An Angler's Paradise. 39 



After gazing for a few moments at the grand display of scenic 

 nature, we hurried in to luncheon, to which we both did ample 

 justice. The lake may be approached from Bala if required, the 

 drive being fifteen miles to the hotel, which is replete with every 

 comfort, and I cannot speak too highly of the reception which we 

 had. Truly, it is an " Angler's Paradise." The spread of shining 

 trout upon the table in the hall was a sight worth going far to see. 

 Each basket was weighed whilst the guests were at dinner, and 

 after a sumptuous repast, we strolled to witness the display. The 

 examination of the fish, the discussions which arose, the friendly 

 chat that followed, such as is only known to anglers, all combined 

 to make a pleasant evening, after which each guest retired to rest, 

 and pleasant dreams of giant trout drawn from the hidden depths 

 of Vyrnwy. 



The lake was made by building an enormous dam or bank, 

 which is in reality one gigantic block of concrete. The mode of 

 its construction is interesting. The stone used was obtained from 

 a quarry near, and is hard and dark in colour. It belongs to the 

 Caradoc group of the lower Silurian system. Some of the blocks 

 used weighed as much as ten tons, and above a third of the stones 

 of which this huge dam is formed weighed over four tons apiece. 

 Each stone was worked to a flat surface on the underside, and 

 was then lowered into a bed of concrete, and the inter spaces 

 filled with concrete, which was well rammed, in order the better 

 to consolidate the mass. 



The dimensions of the lake and dam are as follows : 



Height from bottom of foundation to the parapet of 



roadway 161 feet. 



Length along the top ... 1,165 feet. 



Height from river bed to sill of overflow ... ... 84 feet. 



Greatest thickness at base ... 120 feet. 



Batter or slope 



Inside the dam is .. I horizontal in 7| vertical. 



Outside ,, .. I ,, I i vertical. 



Superficial area of the lake 1,121 acres. 



Average width ... ... ... . ... ... a mile. 



Circumference ... ... ... ... .. ... I if miles. 



There is a road over the dam, which is supported by a 

 viaduct, consisting of thirty-one arches, each of twenty-four feet 



