CHAPTER XII 

 MOUNTAIN TARNS 



SCATTERED among the mountains of the Lake 

 District are almost innumerable tarns, most of 

 which contain fish, many of them trout. In ex- 

 tent they range from fifty acres to mere rock 

 pools ; but, from their situation, all of them are 

 interesting, and there is a charm about tarn fishing 

 peculiar to itself. Those who tramp the lonely 

 hills see these tarns under the greatest variety of 

 aspect. Reflecting the blue sky, they add a 

 peculiar beauty to the surrounding hills ; but seen 

 under sterner aspects nothing can be more sombre 

 and gloomy. Under storm-clouds their waters are 

 black as ink, and they seem as though no life could 

 exist in them. As already stated, most of them 

 contain trout, some char, others pike and perch. 

 The more inaccessible tarns are rarely fished save 

 by the heron, or some wandering poacher who runs 

 his proscribed " lath " or " otter " across them ; but 

 for this very reason, those most remote are often 

 best worth the angler's attention. As to the 

 quality of the fish they contain, much depends 

 upon the nature of the bottom. If this is black 

 and peaty, the fish will be comparatively worth- 



L 



