An Angler's Paradise. 4Y 
advantage to the stream below ; to say nothing of the advantage to 
the miller, or the ratepayers of a town upon its banks. The 
angler would certainly have cause for rejoicing, and the increased 
riparian value would be considerable. The question, too, of food 
supply for the trout, would then be much more easily dealt with, 
a matter of the most vital importance in dealing with our moor- 
land and other streams. 
The Vyrnwy lake itseif is four and three quarter miles in 
length, and is fed by several streams, which are available for, and 
provide good natural spawning ground for the trout, a matter of 
no small importance. The spawning ground, too, is near the lake, 
and the fish are prevented from running too far up these streams, 
so that during the spawning season they can be closely watched, 
which is another great advantage. On one of these tributaries, or 
feeders, a set of rearing ponds has been made, and fish are 
hatched and grown in them, for keeping up the supply in the lake. 
The natural food of the fish is also cared for, as well as the 
aquatic vegetation, so absolutely an essential in a lake like this. 
The depth of water on the embankment is eighty-four feet, and 
for a considerable distance up the lake there is very little variation, 
the bottom of the valley having been nearly level. 
There seems to be little doubt that this valley was in former 
times occupied by an ancient lake, and that the débris brought 
down from the surrounding mountains, in course of time, filled it 
up. The deposits of successive floods helped to form a fertile 
crust of alluvial soil, and at the time the dam was made, a good 
part of the valley was under cultivation. In the course of filling, 
the vegetation is submerged, and a large portion of this goes on 
existing for some time; nay, in places, even goes on growing, whilst 
at the same time an enormous amount of decay naturally sets in. 
By means of this decay, favourable conditions are produced for 
the multiplication, to an enormous extent, of a large number of 
creatures on which trout feed and thrive. 
This accounts for virgin waters giving excellent results, as 
regards their fishing; whilst in a few years there is a great falling off, 
both in the quality of the fish and in their size, unless steps are 
taken in the meantime to prevent it. Even though this be done; 
it may not altogether counteract the reaction which takes place 
