RIVERS OF THE DISTRICT 35 



The tributaries referred to add considerably to 

 the beauty and volume of the stream, which now 

 traverses the vale of Ulpha. Here the river divides 

 Ulpha and Seathwaite ; this stretch being made up 

 of a succession of streams and pools, all of which 

 contain fish. At Oak Bank (opposite to which is a 

 good pool, "Long Dub"), Crosbythwaite beck enters 

 the main stream ; whilst still lower, Holehouse beck 

 enters the river opposite Sella both on the 

 right bank. Particularly good is the fishing on 

 the Sella estate. Succeeding to this is the open 

 stretch of water on Dunnerdale Fell. This stretch 

 is more " fishy " than any portion of the river 

 hitherto, with the exception of Sella, and contains 

 some fine pools. 



And here it may be well to say a word as to the 

 fish and fishing of the river as far as this point. 

 From its source to Cockley Beck (Cockley Beck is 

 the name of a farm) the river contains numerous 

 tiny trout. These are poor, badly fed, and not 

 worth catching. In the second reach the trout 

 increase in size, but are still small and poor in 

 proportion to the volume of the stream. The 

 numerous " pot-holes " contain a few big fish, but 

 the first trout-fishing worthy the name commences 

 at Sella. Leaving out the estuary, this point is 

 about two-thirds down the river, and so far the 

 facts would seem to justify the description of a 

 Duddon angler that " There is no trout-fishing in 

 the Duddon." And substantially this is so with 

 a considerable reservation. 



So far as salmon are concerned, there is not a 

 single serious obstruction in the river to bar their 

 progress, and they get right up to its source. 

 " Smelts " (the grilse stage of 5. trutta) are taken 



D 2 



