WOODS, LOCHS, AND PASTURES 77 



hotel, and these appear to have multiplied. With the excep- 

 tion perhaps of Eels, the others named are destitute of fish. 



Loch Fada, the largest sheet of fresh water in the island, 

 and cutting through about half its breadth almost due east and 

 west, is 14- miles in length, averaging less than ^ mile in 

 width. It is about 124 feet above sea-level, and divided 

 naturally into three divisions, each beaiing a local name 

 Locha-na-Pairce Duibh (east loch), Locha Meadhoin or Locha 

 Gortain Artair (middle loch), and Locha 'n lar (west loch). 

 The public way is carried over between the east and 

 middle divisions at "an Deabhadh." Although the road 

 was formed there nearly fifty years ago, and much material 

 was carted in at the time and since, to give it a firm 

 bottom, it is still sinking. The out-going stream, which finds 

 its exit into the sea at Kiloran Bay, is from the north side of 

 the east loch. The water is of a more or less brown, peaty 

 nature, and well stocked with Trout. There are considerable 

 stretches of flat, marshy land on the north side, while the 

 southern margin along the base of the hills is frequently 

 rocky. The deepest spot found (about 25 feet) is near Rudha 

 Choilich in the west division : few places, however, exceed 

 10 feet in depth. Along the shallow margins of both sides 

 of the middle loch the decaying stems and roots of numerous 

 trees are still to be seen. They are locally regarded as species 

 of Bog Oak, but Mr S. Grieve records in addition (see Proc. 

 Soc. Ant. Scot, 1882-3, p. 360) the finding of immense 

 stumps of Goat Willow (Salix caprcea, L.) along the shores 

 of the loch. Nuts, presumably acorus, were commonly 

 found by persons cutting peat in the neighbourhood. 



The three commonest and most conspicuous plants of the 

 lochs are the White Water Lily, Common Reed, and Bottle 

 Sedge, forming, in places, three more or less well-marked 

 zones of vegetation. The Water Lily, during the flowering 

 season in early summer, with its fresh green setting of reeds, 

 makes a pretty display. Scirpus lacustris is mostly found 



