SLAPTON LEY. 
149 
this the sea has heaped up in the lapse of years 
the rubbish and sand of adjacent ground, and that 
which was contained in its own depths. In this 
way, an area which in former years w T as undoubtedly 
tenanted by the sea, is now cut off from its visits 
excepting during storms, when a breach in this bar 
or breakwater of sand is necessarily occasioned. 
The three streams at present produce an expanse 
of fresh water about three miles long by a half mile 
broad, the surplus of which instead of passing off 
through a decided channel, drains through the sand 
during each ebb of the tide, and more especially at 
one spot. The lake being at about the same level 
as the sea, cannot effect a channel for the escape of 
its contents, because, the sea perpetually casting up 
debris from its bottom and exercising force upon 
the bank on its own side, prevents the formation of 
an hiatus by the water collecting within the basin. 
Near Falmouth is a lake of somewhat similar 
character, called Swanpool. 
In addition to Slapton Ley and Craumere Pool, 
the lacustrine waters deserving more especial re¬ 
cord are Clacywell Pool near Walkhampton, 
Tutorlake and Redlake. 
Besides the number of very fine springs of South 
Devon, remarkable for their great purity, their clear¬ 
ness, or the quantity of water which they yield, 
there are many possessing decided chalybeate pro¬ 
perties though but little known or employed by 
invalids. 
An artificial spring has within a few years been 
obtained at Plymouth, and is in connexion with the 
Baths of that place. It is a mineral, or rather a 
saline water, procured from the astonishing depth 
of 365 feet, but though dignified by the title of 
“ Victoria Spa ” water, it in reality holds but an 
inconsiderable proportion of iron in its substance. 
