Gabbarts

these were one or two masted sailing vessels (smacks or ketches) which carried maybe 20-30 tons of cargo to islands and remote communities in the west of Scotland in the 17th through 19th centuries...the larger steam "puffer" took over the trade of these between 1850s to 1950s.
Main postcard is of a gabbart at Tarbert stone pier unloading coal
First extra card is of the Jessie Kerr in Millport harbour. She was built by the renowned builder Fifes of Fairlie in 1870 who mainly built for the rich but also built high quality trading smacks. The owner of this vessel Walter Kerr carried coal and sand around the Clyde and bought the Mary Kerr to trade also. The Kerr family owned puffers in the 20thC
Second extra card is of an unnamed ketch beached to unload in the Kyles of Bute about 1880.