the Parish of Slapton, 395 



runsj in a defined channel, the upper streamlet or Jake ; 

 which, passing under Slapton Bridge, unites its waters with 

 those of the lower Lea. This, the lai'ger 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 regard to the fish contained in this water there arises 

 a paradox, which I am not CEdipus 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 T 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 immediate 

 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 ba}^ 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 



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