192 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



lakes. A 29jlbs. pike was taken in Windermere 

 in the nets, the largest taken by trolling being 

 22 Ibs. Windermere pike are far superior to the 

 fish of southern rivers ; and it is said that, when in 

 prime condition, they resemble in colour the mus- 

 kalonge of the Canadian lakes. Pike of 29 Ibs. 

 and 34 Ibs. have been taken in Derwentwater ; and 

 fish of 17 Ibs., 25 Ibs. and 34 Ibs.. respectively in 

 Bassenthwaite. All the lakes, and many of the 

 tarns, produce abundance of pike, Esthwaite Water 

 particularly containing large numbers. Here, during 

 the present season, a couple of anglers took twenty- 

 four fish, the largest being 1 1 J Ibs. A lady, fishing 

 with the writer in Whinfell Tarn, captured a 12 Ibs. 

 pike a well-fed fish, measuring 36 inches. Pike 

 are mainly taken by trolling with spoon or phan- 

 tom, and by setting trimmers. This latter method 

 is less criticised here than it would be in other 

 districts. Pike are also found in the deeper parts 

 of the rivers of the district, and are in great abun- 

 dance in the Kendal and Lancaster Canal. As to 

 the food of the pike, they will take when hungry 

 anything living that they can gorge. In Winder- 

 mere the staple of their food is perch. When fish- 

 ing on the lake I have taken trout, char, perch, 

 and minnows from their maws in varying stages 

 of maceration ; and in Bassenthwaite the pike 

 are said to have been mainly instrumental in 

 exterminating the vendace. 



THE ROACH (Leuciscus nitilus) 



Seeing that the roach is a fish of many waters, 

 it is curious how extremely local is its distribution 



