22 THE TORGOCH. 



but they lie more densely in shoals, and are also 

 found in deeper streams. Frequently the whole 

 shoal, consisting of many thousands, will move in a 

 body round the pool, and return again to the head of 

 the stream. 



THE TORGOCH, OR SALVELIAN CHARR. 



This fish is at present most abundant in the wa- 

 ters of Llyn Cwyllian or of the Alpine Lakes situated 

 in a deep valley on the west side of Snowdon. The 

 Torgoch inhabited the Llanberis Lakes on the op- 

 posite side of the mountain, till within the last 

 twenty years ; since which time, they have entirely 

 disappeared, the noxious waters of a neighbouring 

 copper mine flowing into the lake, having destroyed 

 the brood, as those fish inhabit only the purest 

 waters. 



Llyn Cwyllian is a vast lake of unknown depth, 

 sheltered on one side by an abrupt mountain, which 

 rises immediately out of the water, and in the deep 

 recesses at the base of which, the Torgoch is sup- 

 posed to pass the milder seasons of the year in 

 perfect security. Those fish approach the shallow 

 portions of the lake in winter about the middle of 

 December, appearing in small shoals at a short dis- 

 tance from the shores, and are at this season taken 

 in some plenty by a poor cottager, who resides in 



