34 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



there are several characteristics which militate 

 against its capacity for showing sport to the angler, 

 either with salmon or trout. 



These characteristics are mainly to be found (so 

 far as the higher reaches are concerned) in the 

 strength and rapidity of the current, in the bare 

 rocky nature of the bed of the stream, and the 

 consequent comparative poorness of the food 

 supply. The watershed consists for the most part 

 of hard, rocky ground a condition always against 

 well-fed fish and the great purity, even brilliancy, 

 of the stream tells against successful angling. 

 Except in periods of drought, the water of 

 most northern and Scottish rivers is more or 

 less discoloured with peat a condition always 

 greatly in favour of getting fish ; in the Duddon, 

 even in times of spate, the river runs clear in a 

 few hours at most. 



The Duddon rises on Wrynose, not far from the 

 Three Shire Stones, and after running twelve miles, 

 to Broughton, it expands into a considerable 

 estuary, through which it makes its way into the 

 Irish Sea. 



From Wrynose to Cockley beck the Duddon is 

 merely a mountain stream ; the first reach of the 

 river proper being from the latter point to Seath- 

 waite. This reach receives Grass Gars beck on the 

 right, and the Tarn beck (the effluent from Seath- 

 waite Tarn, 1,200 feet) on its left bank. Just 

 below Grass Gars the river enters a deep gorge, 

 emerging at the foot of Wallabarrow Crag, where 

 are a series of remarkable " pot-holes." Here the 

 bed of the stream consists of bright green slate, 

 and the clearness of the emerald-green water is such 

 that the venation of the slate can be plainly seen. 



