40 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



March, when the river is open. Night-fishing is 

 best in June and July, and by this method not 

 only the most, but the best fish are taken. 



At one time the Leven . had some fame as a 

 salmon -river. It is, however, a fairly good trout- 

 stream, but in this connection the seasons vary 

 greatly. A run of salmon generally takes place 

 in June and July, these fish being smaller than 

 those that run later. Most, however, run from 

 August to November, the bigger fish coming last, 

 the largest of all in November. By October there 

 are numbers of salmon in the river up to 20 lb., 

 and a fish of 35 lb. has been taken with rod and 

 line. 



The salmon are capricious risers, and take the 

 fly very badly. The numbers of fish caught vary 

 considerably from year to year, and fewer salmon 

 are now taken than formerly. The best months 

 if any months can be said to be best in this 

 respect are September and October. During the 

 1898 season, one of the worst on record, only 

 seven salmon were taken with rod and line. The 

 salmon flies most commonly used are Jock Scott 

 and Silver Doctor, locally-dressed nondescript flies 

 being also used. 



At one time serious obstacles existed in the 

 river to the passage of salmon, but some years ago 

 these were removed, and the passes rendered easier 

 by the Kent Board of Conservators. The ascent 

 of the fish is now comparatively easy, and a large 

 extent of spawning ground is opened out. Salmon 

 which were not found in Windermere prior to 

 the removal of the obstacles referred to now 

 spawn in most, if not all, the streams running into 

 Windermere, and thousands of smolts pass down 



