282 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 
The powan is a gregarious fish, inhabiting very deep water, 
and abounds in Loch Lomond, in Ullswater and Haweswater, 
as well as in Bala Lake and a few other lakes in Wales. In 
the English Lake District it is called the Schelly (generally 
pronounced ‘“‘Scheely’’), a name also applied to chub in that 
district. This has led to some confusion in regard to the 
habits of this fish. Frank Buckland noted that it ascended 
the streams flowing into Ullswater; but, in fact, it is never 
found above the lake, although there are chub in some of 
the tributaries. In habits the powan closely resembles 
the char, except that it feeds on smaller and weaker 
organisms. Like the char, it leaves the deep water in 
autumn to spawn in shallow bays. In calm, warm summer 
weather it swims about the surface in shoals, taking small 
flies ; and occasionally, but very seldom, it is taken on artificial 
trout-flies. 
As I have never seen this fish I can only quote from those 
who have examined it, and they are far from agreeing in 
their description of the colour. Mr. Houghton wrote from 
a small specimen netted for him in Bala Lake, and describes 
the colour above the lateral line as “ beautiful glossy brown, 
slightly tinged with delicate pink ; iridescent and silvery below 
the lateral line; belly pure white; gill-cover bright silvery ; 
eye large, with white irides.” Professor Seeley, on the other 
hand, gives the colour of the back as “dark blue; the sides 
paler, often with a tinge of yellow; the belly and under-side 
silvery. All the fins are dull bluish-black, darkest at the 
margin.” 
Mr. John Watson, writing in 1898, says the powan, or 
gwyniad, has become rare in Ullswater, but is as numerous 
as ever in Haweswater. He records a single draught of 
gwyniad taken in the last-named lake some years ago which 
numbered fourteen hundred. 
The flesh is said to be palatable, but it must be eaten quite 
fresh, being of a very perishable nature. 
