The book Arran; - Cook Clan

THE NEW ARRAN 245
Steam Packet Company invaded this preserve, and with the
Duchess of Hamilton doubled the Arran trade in ten years.^
Much of this was due to an increase of traffic from the south
end of the island, and, as the result of action by the inhabitants
of Whiting Bay, the Duchess of Hamilton began sailings
direct to that port from Ardrossan. The suggestion of the
Whiting Bay people had been that the companies should
divide the ports, but as neither would abandon Brodick,
the result was that the rival company followed to Whiting
Bay. A pronounced local preference for the first comer made
the rival service a failure, and it had to be withdrawn. In
the end the competition of these lines has led to an amalgamation
of their steamer services. The Glasgow and South
Western new steamer, the Glen Sannox, had a notably skilful
captain in Colin M'Gregor, a native of Shisken, who died in
1901. Meantime the last ostensible restriction on Arran
development on this line, the narrow grounds to which
feuing facilities were confined, has been removed by the
throwing open of the island to such investment (1913).
The results of this step must be waited for.
Ill
Reference has been made to the difference of opinion as
to the degrees of piety credited, at particular periods, to the
Arran people ; but to the layman observer their disposition
of recent times has always seemed strongly religious.^ At
the present moment the island is indulged with three varieties
of Presbyterian ecclesiasticism, besides the Sannox remnant
who continue the local Congregationalism. A number of
Western Highland and Island parishes can exceed the
Presbyterian figure, for the Free Presbyterian secession of
1893 did not affect Arran, and owns no representatives there.
The course of things at the Disruption of 1843 is signifi-
' The Clyde Passenger Steamer, p. 218.
^ Cf. Lord Teignmouth (as cited), vol. ii. pp. 396-7.