50 REPORT OF THE 



dering it liable to leak. Just such an instance as this serves to 

 illustrate the one bad feature of puddled clay, viz : that its 

 particles are so fine, being of almost the same specific gravity 

 as the water, that they are taken up ami held in solution, thus 

 clouding the clearness of the lake and leaving it thick and dis- 

 colored. A lake, to be beautiful, clear and healthy, as well as 

 in a proper condition for the fish that inhabit it, should have 

 scattered about it, in spots, a sandy and . gravelly bed and 

 shore ; at other points, rich earth, in which water plants and 

 flowers would thrive, thus consuming those mephitic gases 

 which would otherwise be noxious, and creating the proper 

 foods for the fish. It would be cheaper, therefore, inasmuch 

 as the lake is of sufficient depth, to haul and deposii in it the 

 necessary sand, gravel and soil at the proper places, covering 

 up the vegetable matter that there exists and leaving a natural 

 bed for the lake instead of an unfinished and artificial one. 



The foulest part of the lake was at the boat-house, about 

 which the visitors to the park daily swarmed. The Commis- 

 sioners covered up this bed of unhealthy matter with over a. 

 thousand loads of earth, leaving a pool at the foot of Binnen- 

 water falls and converting the remaining space into a green- 

 sward with fine beds of variegated flowers. This change was 

 much appreciated and admired by the public. 



This lake abounds in beautiful islands, peninsulas, vistas, 

 shady nooks, and romantic, capricious turns and twinings, with 

 their life of water fowl and merry boating parties. 



The waters of this lake were stocked years ago with several 

 varieties of fish. There are quite a number of black and 

 Oswego hass, several varieties of perch, two varieties of car]), 

 and gold andsilver fish in great abundance. The latter, as also 

 the perch, abound in large numbers. 



It has lately been discovered, however, that, owing to the 

 muddiness of the water and the lack of feeding places, large 

 numbers of these fish have died, while those that survived are 

 not in a very healthy condition. 



Some of the officers of the State Fish Commission, who 

 are familiar with the facts in the case, have offered 



