250 BATHYMETRICAL SURVEY OF 



between them having a depth of 7 feet. The small eastern and central 

 basins are quite simple in conformation, the maximum depth observed 

 in the eastern one being 52 feet, and in the central one 70 feet. The 

 floor of the large western basin is much more irregular, there being 

 four areas with depths exceeding 50 feet : (1) a small area near the 

 east end, based on a sounding of 52 feet; (2) the main 50-feet area, 

 which encloses the deepest part of the loch, over a mile in length, and 



FIG. 43. LOCH EILT, LOOKING EAST. 



(Photograph by Mr. David Brigham.) 



with a rocky islet rising to the surface near its western margin ; 

 (3) a small area between the large island (Eilean Mor) and the northern 

 shore, based on a sounding of 55 feet; and (4) a small area near the 

 west end, based on two soundings of 55 feet. At the extreme west end 

 of the loch, between the two islands, a depth of 40 feet was recorded. 

 The 75-feet area is about half a mile, and the 100-feet area about a 

 quarter of a mile, in length, occupying the wide central part of the 

 western basin, but rather nearer the east than the west end. The 

 deepest part of the loch falls below sea-level (the 100-feet contour-line 



