Excellence of Bala Fish 37 



no further capture was made, and by and by it continued 

 its journey on the wing. 



Uninteresting though the Gwyniad may be in itself to 

 the general angler, intent only upon the filling of his basket, 

 it not improbably helps him considerably, indirectly, by 

 furnishing a much appreciated supply of food for other 

 fishes. It is a local creed that it is largely to this cause that 

 the Pike, Perch, and Trout, taken in the lake, owe their 

 marked superiority over fish from most other waters, and, 

 without committing oneself too unreservedly to that belief, 

 it may safely be said that for colour and quality Bala fish 

 are exceedingly hard to beat. Amongst other inhabitants 

 of the lake may be mentioned Roach (Rhyfell) and Rudd 

 (Rhuddgocti), both occasionally netted in large numbers, 

 and sometimes angled for by visitors at Bala. Bream are 

 taken in the lower part of the Dee, and though they do not 

 appear to have been recognised in the lake, they must 

 apparently occur there, as a fish I saw captured by a young 

 Liverpool angler, in July 1906, was undoubtedly a hybrid 

 between the Rudd and one of the Breams, either the 

 common species Abramis brama, or the Bream-flat, A. blicca. 

 Personally, I was inclined to regard it as the latter ; but as 

 wild hybrids are always interesting, the following particulars 

 may be given, and readers may form their own conclusions. 

 It showed no indications of being a breeding fish. Extreme 

 length to tip of caudal fin 1 2 inches ; head about 2^ inches ; 

 greatest depth, at anterior base of dorsal fin, 4 inches ; 

 thickness about 2 inches. In colour very silvery, olive- 

 white beneath, shading upwards, through olive-green, to 

 greenish-brown on back, where each scale had a dark 

 margin ; throat pale vermilion, the adjoining part of 

 abdomen and sides tinged with the same. Fins, dorsal, 

 olive-brown ; caudal, ditto, the long rays on either margin 

 orange-pink ; anal, orange-pink, brownish at base ; pectorals, 

 dull olive-brown above, very pale below, tinged with 

 pink at base. Rays dorsal 12, pectorals 16, ventrals 9, 

 anal 13, caudal 19. Scales large and coarse, 42 on 

 lateral line, 4^ below the line to base of ventrals, 

 above to anterior base of dorsal fin. Head small 



