LORD BALFOUR, in rising to ask Her Majesty's Government, Whether it was true that it was not intended to complete the survey of these parts of the United Kingdom that were covered with fresh water, and to move—
For the Correspondence that has taken place between the Treasury and the Royal Society of Edinburgh as to the bathymetrical survey of the lochs of Scotland,said, that many of the lochs in Scotland were used for navigation. Two of them, he believed, had been surveyed very completey—namely, Loch Lomond and Loch Awe; but there were other lochs, such as Loch Ness and Loch Lochy, which were at least equally navigable, and a survey of which should be undertaken. It was also very important from a scientific and geological point of view that this survey should be made. It was often of as great importance to know the depth and shape of the basins of fresh water lochs as to know the height of the mountains which might be close at hand. He did not say that every fresh water loch should be surveyed thoroughly, but there were many lochs in Scotland the survey of which would be of great advantage; and it might be arranged between the Government and the Royal Society, or some other scientific institution, which of these lochs it would be most desirable to survey. Great dissatisfaction would be caused if no further attempt was made to survey any of these lochs; and if that was the decision of the Government, he should be glad 152 to know the reasons on which it was based.
§ Moved," That there be laid before the House, Copies of the Correspondence that has taken place between the Treasury and the Royal Society of Edinburgh as to the bathymetrical survey of the lochs of Scotland."—(The Lord Balfour.)
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, the Survey in England had been progressing very slowly, and they had at last been promised that that Survey should be completed. If, however, they took away men in order to survey the lochs of Scotland, as suggested by the noble Lord, it would have the effect of delaying the completion of the English Survey, particularly in the Southern counties.
§ LORD SUDELEYIn reply to the noble Lord, I have to state that the operations of the Ordnance Survey have been hitherto restricted to such portions of the ground in the vicinity of fresh water pools and inland sheets of water generally as are above the lowest water levels. It is quite true, as the noble Lord has stated, that Loch Lomond and Loch Awe were surveyed some years ago; but that was undertaken by naval officers in the interests of navigation. The Government consider that a bathymetrical survey of all the lochs of Scotland would clearly be outside the function of the present Ordnance Survey of Scotland, which is already completed. Even if it were desirable, men would be taken off their work in England and the Southern counties to carry this work out, as the noble Viscount has stated, and the General Survey would be very much delayed. Such investigation would, no doubt, be most interesting from a scientific point of view in certain branches of geological inquiry, to ascertain the forms of the basins occupied by the lakes; but the Government do not see their way at present to carry out such a survey. They will, However, give the suggestions made by the noble Lord full consideration, and there will be no objection, to lay the Papers asked for on the Table.
§ Motion agreed to.