170 BATHYMETRICAL SURVEY OF 



sluice at the lower eud of Loch Uidh Tarruingeach (through which the 

 discharge from Loch Skinaskink passes into the river Polly) to control 

 the outflow of the water, and by its means the average level of the 

 loch has been raised about 3 feet. The length of Loch Skinaskink, 

 measured from the south-eastern end near Lochan Gainmheich to the 

 north-western arm near Loch na Moine Moire, is over 3 miles, and the 

 maximum breadth is over a mile, the mean breadth being two-thirds 

 of a mile. Its waters cover an area of over 2 square miles, and it 

 drains directly an area of nearly 8 square miles, but since it receives 

 the outflow from Lochan Gainmheich its total drainage area is over 

 15J square miles an area only 7J times greater than the area of the 

 loch. Nearly 400 soundings were taken, the maximum depth observed 

 being 216 feet. The volume of water is estimated at 3,518,305,000 

 cubic feet, and the mean depth at 60^ feet. Reference has been made 

 to the irregularity of the floor of Loch Skinaskink, and the contour-lines 

 on the map have a fanciful resemblance to an intricate maze. There 

 are three main basins, which may be briefly described, viz. (1) one 

 embracing nearly the whole of the main body and surrounding Eilean 

 Mor; (2) one lying in the north-eastern arm of the loch; and (3) one 

 lying in the north-western arm of the loch. 



(1) The first basin is the largest and deepest. In it the 25-feet and 

 50-feet contour-lines follow approximately the outline of the shore, 

 running into all the large bays (except that the 50-feet line does not 

 enter the bay south of Camas nam Fiadh). The 100-feet area has a 

 very sinuous outline, almost surrounding Eilean Mor, and sending a 

 large tongue into the western arm of the loch. There are two areas 

 exceeding 150 feet in depth one to the south of Eilean Mor enclosing 

 the deepest part of the loch, the other to the west and north-west of 

 that island extending to the north of Eilean Dubh. The 200-feet area 

 is small, based on soundings of 204 and 216 feet, the last-mentioned 

 the deepest sounding in the loch lying about 350 yards to the south of 

 Eilean Mor. The great feature of this basin is the occurrence of two 

 hills to the west of Eilean Mor ; the one nearest the island is covered by 

 38 feet of water, the depth between it and the island being 70 feet, 

 and between it and the south-western shore exceeding 100 feet; the 

 other is covered by 41 feet of water, the depth around it being from 

 100 to 150 feet. 



(2) The second basin in the north-eastern arm is much smaller, and 

 the 25-feet and 50-feet contour-lines are continuous with those of the 

 preceding basin. The 100-feet area is centrally placed in this arm, and 

 has a maximum depth of 137 feet. A small isolated 25-feet area lies to 

 the north-west of Eilean Dubh in this arm, with a maximum depth of 

 34 feet. 



(3) The third basin in the north-western arm is the smallest and 

 shallowest of the three, and is cut off from the main basin by very 





