An Angler's Paradise. 41 



advantage to the stream below ; to say nothing of the advantage to 

 the miller, or the ratepayers of a town upon its banks. The 

 angler would certainly have cause for rejoicing, and the increased 

 riparian value would be considerable. The question, too, of food 

 supply for the trout, would then be much more easily dealt with, 

 a matter of the most vital importance in dealing with our moor- 

 land and other streams. 



The Vyrnwy lake itself is four and three quarter miles in 

 length, and is fed by several streams, which are available for, and 

 provide good natural spawning ground for the trout, a matter of 

 no small importance. The spawning ground, too, is near the lake, 

 and the fish are prevented from running too far up these streams, 

 so that during the spawning season they can be closely watched, 

 which is another great advantage. On one of these tributaries, or 

 feeders, a set of rearing ponds has been made, and fish are 

 hatched and grown in them, for keeping up the supply in the lake. 

 The natural food of the fish is also cared for, as well as the 

 aquatic vegetation, so absolutely an essential in a lake like this. 

 The depth of water on the embankment is eighty-four feet, and 

 for a considerable distance up the lake there is very little variation, 

 the bottom of the valley having been nearly level. 



There seems to be little doubt that this valley was in former 

 times occupied by an ancient lake, and that the debris brought 

 down from the surrounding mountains, in course of time, filled it 

 up. The deposits of successive floods helped to form a fertile 

 crust of alluvial soil, and at the time the dam was made, a good 

 part of the valley was under cultivation. In the course of filling, 

 the vegetation is submerged, and a large portion of this goes on 

 existing for some time ; nay, in places, even goes on growing, whilst 

 at the same time an enormous amount of decay naturally sets in. 

 By means of this decay,' favourable conditions are produced for 

 the multiplication, to an enormous extent, of a large number of 

 creatures on which trout feed and thrive. 



This accounts for virgin waters giving excellent results, as 

 regards their fishing ; whilst in a few years there is a great falling off, 

 both in the quality of the fish and in their size, unless steps are 

 taken in the meantime to prevent it. Even though this be done, 

 it may not altogether counteract the reaction which takes place 



