34Q HISTORY OF THE 



leaving only an opening of 12 or 14 nailes, called 

 the Minch, through which the fifh generally pafs 

 from north to fouth, and from fouth to north. 



The whole coaft of Sky is confequently one con- 

 tinued fifhery, of the fame fpecies, fize, and quali- 

 ties, as thofe already defcribed. 



After pafllng this ifland, we enter upon the South 

 Hebrides, whofe feas prefent a number of fifhing 

 banks, which we (hall briefly enumerate in the fol- 

 lowing order, from north to fouth. A good bank, 

 and pretty extenfive, lies between the ifland of Ca- 

 nay and Dunveggan Head in Sky, on the eaft; 

 Loch Boifdale and Loch Maddie on the weft ; and 

 up to the currents of Schant off the Lewis. 



But the moft extenfive and valuable bank in thofe 

 feas, called by the old natives, the Mot her- Bank, 

 lies between Mull on the eaft ; Barra and South 

 Uift on the weft. It is a noble fifhing ground, 

 producing every fpecies known in our feas : the 

 kinds vary according to the fituation when taken ; 

 but the beft fuccefs depends on an acquaintance 

 with the ground ; without which, the fifhers may 

 fearch a whole week, between Barra Head, Canay, 

 and Mull, without touching upon the two moft fa- 

 vourite fpots. Strangers fhould therefore procure 

 directions from experienced natives, and adhere 

 flrictly to fuch information : this accomplifhed, 

 they feldom fail in quantity, quality, and variety. 

 It is from this bank that Glafgow and the towns 

 on the Clyde are chiefly fupplied with cod and 

 ling. 



There is a bank between the iflands of Coll and 

 Tirey, in the direction of the fmall ifland of Gun- 

 ria, which lies in the centre *. 



* The duke of Argyle having favoured me with theperufal of 

 a journal kept by the mafter of a iloop fitted out in 1773, upon the 

 white fifnery on the coaft of Tirey, I find the cod, fkate and ling 

 to be the moil numerous. The natives were fo ignorant of the 

 MI of fhing, that they came on board the Hoop for inftru&ion. 



A valuable 



