ARGYLESHIRE, or ARGYLLSHIRE, a maritime county in the west highlands of Scotland, bounded on the north by Inverness-shire ; on the east by Perthshire, Dumbar tonshire, and the frith of Clyde ; on the south by the Irish sea ; and on the west by the Atlantic ocean. Its extreme length, from north to south, is about 114 miles ; and its breadth about 70, or, including the remoter islands, about 90 miles. It is divided into five districts, viz. Cantire, Knapdale, Argyle Proper, Cowal, and Lorn. These divisions embrace several of the Hebrides, and are subdivided into 49 parishes. Argyleshire is in gen eral very mountainous, and its features vary considera bly in different districts. Towards the confines of In .
verness-shire, Perthshire, and Dumbartonshire, the aspect of the country is exceedingly savage and grand. Bleak mountains, covered with heath, or terminating in rocky cliffs, rise to the height of 2000 or 3000 feet, and pour numerous torrents into low narrow vallies, which hardly separate their bases. Towards the south-west, the hills are lower, the vallies more extended, and the scenery becomes peculiarly romantic and beautiful. Arms of the sea, winding between low green hills skirted with woods ; cultivated plains, watered by rivers, rocks crowned with the ruins of old castles, form the nearer part of the scene ; while the view of the Atlantic ocean, or the lofty summits of distant mountains, close the remote prospect.
The soil of Argyleshire is chiefly of the following species : 1st, a gravelly soil,mixed with vegetable mould, occupying the more lofty mountains, and the course of the rivers, which have their sources in them : 2d, peat moss, occupying the extensive moors and the low grounds, from which the water does not flow freely : 3d, decayed limestone : 4th, decayed slate, generally mixed with coarse limestone. Of the two last the first is a light soil ; the latter more stiff; both are very fertile, and found in those parts of the country which rise to no great height above the level of the sea. They form the
great mass of the soil in the fertile districts of Mid-lorn Nether-lorn, Craignish, 5th, a barren sandy soil originating from freestone, or micaceous scbistus, pre valent in the most westerly parts of the mainland, and some of the islands. There are several other kinds of soil beside these ; and sometimes the soils in two ad jacent fields are perfectly different ; sometimes the several species graduate insensibly into one another. The mountainous and barren districts of Argyleshire are employed in rearing a coarse woolled, black-faced breed of sheep, lately introduced from some of the low land counties : the more fertile hills are stocked with black cattle of a native breed, considered by cattle dealers, as combining a greater number of valuable qualities than any other in Britain. Both these species of cattle are annually exported in great numbers to the English pastures. The crops cultivated in this county are those suited to a light soil and moist climate, such as barley, oats, and potatoes ; and, if employed exclu sively as articles of food, would, besides supporting the present furnish a considerable surplus for exportation. But as the barley is almost entirely con sumed by the distillers, the inhabitants are obliged, in average seasons, to import meal in considerable quan tity. This import has of late years been gradually de creasing.
The fisheries along the coast are peculiarly valuable. Vast quantities of herrings are caught in the different arms of the sea, with which the country is intersected. Lochfyne alone is supposed to yield upwards of 20,000 barrels annually. Cod, ling, tusk, and mackarel, are found in great abundance near the islands of Tircy, Mull, &c. ; and the seath, or cote fish, is got with such facility as to be in little esteem. Besides the boats occupied in these fisheries, several sloops belonging to Campbel town, Oban, &c. are, in the proper season, sent to the nor thern fisheries, and during the rest of the year arc em ployed in the coasting trade.