Natural History of the Island of Rathlin. 47 
of some perches. A person navigating the channel, must not leave either shore with- 
out reference to the state of the tides, otherwise, the passage which might be both safe 
and expeditious, may become the very reverse. In leaving Ballycastle for Church 
bay, the time usually chosen is, at the last of ebb-water, when the current is setting 
down towards the north, and when the boat will be carried to the north-western side 
of Church bay ; and at the time this is reached, the flood-tide sets down the channel 
towards Fairhead, and carries the boat in nearly the opposite direction to that in which 
she started, viz. into the heart of the bay. If, howeyer, there be a smart breeze, and 
the wind fair, a good boat will make the passage in a direct line across the channel 
from Church bay to Ballycastle, without paying that strict attention to the tides, 
which, under other circumstances, is absolutely necessary. 
Lying at so considerable a distance from the mainland, the depth of water every 
where round the shores of Rathlin is considerable. There are but few adjacent banks— 
one, a cod bank called Skirnaw, lies between it and Isla, in Scotland. While I re- 
mained on the island, I had opportunities of ascertaining the depth of water at differ- 
ent parts along the coast, and although it varied much, it generally exceeded ten 
fathoms within a very short distance of the shore. In many places a fifty-fathom line 
did not reach the bottom ; and I was much struck with the accuracy of the fishermen 
in pointing out most minutely the particularly deep or shallow parts, and calculating 
correctly the depth of water at those places where we found it desirable to gain the 
information. 
The greatest depth of the channel between Rathlin and Ballycastle has been ascer- 
tained to be fifty-three fathoms, and between the north-east of Ireland and the west of 
Scotland, ninety fathoms 
There is good anchorage in Church and Archill bays, in ten to twenty fathom 
water ; and also at Ushet, where a small rude pier or quay is formed for the accommo- 
dation of the boats in that part of the island, and where an occasional collier or mer- 
chantman may be seen at anchor. 
The traditions of the island of Rathlin do not reach beyond the commencement of 
the fifth century, when we learn that it was well inhabited, and was garrisoned by a 
small army. At the period alluded to, St. Comgall, a religious individual, landed 
here, but was instantly seized and driven out of the island, After him came St. Co- 
lumba, the celebrated missionary of the north, who founded in Raghery a religious 
establishment, and placed over it Colman, the son of Roi. Here it flourished for the 
space of nearly 300 years, in peace and quietness, until the latter end of the eighth 
century, when (to use the words of Doctor Hamilton) “ the northern storm filling at 
once the whole horizon, and bursting impetuously from the ocean, overwhelmed the 
island, burying in blind and brutal destruction the inoffensive ministers of the Chris- 
tian religion, in the very moment when they were cultivating the olive branch, and 
preaching peace and good will among men.” 
