i;2 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



taking greedily and fighting pluckily. In a freshet 

 they are mostly taken with worm, but they afford 

 the best sport with fly. If the water is low they 

 do not take weil until dark, although a few good 

 fish may generally be got just as the light is going. 

 A list of flies suitable for Salmon-trout is given 

 in the chapter specially devoted to " Flies ; " and a 

 detailed method of fishing for them will be found 

 in the chapter on the river Kent. I have taken 

 these fish on a No. 2 hook and also on a big salmon- 

 fly. I have several times noticed them eject both 

 minnows and small trout when in the landing-net. 

 Anglers will have noticed the difference between 

 the salmon-trout and brown-trout in taking the fly. 

 The latter sends a nervous tremor up the line, 

 the former gives a steady tug. When the fish 

 first enter the river they are as bright as silver, but 

 they get redder and lose in condition as the season 

 advances. By the first fortnight of November I 

 am speaking mainly of the Kent they are insipid 

 and unfit for food. Instead of the flesh being 

 firm and pink it is white and flabby. Spawning 

 takes place in November and December. In the 

 Lake District the fish run from J Ib. to 6 Ibs. and 

 7 Ibs. in weight. 



The sprod {Sahtio albus] is also found in all the 

 rivers of the district which contain the migratory 

 Salmonidae. This is the whiting of the Eden ; the 

 smelt of the Irt, Calder, and Ehen ; the herling of 

 the Esk. There can be but little doubt that this is 

 the young of the sea-trout on its first return from 

 the sea. At all events an examination, even over 

 a large number of specimens, reveals no specific 

 difference, and speaking generally what applies to 



