38 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



The largest salmon taken in the Duddon with rod 

 and line weighed 21 lb., but much heavier fish 

 have been taken in the estuary in the nets. The 

 majority of the salmon-flies are dressed locally, 

 although the Silver Doctor and Jock Scott are 

 favourites. 



During the present season a laudable attempt 

 has been made to improve the Duddon as a salmon 

 river. Hitherto it has been heavily fished ; now 

 however that portion of the river between the 

 Lickle mouth and Foxfield viaduct has been 

 constituted a play-ground for salmon. Prior to the 

 present season this portion had been 'persistently 

 netted by four boats, and, in addition to salmon, 

 trout were taken in the nets, as well as large 

 numbers of immature Salmonidce. Fish so small 

 have been netted in the Duddon that it took ten 

 to the pound and these were taken in a legal 

 mesh. By the removal of the nets, this evil, for a 

 time at least, is done away with. 



In both the Lickle and Duddon there are 

 remains of salmon-coops, but these, of course, are 

 not now used. This was one of the " instruments " 

 which the Salmon Fishery Acts made illegal. 



The Duddon estuary extends nearly nine miles 

 seawards, and comprises 13,000 acres of silty 

 deposit. Its mean width is about 2j miles. 

 Outside its banks there are some of the best feeding 

 grounds /or salmon to be found round our coasts. 



THE LEVEN 



The river Leven is the effluent of Windermere. 

 Although it has a course of about six miles only, it 

 is one of the finest streams in the district. Its first 



