THE FRESH- WATER LOCHS OF SCOTLAND. 243 



the entrance of the Glenaladale river, there is a twist in the 50-feet 

 contour, where the water shoals from 55 to 20 feet. Still further down, 

 opposite the entrance of the Allt na Dalach, sinuosities in the 50-feet 

 contour occur on both sides of the loch, the water shoaling off the south- 

 eastern shore from 47 to 35 feet, and off the north-western shore from 

 41 to 19 and 22 feet. The last-mentioned shoaling occurs to the north- 

 east of Eileanan Comhlach, at the entrance of the Allt a' Ghiubhais, 

 and it is curious to observe a similar shoaling on the opposite (south- 

 west) side of the island from 41 to 18 and 21 feet, while between the 

 island and the mouth of the stream a depth of 32 feet was observed. 



FIG. 41. LOCH SHIEL, FROM PRINCE CHARLIE'S MONUMENT. 



(Photograph by Mr. T. A r . Johitrtvit, M.B., C.M., F.R.S.E.) 



Towards the lower end of the wide part of the loch, and almost due 

 south of Eilean Druim nan Laogh (or Heron island, as it is now called 

 in the district), there is, near the middle of the loch, a shoal covered by 

 only 2 or 3 feet of water. During the visit of the Lake Survey the 

 regular mail steamer was laid up for repairs, having shortly before 

 struck on this shoal and damaged the propeller. The captain of the 

 steamer supplied information as to the position of the shoal, and the 

 local gillie employed by the surveyors stated that in calm weather the 

 bottom can be seen, but in the stormy weather prevailing at the time 

 of the survey he was unable to find it, so that it must be of very small 

 extent, for deep soundings were recorded near the spot indicated. The 



