SCOTLAND. 



1 



J.och 

 Alarec. 



SiatUtics. LOCH LuBENAio, described in PXXTHHHIBK, Vol. XVI. 

 p. 



!.<>. ii I; \\Norii, LOCH TuMMRt, LOCH Dn'w, LOCH 



BAA, I.IM 11 I.VDIH 11. I.ui 11 I.K MoNTKITM, LoCHi OF 

 i in: !.<>u |.>. [.<i( ii ( i.i MI:, 1.0,11 .M A ULY, described 

 in I'I:K i IIMIIHK, Vol. XVI. p. 423. 



!.(< ii KmriiT, Lorn (JAJIHY, described in PKHTII- 

 aniKK, Vol. XVI. p. 423. 



ii NESS, and the other lakes of the Great Glen 

 of Scotland, have been fully described in our article IN- 

 VI:KM:^-MIIHK, Vol. XII. p. 18.0; and in our article 

 NAVIGATION INLAND, Vol. XV. p. -'' 



Loch Maree, a magnificent lake is about twelve 

 miles long, an. I above three wide in the middle, reach- 

 ing the sea at Pol Ewe after a course of about three 

 miles. In the middle it contains a labyrinth of woixled 

 islands, which add much to its beauty ; while, from the 

 ruggedness and loftiness of the including hills, it pre- 

 sents much picturesque scenery, with considerable gran- 

 deur of character. Lying in a country of difficult ac- 

 cess, it is however scarcely known, though meriting 

 the attention of the traveller. 



The western lakes of Sutherland are little remark- 

 able either for their size or their beauty ; and among 

 them Loch Assynt and Loch More are the chief. But 

 the chain which includes Loch Shin, formerly noticed, 

 is important, at least from its extent. The two wes- 

 ternmost of the three, Loch Merkland and Loch Geam, 

 are small lakes ; but the length of Loch Shin is six- 

 teen miles, though its breadth, like that of Loch Tay, 

 is never more than a mile. But it is utterly wanting 

 in beauty, as is true of all the remaining lakes in this 

 country. Of these, the chief are the Laighal, the 

 Naver, and the Hope, the latter of which is about six 

 miles in length. 



Of the southern lakes, there is not one which seems 

 to merit enumeration except Loch Leven, already fully 

 described in ourarticleKiNROss-SHiRE, Vol. XI I. p.46'1. 

 One only remark we shall make in concluding this ac- 

 count of the rivers and the lakes of this country, and it 

 relates to the small value derived from them by the pro- 

 prietors or the country at large. When that extent, 

 which we have already pointed out, is considered, the 

 large quantity of useless property must be apparent ; 

 but this would have been very materially extended if 

 we had added the superficial measurements of the in- 

 numerable mountain lakes and pools which it was im- 

 possible to include. The salmon fishery of the rivers 

 is an important branch of commerce and wealth ; but 

 if we except Loch Leven, there is not even an at- 

 tempt made to derive any profit from all these lakes, 

 while they are not even fished for the merely do- 

 mestic consumption of the surrounding population. 

 If we except the slender amusement of sportsmen, 

 there is as little use as profit derived from this immense 

 tract of valuable water. It is certain that, by a proper 

 system of stocking and fishing, a large supply, if not 

 also a large rent, might thus be produced, we should 

 say created, as is done in Europe generally. It is to 

 be seen whether the proprietors will remain, not only 

 blind to their own interests, but uselessly severe in re- 

 stricting the fishing of that which would increase in- 

 stead of diminishing under a proper fishery, and which 

 would at least benefit others, by permitting or encou- 

 raging the use of what is of no benefit to themselves. 



Sea Lochs and Firths. 



See lochs It is impossible to pass over these without notice, as 



and firths, they form such an important feature in Scotland, and 



VOL. XVII. PART Ii. 



617 



are indeed occasionally with difficulty separated from 

 mere fresh water lakes. We moat, however 



selves to a few of the moat remarkable. 



Among these, the inlets of the western coast ef the 

 Highlands are the meet numerous and nmntitmau*, 



they are frequently interesting in a coeiiaeitial 

 view, as excellent harbours, and as the teats of the her. 

 rint; ii -lu-ry. Commencing from Loch Eribol in the 

 north, we find it forming a magnificent bay and a safe 

 anchorage, capable of holding all the British (bet, be- 

 ing the last harbour of security till we reach Cro- 

 m.irty on the eastern coast. Though Loch Inchard 

 and Loch Laxford are excellent harbours, they ar, 

 required ; but those two inlets aw the seats of a 

 salmon fishery. The great sinuoaity of the Kyle*. 

 cuagh to the southward of thcec, eflers also itmi- 

 locked harbour that would accommodate fleets were 

 it required. 



Passing over Ix>ch Enard, as an open bay, we find 

 the immense opening of Loch Broom, a harbour for 

 fleets also, and once the seat of a valuable herring fish- 

 ery, as it is now that of a limited fishery for cod, and of 

 the stationary town Ullapool. Here was one of the esta- 

 blishments made by the Company for the fisheries, be- 

 fore the true nature and value of this was understood, 

 and while the only object appeared a desire to rival the 

 imaginary great gains of the Dutch in this branch of 

 industry. It was forgotten that Dutch capital was 

 forced into an unproductive direction from its excess, 

 while that of England was fully and better occupied ; 

 and it was also not then known, or forgotten, that the 

 resort of the herring was capricious and uncertain. 

 Thus it has proved ; since this and all the other simi- 

 lar establishments have been long rendered useless by 

 the change of the resort of this fish, partly to the north- 

 ward, but chiefly to the eastern coast. 



Little Loch Broom is also a secure but an useless 

 harbour ; but Loch Greinord is nearly an open bay. 

 Pol Ewe is not only capacious but safe, and is the sta- 

 tion of the Stornoway packet, as well as the seat of a 

 valuable salmon fishery. Gairloch, next to it, is an 

 open harbour, but a good one, while it is also the centre 

 of one of the most extensive cod fisheries on this coast, 

 a fishery that might be much extended, were it not for 

 the want of persevering industry. 



While Loch Torridon, like Loch Broom, contains 

 one of these large and now nearly nsclesi establish- 

 ments, it is also one of the largest and most magnificent 

 inlets in Scotland, its total depth being twelve miles. 

 It is divided into three parts, of which the two interior 

 form spacious ba-sins with narrow entrances, sheltered 

 from every thing, and capable of accommodating Urge 

 fleets. Loch Carron, including Loch Kihorn, pene- 

 trates even deeper into the country ; and, though com- 

 paratively open, it also oifers secure and extensive har- 

 bours, while it is the seat of two Highland villages of 

 unusual magnitude, it is interesting, in a physical view, 

 as giving indications of its having once been a fresh 

 water lake, which, by the gradual wearing down of its 

 barrier, has at length admitted the sea. 



Loch Alsh, including Loch Duich and Loch Long, LoeaAbb* 

 is a singularly intricate and spacious inlet, formed con- Ac. 

 jointly between the island of Sky and the mainland. 

 Its total depth may be taken at twelve miles, and it of- 

 fers the best anchorages on the weetern co- > ; that of 

 the Cailleach stone, celebrated in the hi-t.-i\ ofHaco's 

 great expedition, being the common resn ; of shim 

 making the inner passage to the north, a* i- that of the 

 Kylehaken also. Loch Duich in itaeli $< >-. one of the 

 4 I 



