THE FRESH-WATER LOCHS OF SCOTLAND. 



19 



equalled the 21,000 Ibs. of 1888, the nearest approach being in 1893, 

 when 23,100 trout, weighing 19,500 Ibs., were caught. Last year (1900) 

 the trout taken by the rod numbered 23,811, weighing 15,584 Ibs., an 

 average of 0'654 Ib. 



Perch are also abundant, and pike are not uncommon. Formerly 

 charr were frequently taken, but they appear to have become scarce in 

 recent years. The American weed (El odea canadensis) appears to have 

 become firmly established in certain parts of the loch, and is causing a 

 great deal of trouble, all the means hitherto tried for the purpose of 

 destroying it being only of temporary benefit. 



FIG. 12. LOCH LEVEN AND CASTLE. 



(Photograph by J. Valentine.} 



On St. Serf's island (which is about 80 acres in extent) are the 

 remains of a Priory dedicated to St. Serf, said to have been founded by 

 a Pictish king, and given to the Culdees. The castle (on Castle island, 

 which has an area of about 5 acres) is said to have been founded by 

 Congal, son of Dongart, king of the Picts. It is famous in history as 

 the prison in which the unfortunate Queen Mary was incarcerated for 

 eleven mouths, and from which she effected her romantic escape. 



Considering the area covered by the waters of Loch Leven, it is an 

 extremely shallow loch. When measured by the Ordnance Survey 

 officers in August, 1893, its surface was found to be 349'6 feet above the 

 level of the sea. In form it is somewhat pear-shaped, the greatest 

 length being 3| miles from south-east to north-west, and the greatest 

 width is about 2 miles. The mean width is nearly 1J miles, being 40 

 per cent, of the length. Its waters cover an area of nearly 3400 acres 



