1864.] Remarks on a Lake in the District of Bassein. 



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Remarks on the " Lake of the Clear Water" in the District of Bassein, 

 British Burmah. — By E. O'RiLEr, F. G. $., Deputy Commission- 

 er ', Bassein. 



One of the most material branches of the revenue of the Province 

 of Pegu is that derived from fisheries, which, as the purchase price 

 of the monopoly of lakes and rivers, tax upon nets and other apparatus 

 for catching fish, produces to Government the large item of 4,20,000 

 Rupees annually. Of this item about one-third is formed from the rent 

 of fresh water preserves situated above the tide-flow in the principal 

 rivers and their affluents ; and when that amount is taken as a base 

 of valuation for the quantity of fish obtained, bearing in mind that it 

 represents simply the right of fishing only, it will be found that this 

 source of sustenance of life assumes a character almost miraculous ; in 

 fact even those who regard the products of nature only as a means 

 to the end of their own wants, can form no appreciable idea of the 

 magnitude of the gift a bountiful Providence has thus bestowed. 



Considering the subject of sufficient importance scientifically to 

 engage the interest of the enquiring mind, I have taken as "data" 

 the " Lake" of these remarks, a preserve formed by nature to 

 supply the waters of the main river with a never-failing source of 

 human sustenance, and characterized by geological features that render 

 it the more interesting on that account. 



The subjoined rough sketch shews the position of the Lake ; its cir- 

 cumference is about 5 miles with a pretty uniform breadth of 280 to 300 

 yards and depth from 20 to 45 in the centre ; it is connected with the 

 " Dugga River," a large branch of the " Na-woon" or Bassein River, 

 by a small outlet which serves to replenish the water of the lake at 

 the period of the freshes from the Irrawaddy during the S. W. mon- 

 soon, and carries off the surplus water on the subsidence of the river. 

 In both the small streams indicated forming the inlet as well as the 

 main river, the water is shallower than that of the lake, and the general 

 breadth of the latter greater than the river, so that, notwithstanding 

 the impression on first view of its having at some distant period formed 

 a part of the river, a subsequent exploration induced the conclusion 

 that the lake has been formed by causes totally independent of stream- 

 apfcion, and from the homogeneous character of the formation of its 



