MOUNTAIN TARNS 159 



numerous and want thinning. There is good 

 stream fishing in the affluent to Seathwaite Tarn, 

 as there is in Tarn beck, its effluent, which runs 

 into the Duddon. The tarn being in a secluded 

 valley is very rarely fished. Occasionally trout 

 a pound weight are caught in it. 



The Rawlinsons, of Duddon Hall, are lords of 

 the Manor of Seathwaite, and it was the custom of 

 the late Major Rawlinson to go up to Seathwaite 

 Tarn once a year to exercise his rights of netting. 

 The occasion was usually chosen when a house- 

 party was at the Hall, and the day afforded a 

 pleasant picnic. A fire was lighted, and the trout 

 and char taken were grilled in the hot ashes. 



WHIN FELL TARN 



Whinfell Tarn is a pleasantly situated mountain 

 mere lying at the foot of Whinfell Beacon, about 

 five miles north of Kendal. The tarn, which is 

 well stocked, contains coarse fish only pike, perch, 

 roach, rudd, tench, and eels. The pike are well-fed 

 fish and run up to 15 Ibs. one of 12 Ibs. being 

 caught by a lady fishing with the writer. Of late 

 years the perch here have degenerated both in size 

 and numbers, but rudd are plentiful and run up to a 

 large size. Probably Whinfell Tarn is the only 

 sheet of water in the district which contains rudd. 

 Common in southern waters, it is always a rare fish 

 in the north. The writer has taken rudd here with 

 roach tackle and baits, but on one memorable 

 occasion took upwards of a hundred fish in a 

 comparatively short time, which weighed nearly a 

 hundredweight. This was at the close of a hot day 

 in July, when it was observed that shoals of large 



