416 CANAL BETWEEN THE 



\Ve fhall only obfcrve further on this head, that 

 the propoied canal would open a paflage immedi- 

 ately from the Clyde to the Atlantic, the Hebrides, 

 the whole region of the well 1 lighlands, and the great 

 Loch Linnhej whence, as fhall be mentioned here- 

 after, a communication may be opened to Invernefs, 

 the Murray Firth, and the eaftern coaft of th 

 dom. It would alfo fhorten the paflage from Clyde 

 to the Orkney iflands, to the early herring fiiheries 

 on the coaft of Shetland, and all thofe channels and 



is which are the great receptacles of herrings, 

 white fifh, fcals, and whal 



Thus the cutting 5 or 6 miles would anfwer e\ 

 valuable purpofe, in that divifion of the kingdom, 

 but more particularly to the Highlanders, who by 

 finding themfelves brought nearer, by 100 miles, to 

 Glafgow, and its communications with other parts 

 of the ifland, would gradually forget the grievances 

 under which they have laboured. A voyage, which 

 frequently takes 3 weeks, would by this eafy paf- 

 fage, be performed in j or 4 days, in all feafons of 

 the year, whether in ti;ne of war or peace. By 

 cutting off the peninfula of Cantire, the voyage 

 from Glafgow to the Hebrides would be intirely in- 

 land, and thereby fcrecned in a great meafure from 

 the dreadful tempefts of the Atlantic. 



The expence of a canal of 10 feet water, and 14 

 locks, is eftimated by Mr. Watts the engineeer at 

 48,405!. but as large buflcs, being fharp bottomu!, 

 will require when full loaded, n feet, and as i f 

 propoied to admit vefiels cf 120 upon the herring 

 fifhcry, I conceive that 1 2 feet will be no more than 

 fufficient for the purpofes of rifherics*. But there is 

 another object of very confiderable importan 

 though hitherto unnoticed, for which a deep water 



* It may be found neceffary to carry the cut about half a 

 mile along the fide of Loth Giip from its head, in oider to get nr 

 once into deep water, and the lame plan may be adopted at the 

 Crinan, which will extend the whole to at Icaft 6 ;: 



canal 



