294 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



period even the highest mountains in the Loch Maree district were 

 overridden by the ice, and further along the top of Ben Slioch 

 (3217 feet), which, as already indicated, is composed of Torridon 

 sandstone, blocks of thrust Archaean gneiss, Cambrian quartzite, and 

 Moine schists are met with, all of which have been derived from the 

 East. Similar evidence is obtained on Meall Ghuibhais (2882 feet), 

 on the south side of Loch Maree. Again, in the Coulin Forest, on 

 the lofty ridge running south from Sgura Dubh (2566 feet) to Beinn 

 Liath Mhor (3034 feet), striae have been recorded pointing in a 

 westerly direction at elevations ranging from 1750 to 2000 feet." 



At the close of the glacial period the high mountains on either 

 side of Loch Maree seem to have been independent centres of 

 glaciers moving in a westerly direction, and uniting in the main 

 basin. A visit to Fionn Loch, parallel and to the north of Loch 

 Maree, the source of the Little Gruinard River, and celebrated for 

 its large brown trout, shows in this valley also great glacial moraines. 

 The bottom of the loch, at its lower end at least, seems filled with 

 immense boulders. A brown trout of 18 Ib. was taken from this 

 loch, and trout of 14 Ib. and 12 Ib. have also been recorded. Trout 

 of 6 Ib. and 8 Ib. are apparently not very uncommon. These trout 

 seem to escape the designation of ferox. 



Loch Maree is remarkable also for its number of beautifully 

 wooded islands. There are twenty-seven of them lying in the centre 

 of the loch immediately opposite and to the west of Loch Maree 

 Hotel. The loch bottom between many of the islands is extremely 

 shallow, so that, when the loch is very low, a rowing boat can scarcely 

 pass. Between others the channel is amply sufficient for the 

 passage of the little steamer which plies on these beautiful waters 

 in summer. 



The water is very clear since the loch is fed by streams flowing 

 from bare mountain ridges. During heavy rain enormously steep 

 little water courses drain the very summits of the mountains, and 

 rush their streaks of white water straight down into the loch as 

 torrents descend the sides of Norwegian fjords. The river Ewe is 

 always as clear as crystal no matter how it may rain. The streams 

 which enter the loch on the south side at Talladale and Bridge of 

 Grudie are of little use to the angler, although the latter has about 

 three miles of comparatively level, if very stony, course before 

 entering the loch. The stream from Lochan Fada on the north 

 side is quite impassable to salmon. 



The Kinlochewe river, as its name implies, enters at the top of 



