PREFACE 



THIS publication consists of six volumes, two of text and 

 four of maps, and gives an account of the work done, of 

 the observations recorded, and of most of the results 

 obtained, during an investigation into the bathymetry of 

 the fresh- water lochs or lakes of Scotland between the 

 years 1897 and 1909. 



Although the determination of the depths of the lakes, 

 and of the general form of the basins in which they lie, 

 made up the principal work of the Survey, still a very large 

 number of observations were carried out in other branches 

 of the science of limnography. Many of these observations 

 and the results were published from time to time, as 

 the work proceeded, in scientific journals, while others 

 now appear in print for the first time. 



Volume I. consists for the most part of new matter. 

 It includes numerous articles dealing with the general 

 results of the researches from the topographical, geological, 

 physical, chemical, and biological points of view, a com- 

 parison of Scottish lakes with lakes in other parts of the 

 world, and various theoretical considerations. These 

 articles have been w r ritten chiefly by gentlemen who have 

 taken an active part in the field-work of the Survey. 

 This volume also contains an extensive bibliography of 

 books and special papers referring to lakes. 



Volume II. contains the special descriptions of the lakes, 

 the maps of which appear in Volumes III., IV., V., and VI. 

 Throughout the text will be found numerous index-maps, 

 showing the drainage areas of the districts in which the 

 lochs are situated, together with other illustrations. 



The bathymetrical maps have all appeared during the 

 past eight years in the Journal of the Royal Geographical 

 Society or in an extra publication of the same Society ; 

 and some of the maps have also been published in the 



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