a parliamentary and royal burgh of Scotland, in the county of Caithness, on the bay of the same name, 137 miles N.N.E. of Inverness. It stands in a low situation, and its houses are irregularly built, and crowded together. The river Wick, here crossed by a handsome bridge, separates it from the suburb of Pulteneytown, which, along with that of Louisburgh, is included within the parliamentary limits of the burgh. Pulteneytown was founded in 1808, under the auspices of the British Fishery Society; and it is well and regularly built, containing all the houses of the better class of inhabitants. The public buildings comprise a town-house and jail, town and county hall, and custom-house. The parish church is at Wick, and there is a chapel of ease at Pulteneytown. Free churches in both places, and places of worship for United Presbyterians, Independents, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics. There are an academy, a parish school, a Free church school, library, and savings-bank. The burgh is governed by a provost, 2 bailies, and 12 councillors; and it unites with Cromarty, Dingwall, Dornoch, Kirkwall, and Tain, in returning a member to parliament. It has been a royal burgh since 1589, and represented in parliament since the Union. Since 1828, sheriff-courts have been held here instead of at Thurso, which was till then considered the head burgh of the county. It has several ropeworks, a gaswork, distilleries, ship and boat building yards, and a bank. The trade consists chiefly in the herrings which are here caught, cured, and exported. In 1858, there were employed in this fishery, in the district of Wick, 935 Wickliffe boats, manned by 3593 fishermen and boys, and valued, along with the nets and lines, in all at L.85,741. There were also engaged 127 fishcurers and 329 coopers, in curing and barrelling the fish. In the same year, 101,661 barrels of herring were cured, and 36,866 cod, ling, and hake, taken or purchased. Flagstones for pavements are also prepared and exported here. The bay, though somewhat dangerous, is much resorted to by shipping, and during the herring season presents a lively and interesting appearance, being covered with 600 or 800 fishing-boats, mixed with some larger craft, among which is often to be seen a government cruiser. Harbours have been constructed by the British Fishery Society at Pulteneytown, and there is one at the village of Staixigo, a little to the E., near Noss-Head; but these being all inadequate to the shipping, and there being a great want of harbours of refuge on this part of the coast, a royal commission has recommended, March 3, 1859, the formation of one here, by means of breakwaters to enclose the whole bay. The cost of such a work is estimated at L.250,000, of which half is to be raised in the district, and the other half supplied by a government grant. In the year 1858, the number of registered sailing-vessels belonging to Wick was 58, tonnage 3537; and of steam-vessels 2, tonnage 188. In the same year, there entered the port 568 sailing-vessels, tonnage 33,507; and 299 steamers, tonnage 53,083; and there cleared 484 sailing-vessels, tonnage 26,672; and 298 steamers, tonnage 53,063. Steamers touch regularly at Wick on their way between Leith and Shetland; and trading-smacks ply to London, Hull, and other English ports. Pop. (1851) of the royal burgh, 1514; of the parliamentary do., 6722.