a lake of Ireland, situated in the county of Down and province of Ulster. It takes its present name from a small port-town called Strangford, seated on the west side of the narrow entrance into the sea. It was formerly known by the name of Lough-Cone or Lough-Coyne. It is a deep bay or inlet of the sea, about 17 miles long and four or five broad; it goes well as far as Downpatrick, and north as far as Comber and Newtown, and by computation covers 25,775 acres, Irish plantation measure. It abounds with excellent fish, particularly smelts; and off the bar there is a periodical herring fishery in or about August. The bar or entrance into this lough is about three miles below Strangford. There is a long rock at the entrance in the middle of the passage, dangerous to strangers on account of the current; yet there is a broad passage on either side, and deep water. The current here is very strong and rapid, running at the rate of six or seven miles an hour. There are but few vessels that go higher up than Strangford. A good many vessels bound up the channel put in here, if the wind is unfavourable to their passage. The islands in this lake are numerous; Doctor Boat enumerates them at 200. But from an actual survey, made at the time Dr Smyth wrote his history of that county, it appears, there are 54 islands small and great, known by particular names, and many others nameless; the contents of these 54 islands added together amount to 954 acres and a half. The great and profitable manufacture carried on in these islands, and the flat stony coasts surrounding the lake, is the burning of sea-weed into kelp, which employs a number of hands, and has been computed to produce to the several proprietors a neat profit of 1200l. per annum and upwards. Four of the islands here are called Swan islands, from the number of swans that frequent them.