CRAIL, a royal and parliamentary borough and seaport in the "East Neuk" of Fife shire, 2 m. s.w. of Fifeness, and 10 m. s.e. of St. Andrews. Pop. '71, 1126. Along with St. Andrews, East and West Anstruther, Cupar, Kilrenny, and Pittenweeni, it returns one member to parlianient. C. was a town of some note in the middle ages, being then called Caryl]. In 847, there was a skirmish with the Danes here, and at Fifeness there are still the traces of what is believed to have been a Danish encampment. There are traces of an old castle, in which David I. occasionally resided; of a priory college, and other adjuncts of an ecclesiastical establishment. The established church, though it has undergone many alterations, is still substantially the ancient structure, and the square tower, with the broach (q.v.) which springs from it, are in their original condition, and very perfect in form. It was after a sermon preached in this church by Knox in 1559, that his hearers rushed in an infuriated mob to St. Andrews, and burnt the magnificent cathedral of the Episcopal metropolis. Archbishop Sharp was for some time minister of Crail. The harbor of C., though small, is safe; but there is a much
more commodious site for a harbor in what is called Roome bay, in the immediate neigh borhood, the desirableness of converting which into a harbor of refuge has often been urged on government. Could this improvement be effected, it is believed that C. would again become, as it was formerly, the great rendezvous for the herring-fisherv. Even without this advantage, there has been a great revival in this branch of trade of late years, and fish is now cured to the value of .t20,000 to £30,000 annually in the little fishing towns in this neighborhood. Being a retired spot, with many traces of the well-being and good taste of earlier times still clinging to it, C. is eminently suited for a summer residence for sea-bathing purposes. Its bold coast offers pleasant rambles, and interesting excursions to the geologist and botanist. The town is lighted with gas, possesses good shops and markets, a reading-room, lecture institute, etc.