iind malnlain'mg the Caledonian Canal. 45 



V. Tis foimd a spot of indurated clay, on which the second lock is 

 placed, and bv means of it, the level of the canal becomes raise«l 

 quite out of the reach of ordiiiary tides. The gates of the>e 

 two locks are made entirely of wood, as bei-.ig liable to the ef- 

 fects of the salt-water, and more subject than any others to be 

 struck bv vessels which enter from the sea-ward. 



The temporary dam outside the entrance of the first lock has 

 been partly removed, though not to the full depth hereafter ne- 

 cesiarv for large shipping, and the excavation of the earth be- 

 tween the first and second locks has proceeded to a correspond- 

 ing level, so that the entrance of coasting vessels would expe- 

 rience no obstacle. 



The Culvert, which, with a back drain, was found necessary 

 for draining the low lands of Muirtown, has been finished, and 

 discharges into the sea, halfway between the high and low-water 

 marks. 



The Muirtown Bason extends eastward from theClachnacharry 

 or second lock, terminating at the Muirtown wharf and the ad- 

 joining bridge. Here the temporary wooden bridge still coji- 

 tiuues in use j but the iron castings for completing those already 

 prepared for the iron turn-bridge, have been shipped at Gains- 

 boicugh, and probably have been landed at Clachnacharry before 

 now ; the motion of this bridge, and of all others on the Cale- 

 donian canal, wdl be horizontal, consitituting what is usually 

 called a tuin-bridge, as distinguished from a draw-bridge, which 

 is raised vertically. 



The four Muiitowni locks being connected together, as well a« 

 with the bridge and wharf, will require no more than five paii-s 

 of gates, each pair consisting of two leaves or valves, as usual. 

 or these the upper pair is finished, and as being more exposed 

 to concussions than the others, is wiioHy made of timber; this 

 upper lock gate Is hung in its place, and has been caulked and 

 pitched. Two of the other gates below (both of tlie iron-framed 

 kind) are also finished and hung in their respective places ; on« 

 leaf of the fourth gate is set up and is now leceiving its planking; 

 the iron castings for the fifth and last lock-gate are arrived, a?id 

 all the five Muirtown lock-gates will be ready for use before the 

 etid of Julv next. 



From this place to the bridge at Bught, distant above a niil<>, 

 the canal is finished ; this bridge, like that at Muirtown, await* 

 the iron castingi^, which will furnish means for substituting an 

 iron turn-bridge in place of the wooden bridge now in use. Half 

 & mile southward from this bridge the canal takes a more westerly 

 «Jirection under the steep bill of Torvaine : the operation by 

 vvhicli the river Ness was diverted Irorn ita former bed for the 



Itligth 



