ARDROSSAN  , a seaport,

burgh of barony, and police burgh of Ayrshire, Scotland, 32 M. from Glasgow by the Glasgow & South-Western railway, and 291 M. by the Lanarkshire & Ayrshire branch of the Caledonian railway . Pop . (1901) 6079 . The rise of Ardrossan was due to the enterprise of Hugh, 12th earl of Eglinton, who began the construction of the present town and harbour in 18o6 . The harbour was intended to be in connexion with a canal from Glasgow to Ardrossan, but this was only completed as far as Johnstone . Owing to the costliness of the undertaking, and the death of the earl in 1819, the works were suspended after an outlay of £1oo,000, but his successor completed the scheme on a reduced scale at an expense of another £1oo,000 . The dock accommodation has since been consider-ably extended, and the town enjoys great prosperity . Steamers run every week-day to Arran and Belfast, and during summer there is a service also to Douglas in the Isle of Man . The exports consist principally of coal and iron from collieries and iron-works in the neighbourhood; and the imports of timber, ores and general goods . Shipbuilding thrives and the fisheries are important . The town is governed by a provost and council .