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REMARKS ON THE FLOOD WATER OF THE WYE, 1870. 

 BY JOHN LLOYD, ESQ. 



Instead of remarking on the flood-water, we have to notice its almost 

 entire absence daring the spring and summer months. The river was never 

 know* to be continuously low for so long a period, extending from the 26th 

 March to the end of August. The drought exceeded that of 18GS, and far 

 exceeded that of 18C9. It was very painfully felt in this county, and especially 

 so as occurring in the spring as well as the summer months. The entire absence 

 of dew at night was very remarkable in April, May, and June. Often when 

 going out fishing at four a.m., I crossed the river side meadows without 

 damping my boots in the least. The height of the river, if carefully observed, 

 serves as an accurate rainfall register ; and a good or bad fishing season is a 

 pretty good index of the height of the river. A large rainfall, a flooded river, 

 and a good fishing season keep each other company. It is needless to remark, 

 therefore, that the fishing season of 1870 in the fresh water has been inevitably 

 bad — in fact almost a blank. As an instance how valuable statistics of almost 

 any kind may become, I was lately applied to for copies of these flood-water 

 registers by an officer of the Privy Council, who was reporting on the water 

 supply of Ross ; they have been, I believe, of great use to him ; but would have 

 been of greater, if they had extended back to a particular day in November, 

 1866. Samples of the flood-water have been taken during the year, and steps 

 are about to be taken to ascertain the amount of sediment. 



( See Table on next page.) 



