172 
BATHYMETRICAL SURVEY OF 
LOCHS OF THE G AH VIE BASIN. 
The lochs in this basin form a connected series, Loch Lurgain flowing 
through Loch Bada na h-Achlaise (which was not sounded) into Loch 
Bad a’ Ghaill, thence by the Abhuinn Owskeich into Loch Owskeich, 
which flows through the little Loch Garvie into Garvie Bay, an inlet 
of Enard Bay. The lochs contain salmon and trout, but the fishing is 
preserved. 
Loch Lurgain (see Plate XL.). — Loch Lurgain lies about two miles 
to the south of Loch Skinaskink, and miles south-east of Enard 
Bay. The scenery around the loch is very fine, the serrated crest of 
An Stac and the great pyramid-shaped mass of Cul Beag forming the 
high ground to the north, while to the south rise Beinn Eun and 
An t-Sail. The loch is crescent-shaped, with the concave side turned 
towards the south. Very fine cliffs are formed in places, especially on 
the southern shore to the west of the large islands, where for some 
distance the cliffs are overhanging, and in one place there is a small 
cave or recess in which 20 feet of water was found. On the opposite 
northern shore are huge angular blocks which have slipped down from 
above, one on top of the other, forming fine natural chambers. Loch 
Lurgain is nearly 4 miles in length, the maximum breadth being over 
half a mile, and the mean breadth one-third of a mile. Its waters 
cover an area of IJ square miles, and it drains an area ten times 
greater, or 12J square miles. Nearly 200 soundings were taken, the 
maximum depth observed being 156 feet. The volume of water is 
estimated at 2,139,752,000 cubic feet, and the mean depth at 61 feet. 
The loch is divided into two basins by the large islands and the shallow 
water between them. The caster 7i basin is the larger and deeper, and 
quite simple in conformation. The 50-feet area is 2 miles in length, 
extending from the narrow part of the loch at the south-east end to 
north of the largest island. The 100-feet area is nearly miles in 
length, approaching to within less than a quarter of a mile from the 
eastern point of the largest island. The 150-feet area is small and 
centrally placed, and encloses the maximum depth of the loch (156 
feet). In the eastern part of this basin are several rocky islets rising 
from deep water to 1 to 3 feet above the surface. The wester ti basin 
