86 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



more or less exercised. Probably the fish and 

 fishing in the lake would be improved if the 

 netting were done more systematically. 



A century ago char were common in Ullswater. 

 At some time subsequent to this they steadily 

 declined ; until about twenty years ago they be- 

 came practically extinct. There is little doubt but 

 that this result was principally brought about by 

 pollution from the Greenside lead mines. Con- 

 firmation in this is found in the fact that the char 

 used to spawn only in Glenridding beck (the beck 

 in which the washing of the lead ore is done), and 

 the ova being killed, the practical extermination of 

 the char was brought about. It is well known 

 that char, unlike trout, are very local in their 

 haunts and habits, and, if one spawning ground 

 for any reason becomes unsuitable, they do not 



only lately been introduced here. The driving net is made 

 of fine, small, bleached thread, and has only one rope to it, 

 to the end whereof is fixed a float that enables the fishers to 

 find the net. This net they place parallel to the shore, at 

 the depth of two fathoms or less, and usually have several 

 of them in the water at once. When they take up one of 

 them, they first row the boat between the net and the shore, 

 disturbing the water as much as they can ; this affrights the 

 fish (who are generally near the shore), and makes them run 

 for the deeps, when they are intercepted by the small and 

 almost invisible net, placed to receive them ; the fishers then 

 haul the net into their boat, and take out the fish (which are 

 generally caught either by their gills or .middle), without 

 being obliged to go ashore ; it is, however, plain that by these 

 nets neither very large nor very small fish can be taken. 

 Before the invention of driving nets the greatest part of the 

 lake was protected by its stony bottom, so that the angler 

 might, in five or six hours, catch from fifteen to twenty 

 pounds of fish ; since this invention has taken place, the fish 

 are so far decreased in number that he will seldom take half 

 that quantity." Clarke's Survey of the Lakes> 1787. 



