INTRODUCTORY 5 



A chapter will be devoted to those of the 

 Mountain Tarns which contain fish ; and this part 

 of the scheme will be completed by the list of 

 minor fish-containing waters not embraced by the 

 above arranged for easy reference. 



In addition, the Natural History of Fish will 

 be touched upon, and the very important subject 

 of restocking will come under review. 



In its place a list of killing flies will be given ; 

 but in this connection what is true of most fishery 

 districts is true of the Lake District, viz., that a 

 dozen (or fewer) flies will usually carry the angler 

 through the season. 



But little attention will be paid to fishing tackle, 

 except where this is of a special kind or peculiar to 

 the district. Many works on angling too much 

 resemble manufacturers' catalogues, and the man 

 who prides himself on the quantity and glory of his 

 outfit, is not, as a rule, the man who catches fish. 

 To the writer, it is almost a truism that the angler 

 who gets the biggest baskets is he of little tackle 

 who ties his own flies, and can dress a killing 

 imitation by the waterside. 



A chapter will be devoted to the natural history 

 of the waterside to a consideration of the habits 

 of those creatures which are either friends or 

 enemies to fisheries and it is hoped that this 

 will not be thought to be outside the scope of 

 the work. 



The actual area of the lakes is 35,420 acres, and 



very full of fish ; but every person claims a right of angling in 

 every one except Bassenthwaite, and there you may keep a 

 boat, and kill whatever you can, for half a crown in the year. 

 (Burn and Nicholson 1777.) 



