142 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



What interested us most in Loch Lomond, however, 

 was that not very far from the 105 fathoms trough 

 the dredge was let down ; and when the depth of 

 105 fathoms was reached, the bottom could not be 

 found. More and more line was let out, till at last 

 our supply was exhausted at 180 fathoms. The day 

 was quite calm ; the bearings that we had taken 

 showed that the boat had not drifted in the least ; 

 and the line, so far as could be seen, was stretching 

 straight down from the stern, and quite tight. 



The line was a new small Manilla twist, light and 

 buoyant. At other places, when the dredge was let 

 down, it was at once felt when it had reached the 

 bottom ; and accordingly, when the requisite amount 

 of additional line was thrown out, it floated on the 

 surface till the slack was taken up by the boat being 

 pulled along. In the deep trough referred to, how- 

 ever, the line was carried away straight down as 

 fast as it could be given out ; and when all the rope 

 had been exhausted, the dredge still hung heavily 

 on the hand. None of us had the slightest doubt 

 that the dredge had not reached the bottom. 



At that time the late Mr. James Napier, F.R.S.E., 

 was staying at Tarbert Hotel. I informed him of the 

 deep hole Ave had discovered in the loch ; and we 

 arranged to go at another time, provided with other 

 appliances, to endeavour to place the depth beyond 

 all doubt. Mr. Napier did go, along with some 

 Edinburgh gentlemen who were interested in the 

 matter, but unfortunately other engagements pre- 

 vented me from joining the party. Although 

 accompanied by the same boatman, they did not 

 succeed in finding the deep trough. Mr. Napier 

 admitted, however, that they could not find even 

 the 105 fathoms depth, which is marked on the 

 chart ; and this fact of itself throws great doubt on 

 the thoroughness of the search. It is quite likely 

 that the hole or depression may be of very limited 

 circumference, and may therefore be readily enough 

 passed over; but, taking every circumstance into 



