162 DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH, 



than to investigate some of the most important points that 

 deserve to be inquired into. 



The physical geography of the German Ocean, of which 

 the Firth of Forth is so large an estuary, should not be 

 omitted in an extended investigation of such a kind ; the 

 shallow bottom of that sea, the peculiarity of its tides, 

 and the immense banks that traverse it, one of which juts 

 out from the entrance of the Firth of Forth to a distance 

 of one hundred miles north-eastward, cannot but exert a 

 decided influence on the determination of the kinds of 

 Fishes that frequent its estuaries. A comparison also be- 

 tween the physical geography and natural productions of 

 this Firth, with those of the other estuaries of the same sea. 

 such as the Firth of Tay, the H umber, and the Wash, 

 would prove a source of interesting investigation. 



But to proceed to the Firth of Forth itself, which is more 

 than enough for my limits at present. The breadth of this 

 estuary, at its junction with the ocean, as measured from St 

 Abb's Head on the south side, to Fifeness on the north, 

 does not fall short of thirty-five or forty miles : it contracts 

 rapidly from these points, so that, between Elie Point and 

 Yellow Craig, though no more than ten miles above Fifeness, 

 and owing to the trending eastward of the southern border 

 not less than twenty-five miles of St Abb's Head, the breadth 

 does not exceed seven miles. From there it expands into a 

 wide basin, the greatest extent of which, between Mussel- 

 burgh and Largo, is not much short of twenty miles ; while 

 its medium breadth, as between Guillon Point and Buck- 

 haven, is about twelve miles in a straight line. Above, it 

 contracts again to nine miles, and proceeds, gradually be- 



