212 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



answer to the questions just stated, there will be 

 little of mystery left concerning it. 



I may add that of two female fish examined by 

 the late Dr. Gough on January 2Oth, one had shed 

 its spawn, but had not recovered its condition ; the 

 other contained roe, but the ova was so slightly 

 developed (on both sides) that a considerable time 

 would be required before the fish was ready to de- 

 posit them. In the light of what has been already 

 stated, these two specimens might represent the 

 early and late examples of the reproductive func- 

 tions. 



The protection afforded to char in Windermere 

 has had most beneficial results. The effect has 

 been an increase both in the number and size 

 of the fish. Originally, there was no close-time 

 for char ; and prior to the legislation on their 

 behalf, the methods of fishing were of the most 

 destructive kind. The fish were even taken oft 

 the " redds " when spawning. They were got with 

 click hooks, others by netting, and some were 

 shot. Up to 1850 comparatively small nets 

 were used, but, subsequent to that date, very 

 much larger ones. These nets had cheeks, or 

 wings, with a pocket behind ; and the mesh was 

 so small that fish half-an-inch in length were 

 taken. 



In 1878 a new order of things commenced. A 

 close-time was fixed, the destructive nets were 

 abolished, and the size of the mesh so regulated 

 that no fish of less than a third of a pound could 

 be taken. These regulations have had the desired 

 result. The char is naturally a prolific fish, and 

 to-day there are probably more and larger fish in 

 Windermere than ever before. 



