Islay

Islay, an island of Argyllshire, 13 miles W. of Kintyre, and $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile SW. of Jura, from which it is separated by the Sound of Islay. Deeply indented on the south by Loch Indal (12 × 8 miles), Islay has a maximum length and breadth of 25$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ and 19 miles, and an area of 246 sq. m. It contains several small fresh-water lakes, and attains a height of 1444 feet. More than half the whole area is capable of cultivation, and great improvements have been effected in the way of road-making, draining, reclamation, &c. Dairy-farming, stock-raising, and whisky-distillation are leading industries; whilst slate, marble, iron, lead, and silver have been worked. In the course of the century the old proprietors and the native tenantry have been largely superseded by newcomers. Islay has regular steamboat communication with Glasgow, and a telegraph was established in 1871. Pop. (1831) 14,982; (1891) 7335.