the creek a quay of
wood has been constructed, at which six vessels can
land or take in their cargoes at one time; and if it were
extended along the bank of the river, and also on the
opposite side of the creek, abundant accommodation
would be provided for a very considerable number of
vessels. No harbour-dues are exacted; but one farthing
per ton is levied for the purpose of maintaining
the quay in repair. About 11,000 quarters of grain,
12.5 tons of meal, 700 tons of potatoes, 3800 tons of
timber, planks, and bark, and about 8000 head of fatcattle
and sheep, are annually shipped from the port.
A mail passes daily from Castle-Douglas through the
village to Dalbeattie, and returns in the evening; and
great facility of communication and conveyance is afforded
by steam-packets.