To

John Anderson Esqr

106 George Street

Edinburgh

Granton. 26th November 1860

Sir,

I hereby make offer to build for His Grace The Duke of Argyll by order of John Anderson Esqr, a First Class Fishing Boat of the following dimensions viz – Length 40 feet, Breadth 14 feet 6 inches, Depth 6 feet 4 inches. To be built of the best Larch Fir, Timbers to be of Oak and Elm, to be copper fastened 5 Strealls up from the Keel, a Forecastle to be fitted for the men in the usual way. Also to furnish 2 Masts, one 38 feet the other 32 feet, thickness in proportion, to find 2 Lug sails one containing about 106 Yds. the other about 80 Yds. With Haulyards sheets Blocks and gear complete, also to find 40 fathoms of rope suitable for mooring Boat, to find 1 Anchor about 70 Lbs weight, also 20 fathoms of ½ in. chain, to find 6 bars, 1 Boat hook, 2 Tillers, 1 Pump, to find all necessary Iron work, including Keel, Stem, Stern Bands. The Boat to be of a superior description both as to finish and construction, similar to the Newhaven Large Fishing Boats, for the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Pound, £120, to be finished by the end of February 1861. The payments to be made as follows, Twenty Pound when the Keel is laid, Thirty Pounds when the boat is floored, and the residue when complete.

Malcom R. Liston