THE LAKE DISTHICT. 115 



near which the buiail stream of the Wenning enters it. There are 

 often very line baskets of trout taken in this direction. We have 

 seen both large trout and salmon captured within a very short dis- 

 tance of the town of Lancaster. There are many favourite flies for 

 this river ; and if you inquire of any of the regular frequenters of 

 the river, each wifl have his pet bait, and strenuously insist upon 

 its superiority to every other. 



When the rod-fisher has got a footing at Lancaster, he has the 

 railway right through to Carlisle, to the borders of Scotland, and 

 which goes by, or rather cuts at right angles, many of the rod- 

 fishing streams in Westmoreland and Cumberland. ^ This is a great 

 convenience ; because the tourist can choose any direction he likes, 

 without loss of time or waste of money. On the left, on the route 

 to Carlisle, all the lake district waters lie ; but there is good fishing 

 by ascending the higher springs of some of the rivers which are to 

 be met with up the country on the right hand. 



Assuming that the rod-fisher starts from the town of Preston, 

 where the Ribble, out of Yorkshire, flows into the sea, or from the 

 town of Lancaster, and bends his way to the lake district, he will 

 find the lakes Coniston-water and Windermere excellent fishing 

 localities. The first-named sheet of water is seven miles long, and 

 averages about three-quarters of a mile in breadth. The scenery 

 around it is captivating in a high degree, and the angling really good. 

 The village of Coniston is a convenient place for refreshment and 

 lodging. There are trout, pike, and perch, in the lake, and all of 

 good size. 



Windermere is a more extensive stretch of water than the one 

 just named. Its extent is full eighteen miles, by one in breadth : 

 its greatest de^th is 200 feet. The angler will find char here, as 

 well as trout, pike, and perch. 



Crummock-water, Lows-water, Over-water, and Bassenthwaite-water, 

 are all situated near the north-western extremity of the range of 

 mountains which range beyond and near to Mellbreak. These 

 several lakes are but small hi extent ; but they abound with various 

 kinds of fish, and are calculated to afford a fair portion of sport to 

 the rod-fisher. Their several banks are romantically surrounded by 

 rocky promontories and jutting capes and headlands, which impart 

 to all the scenery around and about them peculiar features of 

 sublimity and grandeur. 



Derwent-water and Ulls-water abound with fish of nearly all kinds. 

 Angling is practised on these waters with fly, by trolling, and by 

 worm and other kinds of ground bait. There can be no lack of 

 sport to any rod-fisher who is acquainted with even the rudiments 

 of his art. But, to our taste, the lake district and the lake angling 

 are not so heart-stirring and so engrossing as the river fly-fishing; 

 and in the two counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, there 

 are rivers of first-rate excellence for the latter mode of following 

 the gentle craft. Indeed, the rivers here are full of fine trout, and 

 sport of the best sort is to be had in every direction. And the most 



