600 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The head waters of the Avonmore rise in the raountains about 

 Glendalough (of St. Kevin) and Lnggala. The Annamoe flows from 

 Luggala ; it seems to be quite free from mineral poisoning, although 

 mining trials have been made at Lough Dan. The tributary streams 

 which contain most mineral drainage are those from Glendalough lakes 

 and from the vale of Glendassan, into both of which the drainage from 

 the Luganure and Camaderry mines flow. How long these rivers 

 have been poisoned it is hard to say ; mining operations were carried on 

 here during the last century, yet in 1832 Glendalough and Lough 

 Dan were noted for containing the char'^ {Sahno alpimi,s), which is 

 now confined to Lough Dan. 



A sample of water taken in Glendassan, a little below where the 

 mine drainage enters, contained in parts per 100,000, solids 7*5; of 

 which 0'08 were lead, with a little iron, and a trace of sulphuric acid. 



A sample taken at Clara bridge, after a flow of about six miles from 

 where the last sample was taken, with a fall of about 600 feet, con- 

 tained 0'04 parts lead ; and one taken three miles lower down at Rath- 

 drum mill contained 0"035 parts lead: while a fourth, taken at the 

 Meeting of the Waters, about 13 miles from the mines, with a fall of 

 about 900 feet, contained 0*02 parts lead. These four samples were 

 taken on the same day, after there had been dry weather for about six 

 weeks. The waters were very clear, with only a faint peaty tinge. 



On another occasion, when the river was in slight flood, samples 

 were taken at Clara bridge, and at the Meetings, which gave, respec- 

 tively, 0-02 parts lead, and only a faint trace. 



Besides this mineral drainage from Glendalough, a small quantity 

 of mine waters enters the river between Rathdi'um and the Meetings; 

 it is, however, very insigniflcant, the largest stream being that at 

 Shroughmore, flowing from Connary. The Avonbeg, which joins the 

 Avonmore at the Meetings, has its head waters in the hills about 

 Glenmalure, one of its principal tributaries being the already-men- 

 tioned Carawaystick brook. Some years ago lead mines were worked 

 in Glenmalure, and the drainage from them poisoned the river so that 

 no fish could live in it ; but now, as the deleterious mineral matter 

 has disappeared, it has become stocked with trout from the mountain 

 streams. This river, flowing into the Ovoca river at the Meetings, 

 supplies large quantities of peaty water. 



After the junction of the two rivers, Avonmore and Avonbeg, at 

 the Meetings, the waters flow for about a quarter of a mile to Tigroney 

 weir, where they become thoroughly mingled. A little above this 

 some mineral drainage enters on the left bank ; but it is about a quar- 

 ter of a mile lower down, in the vicinity of the Bell rock, that the 

 principal mine waters enter, after having passed through the copper 

 launders. On the left, or east bank, the river receives the main drain- 



■^ Char are said to have again appeared in Glendalough since the mines at the 

 west end ceased working. A salmon is said to have been seen in the Daragh %vater, 

 on June 3, 1882. 



