4S Thirteenth Report of the Oimmhsioncrs for making 



without molestation. Still we have another engine of twenty- 

 horse power, which if necessary may be Ijrouyht from Corpaclij 

 and in the last resort the locks may be placed on the rocky bank 

 north -side of the river Oicli. This event however may be con- 

 templated as extremelv irnprobable. 



Until the precise situation of the locks at Fort Augustus can 

 be determined, the course of the canal immediately connected 

 with them must also remain unsettled J for which reason no 

 conunencemeiit of excavation has yet taken place in the Govern- 

 ment land, which extends six hundred yards above tiie River 

 island whereon the great steam-engine is erected, an<l by the 

 south-side of which the lower lock will l)c placed. The four 

 connected locks will occupy a space of tv.o hundred and sixty 

 yards in length. 



Beyond the march or boundary between the Government land 

 and t!ie Lovat property, the canal has been carried on to comple- 

 tion for the space of four miles, excepting only the Cnliachie 

 lock, and the additional earth work which becanic necessary 

 from the change of its situation described in our last Report. It 

 is remarkable that tlie rock on which this lock is built, is found 

 to extend no further than was necessary for the purpose. The 

 masonry of the lock. itself is nearly complete, and the walls ot 

 the recess below the lock are commenced, the lower platform 

 bavjng been bolted down to the solid rock. 



Tlie Glengarry propeity intervenes between Lovat's southeni 

 boundary and Loch Oich, and in this space, about one mile and 

 an half in length, the canal is not conunenced, the attention of 

 cur superintendent in tliis part of the line being at present oc- 

 cupied in preparing a dredging barge for clearing a passage 

 through Loch Oich. This operation, though from our expe- 

 rience in Loch Doughfour we may nov/ pronounce it to be sure 

 in effect, is slow in execution, and unless speedily commenced 

 isi Loch Oich, the navigation of the whole canal may perhaps be 

 i;etarded by this obstacle when all others are removed. For this 

 reason the carpenters began to work on the dredging barge in 

 Hovember ir.5t,, and she Is now ready for caulking. The dredging 

 machine which is destined to float in this barge is in store at 

 Eon'a, and will be brought uj) Loch Ness when necessary. We 

 have reason to expect that this engine is on an improved con-" 

 ftruction in comparison with that now at work in Loch Dough-' 

 four, advantage having been taken of the experience there ac- 

 ijuired. Four discliarging boats or punts, which must be in 

 fconstant attendance on the dredging barge, are in preparatioa 

 at the north end of Loch Oich. , 



At the south end of this loch, which is almost four miles in 

 length, the excavation is commenced, and for the first seven 



hundred 



