136 WINDERMERE CHARR. 



Mr. Parnaby tells me that during the season Charr are taken in Buttermere, Ennerdale, Con- 

 iston Water, and Wast Water; but he does not say definitely whether this Charr is the 

 Windermere species. The same species, or one very closely allied to it, is found in Loch 

 Bruiach in the north of Scotland, as mentioned by Glinther. Mr. Parnaby tells me that there 

 are two species of Charr in Windermere, called by the fishermen the Red Charr and the 

 Silver Charr; that they spawn at different times, and under different circumstances. It 

 is possible that this Silver Charr may be the "Gilt Charr" which Willughby says is found in 

 Windermere ; but I have been unable to see a specimen of this fish. 



Before the application of the Fishery Laws to the capture of Charr, these fish used to 

 be taken in considerable quantities in nets, in the months of October and November, when 

 the Charr seek the shallower portions of the lake for spawning. A few are taken in the summer 

 months by anglers ; a writer in Land and Water, a few years ago, speaks thus of the Win- 

 dermere Charr: — "Though the Charr exists in other lakes of Westmoreland, Windermere is 

 doubtless its head-quarters. The largest Charr I have ever seen exceeded two pounds in 

 weight. Half a pound may be set as about its average full-grown size, though a fish of three 

 ounces will often take the bait. They are bold biters at either the artificial fly or spinning 

 minnow, or the spinning spoon. Though this implies a habit of feeding on the surface, the 

 conjecture that they feed chiefly at the bottom of the water is not thereby refuted, for a 

 practice has lately been introduced of trailing a revolving bait from a plummet sunk deep in 

 the water, the revolution being kept up in the depths, as on the surface, by the motion of 

 the boat. This fishing for Charr by bait, though the best during spring, is carried on suc- 

 cessfully through the whole of the summer. The favourite fishing places are the deepest parts 

 of the lake ; an odd fish or two may be occasionally picked up elsewhere, but the knowing 

 hands confine themselves to constantly passing and repassing over the shoal. The Charr come 

 into shallow water to spawn during the autumn, and being then within reach of the nets are 

 destroyed sacrilegiously. They also run up into the rivers to spawn ; or, as it would be more 

 correct to say, into a river — for though two rivers fall into Windermere at its head, forming 

 a junction half a mile above the lake, the Charr never go up the Rothay, though myriads 

 turn off at the fork into the Brathay.* Any cause for this preference has hitherto been sought 

 in vain. The rivers run through two neighbouring valleys, the geological formation of which 

 is the same — the ordinary slate-stone of the country. The course of the rivers is of about the 

 same length, and lakes are to a certain extent the feeders of both." 



The flesh of Charr, when fried like a Trout, is pink, and I should not know the difference 

 in flavour between Trout and Charr. Potted Charr at Windermere has been an institution 

 for a very long time ; the writer in Land and Water, just quoted, says on this subject : — 

 "As for any resemblance between the Charr and Trout, the nearest I know of is in the 

 taste, and the public would probably be of the same opinion, if they knew which they are 

 eating under the denomination of potted Charr. The flesh of the Trout may be of as pink 

 a colour as that of the Charr. Both may be alike in season, and of equal flavour, without 

 showing any of that colour. And the red external colour, which the belly of the Charr 

 assumes at the breeding season — the only time at which they are sold for potting — has no 

 colouring influence whatever upon the flesh. The only perceptible difference between their 

 respective flavours must be that imparted by the silver or the gold which they have cost." 



Charr, when in perfect condition, and when taken fresh out of the water, are splendid 

 fish, but a correct idea of their beautiful colour can only be formed when seen just out of 

 water. Moreover these fish, when kept in confinement, lose much of their colour. The 

 specimens which Mr. Parnaby has in his tanks at Troutdale, though fine healthy-looking 

 fish, are almost destitute of the brilliant red, characteristic of the fish in their natural habits, 



* The same is the ca>:e at Ullswater, as I am informed by Professor Busk; Charr invariably ascend one river 

 and invariably avoid the other. 



