CHAPTER II 

 RIVERS OF THE DISTRICT. I 



THE KENT 



THE Kent is the principal river comprised in the 

 Kent, Bela, Winster, Leven and Duddon Fishery 

 District. It has its origin in Kentmere Tarn (now 

 converted into a reservoir) at the foot of Kentmere 

 High Street, and after flowing through the valley of 

 the same name, and through the town of Kendal, it 

 debouches into Morecambe Bay a course of about 

 twenty miles. It has two main tributaries, the 

 Mint and Sprint. The former rises in Bannisdale, 

 the latter in Longsleddale, and both enter the main 

 stream not far distant from each other about a mile 

 to the north of Kendal. 



Salmon, sea or white trout (locally morts), 

 herling (locally sprods), and brown trout are the 

 anglers' fish found in the Kent. 



Before proceeding to discuss these separately, 

 something may be said as to the river generally. 

 Twenty years ago the Kent was one of the best trout 

 streams in the North, its capacity for carrying fish 

 being almost unlimited. Nor did the exceeding 

 quantity of fish seem to affect size, as the trout were as 

 large, or larger, than those found in most rivers of 

 like size and volume. In those days of plenty, 



