CHAR. 257 



countries. It swims with wonderful strength and rapid- 

 ity ; and sometimes leaps to a great height out of the 

 water. Like the salmon, it ascends the rivers for the pur- 

 pose of depositing its spawn, and is principally in season 

 from the beginning of March to the end of September. 

 The weight of this species does not often exceed six or 

 seven pounds. Although very common in most parts of 

 the continent, it is remarkable that none of the ancient 

 writers, except Ausonius, have at all spoken of these 

 fish. 



Their under jaw is somewhat longer than the upper 

 one ; and the body is marked with numerous red 

 spots. 



Char are caught in some of the larger lakes of West- 

 moreland and Cumberland; in Llyn C welly n, near Snow- 

 don ; and in Loch Inch, and other neighbouring lakes of 

 Scotland. It is seldom that they are known to enter the 

 streams, but continue almost entirely in the larger waters. 

 They spawn early in the spring ; and are caught in nets, 

 generally during the winter season. Great numbers of 

 them are potted, and every year sent to London. In this 

 state they are more esteemed than any other fish of the 

 tribe. The fishermen distinguish as many as four dif- 

 ferent kinds, which they denominate Case Char, Gelt 

 Char, Red Char, and Silver or Gilt Char; but these are 

 nothing more than varieties of the same species. Char are 

 very common in the lakes of several parts of Switzerland, 

 Lapland, and Sweden. 



Their length is about ten inches or a foot. The jaws 

 are of equal length. In colour they vary considerably: 

 but in general the back is black; the sides are bluish, 

 with small red spots; and the belly is yellow. 



