

DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 379 



the large Lake of Taniachian, with which, in the rainy season, all these smaller lakes are 

 connected. During this period of the year the river Tilapa overfows its banks and 

 inundates tlie whole country round. In the dry season water remains in depressions of 

 the land, forming the lagoons of Huamuchal ; but in years of great drought even these 

 dry up, the fish being destroyed ; but a fresh supply finds its way from Lake Tamachian 

 during the next inundation. The water is slightly brackish. The fish are taken in 

 drag-nets, salted, and sold to Indians coming from the Altos of Guatemala. 



Maxagua.— According to Mr. J. Bailey this lake is about fifty or sixty miles long, by 

 tliirty-fi\e miles wide. Its depth varies from 2 to 10 and 15 fathoms, but in its deepest 

 part reaches to as much as 40 fathoms. Its elevation above the sea is 156 feet. On its 

 south-western border the lake is separated from the Pacific by a series of comparatively- 

 low hills, the lowest section of which, through the Plain of Leon, is only 230 feet above 

 the ocean-level. The high mountains of the Republic of Honduras approach the nortli- 

 eastem border of the lake. On its south-eastern side an opening communicates with 

 the Lake of Nicaragua. Commencing with the Fall of Tipitapa, of 22 feet heiglit, the 

 river widens into the Estero of Panaloya, and thence into the larger lake. 



Nicaragua. — The same authority gives a length of one hundred and five miles to this 

 lake, and a width of about forty-five, its depth being about 15 fathoms. The surface of 

 the lake is studded with numerous islands, some of them, as Omotepec, being volcanic 

 cones. The elevation of the lake above the mean ocean-level is given as 128 feet. The 

 same line of low hills which divides Lake Managua from the Pacific separates Lake 

 Nicaragua from the same ocean ; but at no point is the elevation so low as at that above 

 indicated. The river San Juan, a deep stream with several rapids, flows out of the 

 south-eastern end of the lake, and falls into the Atla:,;'- OrPnn. nf the port of Gn-v- 

 town, or San Juan del Norte. 



Petex. — The Lake of Peten is situated in lat. 17° W ^., long. l'0° ^^ ., and is one wi 

 several lakes formed at the base of the Promontory of Yucatan. Its length is about thirty 

 miles, its width eight miles, and elevation above the sea 500 feet. The water is quite 

 fresh, clear, and of considerable depth. Neither the Lake of Peten nor the adjoining Lake 

 of Yasha has any outlet ; and in both the water is rapidly mcreasing in expanse — so much 

 so that several streets of the toAvn of Flores, which stands on an island in Lake Peten, 

 have been absorbed within a few years, and the posts of huts, Avhich formerly were on 

 dry ground, may now be seen standing in deep water. This increase of water can onlv 

 be accounted for by supposing that a common subterranean outlet has been stopjied up, 

 or that the land of this district is experiencing a gradual subsidence. All the fish 

 obtained here were caught with a hook and line, or speared. All the natives, even quite 

 small cliildren, are very expert in using a light spear formed of bamboo cane with an 

 iron barb at tlie end. 



YzABAL.— This lake, which is also called the Golfo Dulce, is about thirty or forty 

 miles long, and ten to fifteen miles wide, and has a tolerably uniform depth of about 35 



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