Address of the President. 5 



nately across each other, and kept in position by driven piles. 

 These last were generally self oak trees, but dressed and 

 sharpened by a metal tool, some of them morticed at the 

 heads where a transverse rail or beam could be fixed. The 

 transverse beams, of various sizes, were chiefly of birch 

 wood. Mr. Simpson informs me that the cut has since been 

 made quite through the island, and -that the structure con- 

 tinues the same. It is therefore very similar to that of some 

 of the smaller Irish crannogs, only that in the latter the 

 platform was frequently formed of stones. The wooden 

 platform rested upon a hard foundation, either the natural 

 subsoil in the loch or quarry refuse. The mud prevented 

 this being ascertained correctly, but it was most probably the 

 former, as the hard subsoil was soon struck when deepening 

 the outfall. On the top of the wooden platform was a layer, 

 of from 12 to 18 inches thick, of, apparently, chips or the 

 debris from some neighbouring quany of white or grey 

 sandstone, upon which the vegetable mould now supporting 

 the rank vegetation had accumulated. On the surface of the 

 island there were some indications of building, but on ex- 

 amination these were found to be only the erection of ciirlers 

 for fire or the protection of their channel-stones when not in 

 use. No remains of any kind were found on the island nor 

 around it, but, except on the passage from the mainland, the 

 mud was so deep and soft as to prevent effectual search. 

 Neither have we any record of any other remains being 

 found in or near the loch except the canoe already alluded 

 to. It is formed out of a single oak tree, 16 feet in length 

 by 3 feet broad at the widest part, at the prow only 1 foot 

 10 inches. It is at present laying exposed to weather, and 

 for protection a coating of pitch was lately given to it. It 

 will thus ere long decay and be lost. The burgh of Sanquhar 

 should endeavour to protect their curious and valuable relic. 

 It would easily sling from the roof of one of the public 

 rooms. 



Around the loch the ordinary marsh plants were found 

 — Menyanthes trifoliata, very small. On the island, Fpi- 



