THE FRESH-WATER LOCHS OF SCOTLAND. 127 



The mean depth is 9J feet, and the volume of water 8 million cubic feet. 

 The outflow is by a small burn flowing out over rock northward to the 

 Blackmark burn. The loch was surveyed on July 29, 1903, when the 

 elevation was 864'5 feet above the sea, as compared with 864*7 feet 

 observed by the Ordnance Survey on May 15, 1894. A drift-mark was 

 noticed a foot above the water. 



LocJirutton Loch (see Plate XL VI.). A fair-sized loch used for the 

 supply of water to the town of Dumfries, which lies about 5 miles to 

 the north-east, while Milton Loch in the Urr basin lies about 3 miles to 

 the west. It trends nearly north and south, and is three-quarters of a 

 mile in length, with a maximum breadth across the middle of half a mile, 

 the mean breadth being a quarter of a mile. The superficial area is about 

 129 acres, and the drainage area exceeds 3 square miles. The maximum 

 depth of 58 feet was observed off the central part of the western shore, in 

 close proximity to the islet called Button's cairn ; but the deep water is 

 of very limited extent, the loch as a whole being flat-bottomed in character, 

 varying in depth from 10 to 15 feet. In fact, two-thirds of the lake-floor 

 is covered by water between 10 and 20 feet in depth, while only 4 per 

 cent, is covered by more than 20 feet of water. The mean depth is 

 estimated at 13 feet, and the volume of water at 73 million cubic feet. 

 The loch was surveyed on May 1, 1905, when the elevation was 305'7 feet 

 above the sea, as compared with 305'2 feet determined by the Ordnance 

 Survey on November 6, 1893. The temperature of the water was 48-0 Fahr. 

 throughout. 



Lochaber Loch (see Plate XL VI.). A small, picturesque loch less than 

 2 miles south-east of Lochrutton Loch. The stony shores are wooded, and 

 the surrounding hills steep, the outflow at the north-western angle being 

 artificial. The loch is sub-triangular in outline, and over half a mile in 

 length from north-west to south-east, the maximum breadth across the 

 centre a quarter of a mile. The superficial area is about 52 acres, and the 

 drainage area exceeds a square mile. The maximum depth of 55 feet was 

 observed towards the south-eastern end, the mean depth being estimated 

 at 2 < J feet, and the volume of water at 47 million cubic feet. The loch 

 is simple in conformation, but the deeper water lies towards the southern 

 end, the northern portion being shallow and weedy. About 71 per cent, 

 of the lake-floor is covered by less than 25 feet of water. The loch was 

 surveyed on May 4, 1905, but the elevation could not be determined ; on 

 January 16, 1894, the Ordnance Survey found it to be 298 feet above the 

 sea. Temperatures in the deepest part gave 48*2 Fahr. at the surface, 

 and 47 3 -0 at 45 feet. 



Lof-h Kindar (see Plate XL VI.). This picturesque loch is situated 

 about a mile inland from the Sol way firth, at the mouth of the river Nith. 

 The shores and islands are stony, the latter probably moraine mounds. 



