eee Se oe ee 
of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 221 
enter the loch from the westward ; one of these issues from a deep, gloomy 
ravine or caiion, which terminates abruptly in bold headlands. The loch 
is shallow at its extreme upper or east end, and there is a considerable 
extent of nearly level inmarsh and meadow land that has probably been 
formed by the silting up of this part of the loch. The length of Loch 
Morar, as shown on the ‘one-inch’ Ordnance Survey Map, is a little over 
114 statute miles, but in the Sportsman’s Guide it is stated to be ‘about 
‘14 miles long ;’* the narrowest part (about 34 furlongs) is near the east 
end, at Sron an Drutain, and the greatest width (1 mile 43 furlongs) is at 
the west end, near Bracorina. Several streams flow into the loch along 
both the north and south sides: the largest is the River Meoble, formed 
by the overflow waters of Loch Beoraid (a small loch about 3 miles south 
of Loch Morar), and augmented by several rivulets in its course north- 
wards, to where it falls into Loch Morar, near Camas Luinge, nearly 
opposite, but a little west of, South Tarbet Bay. The overflow waters of 
Loch Morar form the River Morar, which, flowing from the west end, 
and after a tortuous course of about 12 miles, falls into the Atlantic. The 
normal height of Loch Morar is about 31 feet above sea-level, but the 
height varies considerably according as the season may be wet or dry. 
‘Loch Morar belongs to Lord Lovat, Mr J. A. Macdonald of Glenala- 
‘dale, Mrs Campbell of Callert, and Mrs Nicholson of Arisaig and Morar ; 
‘ it contains salmon, sea-trout, and loch-trout in great abundance, and yields 
‘ good sport to the angler. ‘The loch fishes well all the summer months, 
‘but salmon never rise well.’ + It may be remarked here, by way of com- 
parison, that angling for salmon in Loch Ness—also a deep loch—is 
usually not very successful, though these fish abound in that loch also. 
Depth of Loch Morar. 
Loch Morar was sounded at four different places, as near as possible in 
mid-channel, and here referred to as Stations I., II., III., and IV. The 
extreme upper end of the loch is shallow, but, proceeding westward from 
the head of the loch, the depth rapidly increases, so that at Station I. 
(about 7 furlongs from the head of the loch) the sounding-lead touched 
bottom at a depth of 592 fathoms (358 feet); the depth continued still 
further to increase, so that at Station II., a little over a mile from 
Station I., the sounding-lead touched bottom at 100 fathoms (600 feet). 
At Station IIT. (a little west of Aron Mhor, or a little over 33 miles from 
the head of the loch) we obtained 1032 fathoms (622 feet) ; the bottom at 
Stations I. to III. appeared to be rock or gravel. Three soundings were 
taken in the vicinity of Station IV. (about 3 furlongs west of South Tarbet 
Bay). ‘The first was with the dredge, which touched bottom, —the line 
being straight up and down,—at 170 fathoms (1020 feet); when hauled 
up the dredge-bag contained a quantity of fine mud. The second sounding 
was taken with the sounding-lead (with reversing thermometers attached) ; 
the bottom was touched at 1563 fathoms (941 feet). The third sounding 
was taken with the self-locking water-bottle, let down for a sample of 
bottom water, and which when hauled up contained a mixture of water 
and impalpable mud; the water-bottle touched bottom at 145 fathoms 
(870 feet). The ditference in depth shown by these three separate 
soundings may, I think, be easily accounted for, in this way: the distance 
of Station IV. from either side of the loch, opposite to where the soundings 
were taken, is under half a mile; the sides must therefore dip rapidly 
downward to form a deep, precipitous, sub-aqueous ravine. ‘lhe drifting 
of the boat, though but for a short distance, by winds or currents during 
the time intervening between the one sounding and the other, would thus 
* Loc, cit.j t+ Loc. cit. 
P 
