^8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



slopes descend on either side to this high-water mark, except in 

 places where they have been swept away by the fall of rocks from 

 above. Shoals of little trout, Galaxias niffothortik, Lucas, 

 sported along the edge of the lake, and with an extremely small 

 hook one of the party amused liimself by pulling out numbers of 

 these unwary customers. Larger fish, over six inches in length, 

 were seen in the deeper waters, but none were secured. Five 

 ducks were swimming on the lake, but the absence of a reedy 

 margin probably accounts for the rarity of water birds. A swim 

 in the lake was much enjoyed, and the bathers were agreeably 

 surprised by the mild temperature of the water. The lower side 

 of the barrier was closely examined, and was aptly described by 

 Howitt's party, " Tlie Valley of Destruction." The tumultuous 

 tumble of huge angular rocks which descends at a steep angle for 

 about a mile down the valley makes the task of exploration in this 

 direction particularly difficult. Its characteristics have already 

 been well described in a previous paper. The noteworthy 

 features are that there is no evidence of the waters of the lake 

 ever having flowed over the top, and further, the barrier extends 

 as a ridge down the valley, and is lowest along the margins of the 

 mountain slopes on either side. This structure is not due to the 

 carving or transporting action of running water, but is an original 

 feature in the rocky spur. Streams of water issue from the bottom 

 of the barrier, over 500 feet below the level of the lake. 



While two of the party were investigating the mysteries of this 

 remarkable accumulation of rock debris, the others had con- 

 structed a raft with dry wattle trunks, firmly laced together with 

 rope. On to this novel craft two of the party embarked, after 

 first disrobing most of their garments. They were towed by their 

 companions round the shore of the lake towards the east end and 

 then by means of a rough paddle, the raft was laboriously 

 headed for the centre of the lake, and soundings were proceeded 

 with. Advantage was taken of the easterly breeze blowing dOwn 

 the lake to aid the somewhat tedious journey to the barrier. The 

 greatest depth found was along the middle of the lake, amounting 

 to 150 feet. Several strong white fishing lines were used for 

 sounding, with specially heavy lead sinkers on the end. About 

 30 yards from the barrier end the depth' was only 17 feet, indi- 

 cating a shelving bottom at that end. The entrance of Snowden's 

 Creek at the north-west end of the lake probably partly 

 accounts for the shallower depth of the lake at that end. The 

 general features of the lake, and the soundings taken, point to the 

 lake occupying a deep V-shaped mountain valley, which has been 

 dammed by a huge barrier of rocks. The origin of the barrier, 

 and consequently that of the lake itself, formed the subject of an 

 interesting discussion by Messrs. Dendy, Lucas, and Howitt. 

 The respective opinions held are given in the paper by those 

 gentlemen in the Victorian Naturalist, vol. viii., p. 34, 1891, and 



