Someone on the list raised this issue a couple of weeks ago. A 1987 tour guide of NI which I have states that the distance from Donaghadee to Portpatrick, Scotland is 21 miles. Local fishermen from Donaghadee would row passengers across to Scotland on calm days for 5UK pounds. This was in the 1850s. ref: The Visitors Guide to Northern Ireland, Rosemary Evans, Moorland Publishing Co, UK, 1987.pp. 64-65 There is some terrific info in this little book but the Copyright is so comprehensive that I do not think I can do more than paraphrase references. -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 25 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len