Waternish

   WATERNISH, lately a quoad sacra parish, in the parish of Duirinish, Isle of Skye, county of Inverness, 17 miles (N. W. by W.) from Portree; containing, with the hamlet of Stein, and island of Issay, 1260 inhabitants. This district, which is situated in the north-eastern portion of the parish, was for ecclesiastical purposes separated from Duirinish, by act of the General Assembly, on the erection of a church by government. The hamlet of Stein, now containing only thirty-eight inhabitants, was built some few years since by the North British Fishery Society, for the encouragement of the fisheries off the coast; but it has not answered the purpose intended, though a few fish are taken in the lochs and bays with which this part of the coast is indented. The island of Issay, situated between the lochs of Dunvegan and Bay, and which is several miles in circumference, containing ninety inhabitants, is luxuriantly fertile and in a high state of cultivation. In the district of Waternish are two schools, of which one is in the hamlet of Stein.