I'4* Cr'man canal. Sept. 26, 



Were a canal cut acrofs this isthmus, the vojage to these 

 markets would not only be fhortened nearly one half, but aa 

 opportunity would also be given to allow the fiihermen in 

 loch Fine, to prosecute their fiftierieson the western coasts, 

 when bpportunities offered, as well as in loch Fine itselT 

 to which they are at present entirely confined j and thf 

 fiihermen on the west could in the same way have accefs t<*- 

 loch Fine, when the herrings cast up there, and not on their 

 Qwn coast j for it often happens that they may be caught 

 in myriads on the one side of the peninsula, when not one 

 can be found on the other side of it. 



The smallest size of a canal that is ever made, would 

 serve, for these purposes ; but were it made of a size fuffT- 

 cient to admit bufses, and other decked vefselsthat usually 

 navigate on that coast, the benefits arising from It would 

 be augmented to a tenfold degree ; and the improvements 

 this would occasion, cannot be at present, with any degree 

 of accuracy, appreciated. 



The general opinion at first was, that the canal could" 

 be easiest made at Tarbat, as there the neck of land was 

 not only ihorter, but the rise of ground between the two 

 seas considerably lefs than at Crinan ; but upon a nearer 

 investigation, it has appeared to every person of (kill who. 

 Has examined it, that the cut ought rather to be made at 

 Crinan. 



The chief objections to that at Tarbat, are these : the 

 mouth of west loch Tarbat runs considerably to the soiitlu 

 ward, so as to require a wind for navigating in that loch, 

 different from that which would be wanted by vefsels in 

 general which would pafs that way. 



The loch itself is fhallow, full of rocks, and the naviga- 

 tion in it by no means as safe as could be wifhed. 



The whole track of land in this course to be cut, con- 

 sists of a solid rock of granite, which coijld not be cut; 



