CHAP. X. CALEDONIAN CANAL. 413 



difficult, requiring large masses of embankment, the 

 slips of which in the course of the work frequently 

 occasioned serious embarrassment. The basin on Loch 

 Eil, on the other hand, was constructed amidst rocks, 

 and considerable difficulty was experienced in getting in 

 the necessary coffer-dam for the construction of the en- 

 trance to the sea-lock, the entrance-sill of which was 

 laid upon the rock itself, so that there was a depth of 

 21 feet of water upon it at high water of neap tides. 1 



At the same time that the works at Corpach were 

 commenced, the dock or basin at the north-eastern 

 extremity of the canal, situated at Clachnagarry, on the 

 shore of Loch Beauly, was also laid out, and the excava- 

 tions and embankments were carried on with consider- 

 able activity. This dock was constructed about 967 

 yards long, and upwards of 162 yards in breadth, giving 

 an area of about 32 acres, forming, in fact, a harbour 

 for the vessels using the canal. The dimensions of the 

 artificial waterway were of unusual size, as the intention 

 was to adapt it throughout for the passage of a 32-gun 

 frigate of that day, fully equipped and laden with stores. 

 The canal, as originally resolved upon, was designed 

 to be 110 feet wide at the surface, and 50 feet at the 

 bottom, with a depth in the middle of 20 feet ; though 

 these dimensions were somewhat modified in the execu- 

 tion of the work. The locks were of corresponding 

 large dimensions, each being from 170 to 180 feet long, 

 40 broad, and 20 deep. 



Between these two extremities of the canal Corpach 

 on the south-west and Clachnagarry on the north-east 

 extends the chain of fresh-water lochs : Loch Lochy on 

 the south ; next Loch Oich ; then Loch Ness ; and lastly, 

 furthest north, the small Loch of Doughfour. The 

 whole length of the navigation is 60 miles 40 chains, of 

 which the navigable lochs constitute about 40 miles, 



For professional details of this work, see ' Life of Telford,' p. 305. 



