68 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



extremity. The Troutbeck flows down the valley 

 of the same name ; and Cunsey Beck is the effluent 

 of Esthwaite Water, entering the lake near Rawlin- 

 son Nab. The effluent of Windermere is the Leven, 

 which debouches at Lake Side, and, after a course 

 of five miles flows into Morecame Bay. A mile 

 from Lakeside the Leven is spanned by Newby 

 Bridge. 



The lake maintains a fairly uniform level, and 

 perhaps its most striking characteristic is its river- 

 like character. The mountains are finely grouped 

 about the head of Windermere ; and, for the most 

 part, its shores are well wooded. They are also 

 abundantly indented, and the bays afford some 

 of the best fishing. 



Whether Windermere is actually the most proirfic 

 of the lakes from a fish-producing standpoint, or' 

 is merely the lake of greatest latent capacity, is 

 a question which it would be difficult to answer. 

 That, in this same capacity, it is one of the finest 

 sheets of water in Great Britain there can be no 

 question. 



From whatever standpoint it is viewed, or how- 

 ever familiar one may be with its varying aspects, 

 the charm of its great beauty is one that never 

 fails. It is alike beautiful in spring, in summer, in 

 autumn, in winter ; and only those who know the 

 "river-lake" as comparative strangers are bold 

 enough to set the transcendent beauty of one 

 season against another. 



Its ordinary aspects are known to thousands of 

 people ; fewer know the great charm of trout- 

 fishing through a summer night ; and fewer 

 still, perhaps, the almost inexpressible beauty of 

 being abroad on the lake just at the dawn of a 



