CYLCHGRAWN CYMDEITHAS BYSGOTA SEIONT GWYRFAI A LLYFNI

SEIONT GWYRFAI AND LLYFNI ANGLING ASSOCIATION JOURNAL

BLAEN LLINYN

NATIONAL TRIALS ON LLYN PADARN

During February this year, confirmation was received that the International Competition for the Disabled will be held on Llyn Padarn on 21 September. This can only be of benefit to the Association as it will bring widespread publicity to our fisheries and hopefully attract greater numbers of anglers to the area. In organising a competition of this nature it is essential that we as an Association demonstrate our readiness to co-operate with the competition officials of WSTAA and ensure the smoothest possible running of the event. With this in mind we would call upon you, as local anglers, to give of your time to assist as boatmen, ghillies and so on. As this is a competition for the disabled, it is obvious that the greatest number possible will be required to support the event.

If you are interested in helping, please contact either the Secretary or Dafydd Owen on (01286) 830081 (evenings).

TREIALON CENEDLAETHOL AR LYN PADARN

Yn ystod mis Chwefror eleni cafwyd cadarnhad y bydd Cystadleuaeth Ryngwladol y Methedig yn cael ei chynnal ar Llyn Padarn ar 21 Medi. Ni all hyn ond fod o les i’r Gymdeithas gan roi cyhoeddusrwydd eang i’n pysgodfeydd yn yr ardal, a chan obeithio denu mwy o bysgotwyr i’r ardal.

O drefnu cystadleuaeth o’r fath mae’n rhaid i ni fel Cymdeithas ddangos ein parodrwydd i gydweithio â swyddogion y gystadleuaeth, sef WSTAA a gofalu fod popeth yn mynd mor esmwyth â phosibl. I’r perwyl yma gofynnir ar i chi fel pysgotwyr lleol roi o’ch amser i gynorthwyo gyda chychod, gilio ac yn y blaen.

Gan mai gystadleuaeth y methedig yw hi yna, yn naturiol, bydd angen cymaint â phosibl o bobl i gynorthwyo.

Os oes diddordeb gennych mewn cynorthwyo, yna cysylltwch â’r Ysgrifennydd neu Dafydd Owen ar (01286) 830 081 (gyda’r nos).

BOATS GALORE

As you have probably heard, the association has been successful in its application for National Lottery funds. This means that we will be able to purchase rights on Llyn Nantlle and also a number of boats and engines, fifteen in all. The intention is to allocate four boats to Llyn Padarn, four to Cwellyn and four to Llyn Nantlle, the remaining three being kept in reserve in case of damage to the other boats.

A lengthy discussion took place in a sub-committee meeting recently as to what arrangement would best suit the interests of all members. After much deliberation, the conclusion reached was that each member interested in using the boats should pay a £30 fee which would entitle him to use a boat on any lake, except Llyn Dywarchen, as and when he wished subject to availability, i.e. on a first come, first served basis, although it is not foreseen that any problems will arise as the three lakes provide equally good fishing.

Everybody interested will receive further information concerning provision of oars, etc., on application.

Bear in mind that you will be permitted to take another person with you free of charge, so be sure to apply for a boat as soon as possible.

CYCHOD, CYCHOD A CYCHOD

Fel y gwyddoch, maen debyg, mae’r gymdeithas wedi bod yn llwyddiannus gyda’i chais i’r Loteri Cenedlaethol. Golyga hyn ein bod yn gallu pwrcasu hawliau ar Lyn Nantlle a hefyd gychod ac injis, cyfanswm o 15. Y bwriad yw rhoi pedwar cwch ar Llyn Padarn, pedwar ar Cwellyn a phedwar ar Lyn Nantlle gan gadw’r 3 arall wrth gefn rhag ofn i ni gael difrod i’r cychod eraill.

Cafwyd trafodaeth hir mewn is-bwyllgor yn ddiweddar ar sut I weithredu cynllun a fyddai’n deg I bawb. Wedi hir bendroni daethpwyd i’r canlyniad fod pob person sydd â diddordeb mewn cael cwch yn talu swm o £30, hyn yn ei alluogi i ddefnyddio cwch ar unrhyw lyn, ac eithrio Dywarchen, pryd y mynno a chymryd fod cwch ar gael, h.y. yr cyntaf i’r felin, ond ni ragwelir y cyfyd problemau gan fod y tri llyn yn pysgota cystal a’i gilydd.

Bydd pawb sydd â diddordeb mewn derbyn manylion pellach parthed trefn rhwyfau ac yn y blaen pan wneir cais.

Cofiwch y bydd hawl i chwi fynd â pherson arall gyda chwi yn rhad ac am ddim, felly gwnewch yn siwr o gwch cyn gynted â phosibl.

Llongyfarchiadau i Mr Bert Japheth ar enill y gystadleuaeth o gael enw i’r cylchgrawn yma. Bydd Mr Japheth yn derbyn rhodd o £20 trwy garedigrwydd Mr Cledwyn Jones, Caeathro.

Congratulations to Mr Bert Japheth on wining the competition for suggesting a name for this journal. He will receive a prize of £20, presented by Mr Cledwyn Jones, Caeathro.

Hwyl ar y sgota yn ystod y tymor! Tight lines for the season!

MAWRTH 1996 MARCH

THE FUTURE DYWARCHEN?

Most of us realise that Llyn Dywarchen is one of the Association's best assets. It is a popular venue that gives some members excellent fishing. However, I feel that the time has come to revolutionise the way the fishery is run. I am quite sure that these ideas will be extremely unpopular with some members, but I feel that the Association can no longer afford to carry on in the current way. I am sure the Treasurer will agree that we have a problem at some times of the year in meeting our financial obligations and have to run up a substantial overdraft in the bank account. Before I go any further, I fully understand that a member who chooses and has the time to fish Llyn Dywarchen 7 days a week, possibly therefore taking up to 28 fish a week, is doing nothing wrong by our current rules. What I question is whether the Association can afford to subsidise such a member any longer. Simple accounting will show that if a member catches 1 lb rainbows in a season, at an average weight of 2 lb, this 200 lb of fish will have cost the Association an estimated £300 plus to produce. As that member will have only paid an annual fee of £69, it does not take Albert Einstein to calculate that this is the road to financial ruin. I really don't want to cause disruption in the Society, but I think we should all think about the above facts and try to come up with an answer for the next AGM. Two possibilities come to mind, i.e:

1. Annual membership gives each member a specified number of visits to Llyn Dywarchen. Once this number has been exceeded, the member pays a nominal daily charge (say £2.50) to make further visits.

2. Annual membership gives no right to fish Llyn Dywarchen. All visits would be charged at the same rate as above.

This is just food for thought, and I hope this letter starts some discussion, because I really believe we can't carry on as at present. Continuing on in this vein, I am quite sure that a substantial amount of poaching is going on at the lake. I have found remains of maggots, a spinner and some worms over the last two years. Also a bit of taking one extra fish over the limit on a good day is, I am told, not unknown.

If someone is seen contravening the rules, they should be reported and a LIFE BAN should be standard. Anyone indulging in these activities is cheating you and me. So, please remember that each member is in effect a bailiff with responsibility to ensure adherence to the rules.

At the Lake Management Committee Meeting last night, Gwynfor (Bethel) was explaining to me the unique meaning of the word cymdeithas". As I understand it, it means an association run for the benefit of ALL members. I think it is time some of us remembered that, but at the same time realised that to progress, we must run the association in a financially viable manner. Other members' views (including no doubt somecriticism) would be appreciated. At the very least, it will make for some interesting reading in future newsletters.

Tony Osborne

LLYN NANTLLE

Mae'r Gymdeithas wedi cytuno i brynu rhan o'r hawliau pysgota ar Lyn Nantlle. 'Does dim dwywaith mai dyma un o’r llynnoedd tlysaf yn y wlad, heblaw fod yn un o'r tri llyn yng Nghymru lle mae 'sgota rheolaidd am eog a sewin yn digwydd; y ddau lyn arall, wrth gwrs, yw Dinas a Thal-y-llyn.

Bydd manylion pellach ar gael cyn bo hir.

The Society has agreed to purchase certain fishing rights on Llyn Nantlle which, without doubt, is one of the most beautifully located lakes in the country. In addition to its setting it has the distinction of being one of only three lakes in Wales where salmon and sewin fishing is regularly practised, the other two, of course, being Dinas and Tal-y-llyn.

Further details will be circulated in due course.

Ladies of the Lake

The Gwyrfai valley has quite a few legends and folk-stories associated with it. The giant Cidwm who slew the son of a Roman emperor had his home in Castell Cidwm, and fairies were often seen in the fields around Ystrad, and the story goes that one of the sons of Ystrad Ganol married a fairy princess. There are other stories associated with Llyn Cwellyn, Llyn y Gadair and Llyn y Dywarchen. No one could deny that this area, dominated by the Snowdon massif, is beautiful and inspiring. Some of us would go so far as saying that there is nowhere on earth to compare with it.

A legend in the making today are the two ladies often seen waving their wands of carbon fibre over the rippling waters of Llyn Cwellyn, and as if by magic tempting golden trout to leap at their concoctions of fur and feather. Audrey and Sarah, mother and daughter, are two of the fourteen team members of the Welsh Ladies National Fly Fishing Team who will this year be looking to win a hat-trick of gold at the Four Nations International to be held at Graffham in June 1995. (???) Sarah has been a member of the Welsh Ladies Team since it was founded in 1989, and is also a Welsh Salmon and Trout Anglers Association qualified club coach. Audrey will be fishing her fourth International.

However, in spite of casting their spells over finned leviathans of the deep in many of the lochs, lakes and reservoirs of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, their Afallon is the crystal-clear waters of Cwellyn.

COMMENT

It is now nearly 16 years since being appointed as Secretary to the Society, and then it was only supposed to be over a period of 12 months. Never- the less, it's been a great honour to have held this position over such a period of time, in which we have all seen the Society advance to being the owner or leaseholder over such a diverse amount of fishing.

Would someone perhaps like to make an estimation as to what is the value of the Club in financial terms - I certainly wouldn't like to be quoted as the one who quoted the Club's worth, but certainly one can say that we all have responsibility of looking after and maintaining something which is very valuable, not only in monetary terms, but something which is worth far more - our heritage - neu ein hetifeddiaeth’.

To this extent, we must all continue to shoulder the burden until all our waters are under our control. However, in travelling towards our aim, we must be forever aware of the well-being of our waters. Without this everything we strive for could very well fall apart - and fall apart a large part of the jigsaw nearly did with the problem of eutro-phication which was identified on Llyn Padarn during early 1992. Needless to say, this had been prevalent for many years before, and perhaps could have a lot to explain for the disastrous decline in the Seatrout on the Seiont since 1989. Hopefully now that as a result of Dwr Cymru installing a phosphate stripping plant at the Llanberis Sewage works, we can see a marked improvement this year.

But here work still needs to be done to rectify problems to the Llanrug Sewage works, as the river downstream for a considerable distance resembles an open sewer. Please let me know how you feel on this matter.

Also, our old friend the Caernarfon works is still pouring out something which resembles treacle - Dwr Cymru will continue to operate to these standards if we as a Club and you as individuals do not keep the pressure on them - so get going.

I base this bit of optimism on the result of the performance of the Llyfni over the past two seasons. This beautiful little river has for a considerable time been suffering a similar lack of sewin brought about by over- abstraction at the river mouth at Pontllyfni: once this problem was brought under control by the N.R.A., the runs greatly improved.

Even during 1994, our catch statistics on the Gwyrfai show an improvement. Could it be at last that here as well Dwr Cymru have seen the light and better flows from Cwellyn will continue.

Another milestone is soon to be reached. Because of administrative difficulties we are busy setting up the Society to be run on a Company basis. There won't be much difference on the surface, but we do hope that more activities will be introduced with a basis for fundraising. If we can all contribute here, then it will be a simple matter to keep our permit prices at their present reasonable level, but this of course all depends on you.

As a start, are you a Member of our 200 Club with its monthly draw. Also have you considered purchasing of limited edition print entitled 'Penllyn and painted by celebrated local artist David Williams: prices are £25.00 unframed and £58.00 framed -obtainable from David's Studio, High Street, Caernarfon or from myself, and I don't get a sale commission.

If there is anything you feel you can suggest which will assist in fund raising or if you would like to be considered to be appointed to any of our sub- committees, e.g. Entertainments or Dywarchen / Hatchery, let me or any of our Committee Members know.

On the Hatchery, you all know how much of a debt of gratitude we owe to the few who voluntarily operate the venture. What about helping out? By doing so you can ensure that the excellent standard of fishing at Dywarchen is maintained, and with, appropriate effort, expand.

In closing, one other purchase which I must mention, which has been agreed is part of Llyn Nantlle. Our mode of offering fishing opportunities here has not yet been finalised, but one thing is certain, boats and / or mooring facilities will be made available. If you are interested, let me know as soon as possible, so we can be ready for the start of the 1996 Season.

By perusing our catch statistics, one can see that we have a marked upturn in catches on the Llyfni and Gwyrfai but, up to 1994, the Seiont is still showing decreasing catches.

H.P. Hughes, Secretary

Llyn y Dywarchen

O'r llynnoedd sydd yng ngofal y Gymdeithas, un o'r difyrraf i'w bysgota i mi ydi Llyn y Dywarchen - nid yn gymaint am y brithyll mawr a roddwyd ynddo ond oherwydd ei hanes.

Y cyntaf i sôn am y llyn oedd Gerallt Gymro, y dyn rhyfeddol hwnnw oedd yn dri chwarter Norman a chwarter Cymro (oherwydd ei fam, y dywysoges Nest.) Yn 1188 crwydrodd i bob rhan o Gymru hefo'r Archesgob Baldwin yn ceisio perswadio'r Cymry i fynd ar y Croesgadau a sgrifennodd hanes y daith a'r rhyfeddodau a welodd. Yn Eryri soniodd am ddau lyn, heb eu henwi, ond mae'n amlwg mai Llyn y Cw^n, sydd rhwng y Glyder Fawr a'r Garn, ydi un, ac mai Llyn y Dywarchen ydi'r llall. Yn ô1 Gerallt, 'doedd gan bysgod Llyn y Cw^n ond un llygad a dyma'r hyn oedd ganddo i'w ddweud am Lyn y Dywarchen:

"Mae ynys yn nofio ar wyneb hwn, ar wynt yn ei symud o lan i lan. Bydd y bugeiliaid yn cael eu synnu o weld defaid syn pori aml yn cael eu cludo i bellafoedd y llyn. Mae'n bosib mai tywarchen wedi dod yn rhydd a’i chlymu ynghyd gan wreiddiau ydi'r ynys."

Chwe chan mlynedd yn ddiweddarach daeth teithiwr arall - Thomas Pennant - at y llyn ar ô1 darllen am insula erratica Gerallt a dyma'r hyn a welodd: "Saif y llyn bychan hwn yng nghanol mawnog ac ar y pryd arddangosai y rhyfeddod a gofnodwyd gan Gerallt. Yr oedd yno ynys gofiadwy oddeutu naw llath o hyd. Y mae gwartheg yn cael eu cludo ymaith yn garcharorion aml weithiau a chael eu cludo a mordaith fer oddi wrth y lan."

Hyd yn oed heddiw gwelir ambell 'ynys' fach yn nofio ar y llyn, wedi iddi dorri'n rhydd o'r gors yn ei ben dwyreiniol. Hen le digon annifyr i'w groesi ydi fanno, fel y gw^yr sawl pysgotwr mae'n siwr. Clywais ambell un yn awgrymu mai'r ynys fawr sydd yng nghanol y llyn ydi'r 'Dywarchen' yn yr enw, ond fyddai corwynt ddim yn llwyddo i symud honno!

Erbyn hyn mae'r llyn yn fwy o dipyn nag oedd yn nyddiau Gerallt a Pennant. Codwyd argae (neu'r 'Cob' fel y gelwir ef yn lleol) wrth ymyl y 1ôn, gan godi ei lefel, er mwyn cael dwr ar gyfer gwaith copr Drws y Coed. Gerllaw, wrth ymyl Llwyn y Forwyn, roedd llyn arall, tua hanner milltir o hyd,o'r enw Llyn Bwlch y Moch.

Roedd hwn hefyd yn rhoi dwr i’r gwaith copr. Erbyn 1933 roedd y cob a ddaliai ddw^r y llyn hwnnw wedi gwanio'n arw a phenderfynwyd ei wagio i Lyn y Dywarchen. Cyn gwneud hynny, fodd bynnag, codwyd cob y Dywarchen i'w lefel bresennol, er mwyn dal y dwr ychwanegol.

Cofia Hugh Hughes, Drws y Coed i Syr Michael Duff roi sglaffiau o bysgod yn y llyn 1940 ymlaen. Salvelinus fontinalis (American Brook Trout) oedd y rhain ac a blynyddoedd wedyn bu pysgotwyr lleol yn eu bachu a chael eu torri'n rheoiaidd. Cyn hyn, fodd bynnag, roedd digon o bysgod naturiol yn y llyn oherwydd cofiai Mrs Hughes (mam Hugh) am fyddigions yn dod i bysgota yn yr 1920au a bod pysgota'n boblogaidd yno mor gynnar â'r ganrif ddiwethaf.

Mewn ardal a'i hanes yn mynd yn ô1 mor bell, mae'n naturiol fod hanesion a thraddodiadau wedi tyfu am y llyn. Roedd ugeiniau o chwedlau am y tylwyth teg yn yr ardal gynt: yn wir dywedir i fab Drws y Coed briodi un ohonynt ganrifoedd lawer yn ôl ond iddi ddiflannu ar ô1 iddo ei chyffwrdd yn ddamweiniol a haearn. Ar ô1 hynny câi hi ddim cyffwrdd blaen troed ar ein daear ni ond roedd ganddi hiraeth am ei gwr a'i phlant a lluniodd yr ynys symudol er mwyn cael mynd ar honno i'w gweld.

Roedd gan hen drigolion Eryri syniad hynod am ambell ynys fel hyn. Credent nad oeddent yn eiddo i neb ac felly y tu hwnt i reolau a deddfau bob dydd. Rydw i'n cofio'r diweddar Now Pritchard, Plas lsa yn sôn wrthyf i am ynys fach yn afon Gwyrfai, heb fod ymhell o Lyn Cwellyn lle'r arferai pobl leol fynd i setio unrhyw ffrae gyfreithiol oherwydd ei bod yn dir niwtral. Cyn cyrraedd Beddgelert wedyn, credid bod y tir rhwng afon Hafod Ruffydd ac afon Colwyn yn 'dir neb'. Tir wedi ei amgylchynu gan ddw^r sydd yma eto a doedd dim treth yn cael ei dalu arno a byddai unrhyw un a dorrodd y gyfraith yn ddiogel yno rhag yr awdurdodau. Pan oedd y ‘press gang' yn gorfodi dynion i ymuno â’r llynges neu'r fyddin, byddai dynion Rhyd Ddu yn ddiogel os aen nhw ar y 'Dywarchen'.

Y tro nesa y byddwch chi'n gwlychu pluen yn Llyn y dywarchen, gyda niwl y wawr yn hofran drosto, neu gyda'r nos pan fo 'caddug yn cuddio Eryri', cofiwch fod pethau rhyfedd yn gallu digwydd yma. Os bydd yna ynys fechan yn symud ar draws y llyn, edrychwch arni'n fanwi, efallai mai un o hynafiaid Drws y Coed neu dyddynnwr lleol yn ffoi rhag y 'press-gang' fydd arni. Hefo tipyn o lwc, fodd bynnag, mi ddaw plwc go egr ar y lein a chi'n ô1 i'r ugeinfed ganrif!

John Huws, Ebrill 1995

Y DDEORFA

Llwyddiant fu hanes y ddeorfa eto eleni gydag ychwanegiad i'r tanciau trwy garedigrwydd lan Graham, Station House, Llanrug a gyfrannodd £1,800 i bwrcasu tanc newydd i'n galluogi i fagu gwyniadau at y tymor nesaf. Diolch yn fawr, Mr Graham.

Ein diolch hefyd i'r hogiau sydd yn rhoi o'u hamser yn rhad ac am ddim yn gofalu am y ddeorfa. Mae menter newydd sbon eleni, sef magu brithylliaid brown ar gyfer Llyn Dywarchen. Rhagwellir y bydd 400 o'r rhain yn cael eu rhyddhau i'r llyn tros gyfnod o 7 mis gan gadw 300 ar 61 at y flwyddyn nesaf. Yn ogystal â hyn mae dwy fil yr un o frithylliaid brown ac enfys eisoes yn cael eu magu.

Rhagwelir eleni y bydd oddeutu dwy fil o frithylliaid yr enfys yn cael eu rhoi yn y llyn 500 o'r rhain yn bysgod rhwng 5 a 8 bwys.

THE HATCHERY

The past year has been one of great success for the hatchery with the addition to the number of tanks through the generosity of Ian Graham, Station House, Llanrug, who contributed £1,800 for the purchase of an extra tank which will enable us to breed whitings for the next season. Thank you very much, Mr Graham.

Our thanks are also extended to the members who give of their time to look after the hatchery. This year sees another innovation in the breeding of brown trout for Llyn Dywarchen. Four hundred brown trout are expected to be released into the lake over a period of 7 months, three hundred being kept in reserve for next year. In addition to this, two thousand brown trout and rainbow trout respectively have already been bred.

This year we expect to introduce approximately two thousand rainbow trout to the lake, five hundred of these weighing between 5 and 8 lbs.

EARLY ENCOUNTER.

When I first moved to North Wales, I often heard that Salmon do run our rivers very early, but hardly anyone fished for them seriously until August. After a couple of years, I had been on the river banks early in the year, but seldom saw another angler, and never saw a sign of such early running fish. I decided this must be just an old wives' tale, and that spring running fish were a thing of the past in any numbers in our area. Two years ago, I had my mind changed in a dramatic way, the outcome of which reinforced a very basic lesson.

It was 1 June, and two days of heavy rain were followed by a beautiful sunny day. I decided to have a couple of hours on the Gwyrfai, and was happy to see in the river a fairly respectable spate. Climbing a stile, my line caught on a barbed wire fence. Eager to get to the river, I flicked it free and continued upstream.

Coming to the first pool, I cast my blue and silver Mepps upstream, where to my astonishment, it was taken the instant it hit the water. I could hardly believe it, my very first cast of the season and I was connected to a sizeable Salmon. A hectic time followed, and eventually the fish appeared beaten. I steered it towards me, but as soon as it saw the landing net, it found a second wind, and headed upstream. It reached the head of the pool, and suddenly the line snapped. It was only then that I remembered the incident with the barbed wire. Stupidly I had not checked the line and retied the cast. It is obviously something I will never do again.

An interesting sequel to this event happened a few weeks later. After a successful morning at Llyn y Dywarchen, I decided to call at the Cwellyn Arms for a pint. As I was savouring the finest product of Ruddles Brewery, a young man came up to me and enquired how the fishing was. As we talked, he asked me if I had caught any Salmon this year.

Telling him the tale of "the one that got away", I could see he was unusually interested, and he asked me where this happened. After I told him, he said "I got a Salmon about 100 yards upstream from there on 2 June 14lbs it was and it had a blue and silver Mepps in its jaw. With that, he winked, got up, and left. I was so surprised, I forgot to ask for my Mepps back.

I made a few enquiries about this "gentleman" after he left. I was told that if he had caught such a fish, it most certainly did not come out legally. So there you are, maybe it is worth fishing earlier in the year than most of us do. I did hear reports of a Salmon or two caught on the Llyfni in early April last year. If you try it, and encounter brambles or barbed wire, don't forget -

Check Your Line.

Tony Osborne

BIRDS ON OUR WATER

For many years, in my spare time, I have been making and putting up nest boxes on or near the society waters, making out nest record cards and ringing the young in order to see what distances they travel and how long they Live, etc. Last year Great Tits were doing very well, having taken over six boxes, Blue Tits four,Robin one, Dipper one and Pied Flycatcher one, but it is still a Little early and I do expect more Pied Flycatchers and a few Redstarts with luck. The largest clutch of eggs last year was a Great Tit with eleven. Mallard have nested together with Common Sandpiper on Dywarchen and a pair of Great Crested Grebes are breeding on Cwellyn. Let's hope they are successful.

I have been involved with ringing since 1946, participating in the ringing scheme for the British Trust for Ornithology, also taking part in ringing for M.A.P.S. Malaysia in Singapore for 21 & a half years (spare time from R.A.F. duties).

I have been a keen fisherman for as long as I can remember, starting with a garden bamboo cane, cotton, bent pin and a worm. My quarry then was sticklebacks and newts back in the year dot! Since then I have fished and watched birds (ornithologically speaking) in many parts of the world, during my five years in the Merchant Navy and twelve years in the R.A.F. marine branch.

I joined the society over twenty years ago and in that time there has been a steady decline in fish stocks. One reason, I believe, was the Government in the late sixties stopping the subsidy on Lime to farmers. Also hay making is a thing of the past: silage is the 'in thing', and that means for some farmers a greater use of nitrate fertiliser. This has increased the potential for acidity and nitrate pollution in our waters, together with more conifer plantations on both left and right hillsides upstream of Waunfawr.

This point brings me back to birds, namely the Dipper. This bird is a good barometer in as much as if its numbers start to drop, then we need to have a close look at the rivers.

The food of the Dipper is aquatic insects, as indeed it is to a large extent for our fish stocks, so we need to keep a close eye on pollution and acidity. I am taking part in national survey work on this bird for the next few years, so if any of you would like to give me information on nest sites and numbers of Dippers seen, I would be very grateful.

David Greasley

HANES Y GYMDEITHAS

Ffurfiwyd Clwb Pysgota a elwir “The Caernarfon Anglers Association” yn y flwyddyn 1908 pan gafwyd hawl i bysgota ar afon Seiont gan stadau lleol fel y Faenol, Glan Gwna a Glynllifon, ond ‘roedd yr hawl a roddwyd yn gyfyngedig i hanner diwrnod yr wythnos ar rhai darnau o’r afon. Drwy frwdfrydedd ychydig unigolion, gwelwyd mwy o ddyfroedd yn dod ar gael ar afon Seiont, Llyfni a’r Gwyrfai.

Yn y 40au, gwelwyd enw y Clwb yn cael ei enwi fel yr adnabyddir heddiw. O’r dechrau yma i ganol y 70au, gwelwyd darnau helaeth o’n dyfroedd lleol yn yn graddol cael ei hagor i bysgota am bris rhesymol, ond i un radd, ‘doedd pethau ddim wedi newid rhyw lawer ar ran i’r Clwb fod yn berchenogion ar yr hawliau ‘sgota - ‘roedd rhain yn dal i fod mewn perchenogaeth - yn awr nid Stad y Faenol ond gan Fwrdd Dwr Gwyrfai, wedyn Dwr Cymru, Ymddiredolwyr Stad Glynllifon, Y Comisiwn Coedwigaeth a rhai ffermydd mawr a oedd wedi prynu eu tiroedd ar chwalu stad y Faenol.

‘Roedd ar yr adeg yma yn hawdd gweld fod sefyllfa’r Gymdeithas yn fregus iawn, pe bai’r cwmnïau mawr yn gweld gwerth beth oedd yma ac yn gwneud penderfyniad i fuddsoddi mewn pysgota. Drwy edrych ar sefyllfaoedd cyfelyb yn Iwerddon a’r Alban, ac yn wir mewn rhai ardaloedd o Gymru, truenus yw gweld milltiroedd o afonydd ac erwau o lynnoedd a’r bobl ar drothwy’r drws ddim yn gallu gwlychu pluen ar yr hyn sydd, mewn gwirionedd, yn etifeddiaeth i ni.

Trwy gymryd hyn i ystyriaeth, hawdd oedd gwerthu’r syniad i’n haelodaeth, ac felly oddeutu 1980 fe ddechreuwyd y polisi o gysylltu â’r perchenogion a phwysleisio iddynt bwysigrwydd gwarchod at y dyfodol, ac i sicrhau fod yr hawliau pysgota’n aros yn nwylo lleol. Yn ffodus, ‘roedd y mwyafrif o’r unigolion yn gydymdeimladol â’r ymgyrch ond ‘roedd y cwestiwn o hawliau Dwr Cymru a Glynllifon yn wahanol, ond drwy drafodaeth hir, fe ddaeth rhannau helaeth o’r eiddo hyn yn hefyd i’n meddiant.

Wrth gwrs, nid yw’r polisi wedi ymlacio gan fod peth dyfroedd eto allan o’n rheolaeth, ond yn raddol, gwelir y rhestr yn lleihau. Wrth gwrs, y cwestiwn mawr ‘nawr yw adnoddau ariannol, ac fel mae’r rhestr o bysgota preifat yn yr ardal yn lleihau, uwch yw’r pris y mae’n rhaid ei dalu er, ystyried pris pysgota ar raddfa genedlaethol, mae i fyny i’r presennol yn dal I fod yn weddol resymol.

Rhaid hefyd peidio â cholli golwg ar ein haelodau a gwir ystyr y gair Cymdeithas. Hawdd fuasai codi tâl ein haelodaeth i ddwywaith y swm presennol i drigolion lleol, sef £69.00, ond buan iawn y buasem yn gweld ein haelodaeth yn newid - o fod yn wir Gymdeithas leol i un a fuasai’n cynrychioli un rhan o’r gymdogaeth leol - felly rhaid gadael y drws yn agored i bawb.

Drwy roi golwg ar ein heiddo, mae’r amser ‘nawr wedi dod i ymhelaethu ar y gwasanaeth y gallwn ei gynnig i’r cyhoedd yn gyffredinol - ac i’r perwyl yma ‘rydym fel Pwyllgor Gwaith yn un frydol fod agoriadau ardderchog i fanteisio arnynt - ond wrth gwrs, y cwestiwn iw’r un o adnoddau ariannol I symud ymlaen gyda’r gwaith, sef y gwaith canlynol: Drwy ystyried lleoliad y rhan fwyaf o’r dyfroedd, mae medru cael mynediad i bysgotwyr sydd ddim o llawn iechyd yn annodd - mae cryn waith wedi wneud yn barod i geisio datrus y broblem i rai a graddfa isel o anabledd, ond i’r rhai sydd yn gyfyngedig i gadair olwyn, ‘does bron dim cyfle ar gael - ein bwriad gyda cydweithrediad Cyngor Gwynedd, Cyngor Chwaraeon Cymru a Grwp Mynediad i’r Anabl, yw datrys y broblem yma fel y ganlyn:

LLYN NANTLLE

Un o lynnoedd gorau Cymru, ac un o dri lle ceir pysgota rheolaidd am Eog a Sewin; y ddau lyn arall yw Tal-y-Llyn a Llyn Dinas. Hyd yma, mae’r tri llyn yn breifat, ond os bydd cymorthdal i’w gael, gallem brynu rhan helaeth o Lyn Nantlle gyda llecyn o dir i adeiladu cei a maes parcio - lle y gall rhai ag anabledd sylweddol gymryd rhan mewn pysgota Eog a Sewin oddi ar gychod - hwn, fe gredwn, fydd y cynllun cyntaf o’i fath yn Ynys Prydain. Bydd y gost o brynu rhan o Lyn Nantlle yn £17,000, ond gyda’r pryniant yma daw tua tri chwarter milltir o afon Llyfni a hanner Llyn Cwm Silyn.

LLYN Y DYWARCHEN

Fe’i datblygwyd yn un o brif lynnoedd i bysgota brithyll yr enfys yn yr ardal, gyda’r stoc i gyd yn cael eu magu yn neorfa’r Clwb yn Llanrug. Mae eisioes bedair cwch ar gael i’w defnyddio ar y llyn ac mae hawl cynllunio wedi ei gael i adeiladu glanfa i alluogi’r anabl i’w defnyddio’n ddi-rwystr - gost o adeiladu tua £2,500.

CYSTADLAETHAU RHYNGWLADOL

Drwy allu cynnig pysgota ar lynnoedd Padarn a Cwellyn, sef yr unig ddau lyn yng Nghymru lle mae pysgota am frithyll brown gwyllt o safon mor uchel, gellir ystyried cynnal cystadlaethau ryngwladol arnynt. Pan na fydd defnydd ar y cychod at y pwrpas yma, wrth gwrs, y bwriad iw angori pump yr un ar lynnoedd Nantlle, Padarn a Chwellyn er defnydd yr aelodau’n gyffredinol.

Er mwyn cyflennwi yn llawn defnydd o’r cychod, pwrcaswyd 15 peiriant cwch Evinrude 2.3 a 40 o wregysau diogelwch.

Os gwelwn lwyddiant drwy’r rhan yma o’r cynlluniau, gallwn symud ymlaen at yr ail ran, sef datblygu adnoddau ble y gellir cynnal cyrsiau I bob oedran ar faterion yn gysylltiedig â physgota a’r amgylchedd yn gyffredinol. Mae sefydliadau sydd yn ymwneud a’r anabl eisoes wedi dangos diddordeb mawr yn yr hyn a allai fod ar gael ac, i’r perwyl yma, ‘rydym o’r meddwl y dylem gyd-dynnu â’ngilydd a chymryd y cyfle sydd ‘nawr ar gael. Ni ddylem, er mwyn yr ardal yn gyffredinol, adael I hyn lithro o’n gafael a beth fuasai’n well na Chymdeithas leol yn gallu cynnig hyn oll, yn ogystal afallai â medru rhoi y cyfle I allu cynnig swyddi llawn amser I helpu cynnal ein hadnoddau.

H. P. Hughes.

Times Past:Destruction of Salmon

Previous to the year 1799 salmon were taken in the river Seiont where it touches with the Menai near the Castle of Caernarfon, in such large numbers,early in the month of May,as to be sold about the streets so low in price as 3d per lb. In after years, in consequence of the destruction of spawning Salmon and fry, not one Salmon for fifty were taken, which was a serious loss to the neighbourhood. The magistrates endeavoured to put down the outrages by imposing the full penalty (£10) on all offenders. The depredations then committed seem to have had a permanent and evil influence on the fishery in this part of the river, for the fish are never even sought for.

From Old Karnarvon, W.H.Jones

LLYN POTAL

Byddaf bob amser yn hoff o sgwrs hefo Cecil Hope. Gwn y bydd y sgwrs cyn hir yn troi i gyfeiriad hen dref Caernarfon.

Yn ystod un sgwrs gofynnodd a oeddwn wedi clywed sôn rywdro am Lyn Potal. Clywsai ei daid yn sôn am y llyn arbenig yma nad yw’n bod heddiw a chofiais ddarllen hanes y llyn yn Atgofion am Gaernarfon gan T. Hudson Williams.

‘Lle llaith ac aflêr oedd y Morfa Isaf. Llifai braich o’r Afon Saint iddo ger y Llyn Du gan ffurfio math o fae. Wedyn codwyd gwrthglawdd cadarn ar fin yr afon a throi’r bae yn llyn bas a gafodd yr enw “Llyn Potal” o achos ei ffurf. Yno y byddai plant y dref yn hwylio eu llongau bach; yr oedd sianel dan y ddaear yn dyfod â dwr o’r afon ac un arall yn ei gludo allan. Flynyddoedd wedyn llanwyd y llyn â rwbel, a dyna ddiwedd Llyn Potel.’

PONT Y CIM

Mae ‘cim’ yn hen air Cymraeg am dir comin, tir gwael ei ansawdd, ac mae’n bur gyffredin mewn enwau lleoedd, yn arbennig yn Arfon.

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