128 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



a fishery right and nets usually during the 

 shooting season. No difficulty, however, will be 

 experienced by anglers who wish to fish the lake 

 with rod and line. 



There are two fairly confortable inns on the lake 

 one at Braithwaite, 4 miles from Keswick ; the 

 other at Peel Wyke, near Bassenthwaite Lake 

 Station. From the latter Cockermouth is distant 

 5 miles. 



THIRLMERE. 



Thirlmere (anciently Leathes Water) before its 

 conversion was a long narrow lake, 3 miles in 

 length by J mile in breadth. It lies at the foot of 

 Helvellyn, and on the north side of Dunmail Raise 

 just on the border line of Cumberland and West- 

 morland. Originally it covered 330 acres, its 

 greatest depth was 112 feet, and its altitude 533 

 feet. Its shores contracted towards the centre to 

 such an extent that the narrow strait was crossed 

 by a ford, and an ancient Celtic bridge constructed 

 in three divisions. The view of Thirlmere most 

 commonly seen that from the Grasmere and 

 Keswick road is the least impressive, and, viewed 

 from more advantageous points, Thirlmere will be 

 voted by no means the least beautiful of the 

 lakes. 



The physical features just mentioned are, of 

 course, all altered now. So that Manchester 

 could have its water-supply from Thirlmere it was 

 necessary to enlarge its area and increase its depth. 

 In this connection two details may be mentioned 

 as showing how peculiarly well adapted Thirlmere 

 is for the purpose to which it has been put. Its 

 drainage area is 11,000 acres, and sometimes 15 or 



