the Parish of Slapton. $95 
runs; in a defined channel, the upper streamlet or lake ; 
which, passing under Slapton Bridge, unites its waters with 
those of the lower Lea. This, the larger portion, is open 
water, with the exception of reeds, &c., growing near the 
shore ; and especially at the end near Torcross. In the lower 
Lea are likewise bred great quantities of water-fowl; and in 
severe weather, such as we had this winter, its surface is covered 
with wild fowl of every description, which will afford me ample 
subjects for my future communications. 
With regar d to the fish contained in this water there arises 
a paradox, which I am not Cdipus enough to solve. I visited 
Devonshire about seven years ago, for the benefit of my 
health : I amused myself, as my strength recovered (which it 
did with surprising rapidity), with my fly-rod, catching trout 
in the rivers in various parts of this delightful county. I en- 
quired in every place where I angled concerning pike, perch, 
roach, and dace, which had been the objects of my sport in 
the eastern part of the kingdom ; but I could not hear, from 
the various persons I fished with, the least intimation that 
such fish existed in Devon, except in some private water of 
Lord Clifford’s, at Chudleigh. I was, therefore, much sur- 
prised, on my arrival at this place, to find Slapton Lea swarm- 
ing with large pike, perch, roach, and eels. The problem 
to be solved is, whence came these pike, perch, and roach? 
As far as I can learn, they exist only in the place I have 
mentioned, which is more than 30 miles hence ; and, to my 
own certain knowledge, there are none in this manredinic 
neighbourhood. The two rivulets which flow into the Lea, 
afford trout in some abundance, of good flavour, but small, 
one of a pound’s weight being accounted large. I have ob- 
served that the trout in the Dart, and in all the rivers in which 
I have fished in this county, are small. 
Another rare occurrence respecting this piece of water 
exists. The water of the Lea empties itself into the bay, by 
oozing through the sand, which consists of large coarse-grained 
nodules of various sizes, from that of a pea to the bulk of a 
man’s fist. When the tides in the bay are low, the Lea dis- 
charges its waters in great quantities through the sand into 
the bay ; but should the water in the Lea be low, and a spring 
tide occur, the salt water in like manner flows through the 
sand, and rapidly advances the water in the Lea. There is 
one particular spot where this principally occurs, named the 
Gulf, and many instances are on record in which the sea and 
the Lea have been united; but, as in my present letter I de- 
sign only to give you a general outline of the place, I shall 
reserve a particular account of these circumstances for a future 
DD 2 
