As a result, the number of fishing craft swelled from the two recorded at the end of the 17th century to thirty by 1881. At one point there were plans for the railway to extend all the way to the harbour, and for the harbour to be connected to the island of Craigleith by a long pier, but these plans were dropped and the harbour and railway have changed little since. Two shorter piers were built to accommodate larger craft and to allow others to dock when beaten by the tides, the first of which - The North Pier - lasted from 1811 until a huge storm finished it off in 1898.
This development led to an increase in fishing boats, growing from two at the end of the 17th century to thirty by 1881. At one time, there were plans for the railway to reach the harbour and connect it to Craigleith Island via a long pier, but these plans were dropped and the harbour and railway have remained largely unchanged since. Two shorter piers were built to accommodate larger boats and allow others to dock when the tides are against them; the first of which - The North Pier - was constructed in 1811 and destroyed by a severe storm in 1898.