THE LAKES OF SNOWDONIA AND EASTERN CARNARVONSHIRE. 425 



situated among the mountains in out-of-the-way places, and at a high altitude. A cart 

 or waggon would bring the boat part of the way up, and for the rest of the journey it 

 had to be carried on the shoulders of several men. Sometimes after succeeding in 

 getting a boat on to such a lake, it was vexatious to have to wait for several days for 

 the wind to abate sufficiently to proceed with the work. 



A proper sounding-line was used made of cord which was water-laid, and about a 

 quarter of an inch in diameter. To this was attached a 5 lb. lead. The line was 

 marked at every five and ten feet. For the tens, tufts of coloured worsted — red, 

 green, black, brown, and purple — were used, and tassels of white worsted to mark 

 the fives. The correctness of the markings were verified each day, and allowance 

 made for any stretching or shrinking of the sounding-line. 



The method was to row across the lake along definite lines from point to point, 

 and the shore-ends of each section were usually well-marked positions easily noted, and 

 determined at the time on the 6-inch Ordnance Map. As the lakes are all narrow and 

 comparatively small, there was no difficulty in seeing the object on the opposite shore, 

 towards which we steered in as straight a course as possible. All the rowing was done 

 by boatmen who were trained for some time for the work. Soundings were taken at 

 every tenth stroke, and, when near the shore-line, often at every fifth stroke. The 

 lines along which soundings were taken were marked at the time on the 6-inch Ordnance 

 Survey maps. The position of each sounding on the section lines were afterwards 

 indicated by dots. 



Maps have been prepared on a scale of 6 inches (since reduced to 3 inches) to the 

 mile, on which the details regarding the survey of each of the lakes are shown. The 

 positions of the soundings are indicated by dots, and the lakes are contoured according 

 to depths. The land contours are also marked up to heights of 1000 feet above sea-level. 

 These are taken from the Ordnance Survey maps. Where the heights exceed 1000 feet, 

 bench marks are put in where possible with the figures obtained from the Survey maps. 

 Longitudinal and cross-sections of each lake are also given (Plate VIII.) ; these are on 

 a scale of 6 inches to the mile. As originally prepared, the sections also showed the 

 depth exaggerated fifteen times, and so conveyed a better idea of the forms of the 

 depressions ; but it has not been possible to reproduce these on Plate VIII. 



A map is also appended showing the orography of the district in which the lakes- 

 occur. 



All the contoured maps have been prepared by Mr T. A. Brock of Cambridge, to 

 whom I am also indebted for working out the calculations connected with each lake. 



A few photographs illustrating the character of the scenery in the neighbourhood of 

 the lakes and valleys are also appended. 



For most part the work of sounding had to be carried out single-handed, but I have 

 to thank Mr Phillip Lake, M.A., of St John's College, Cambridge, for assistance in 

 the survey of Gwynant and Dinas ; and Mr H. Woods, M.A., of St John's College, for 

 assistance in the work of Llyniau Mymbyr and Cawlyd. 



