216 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



CHAR FISHING 



It has already been stated that the char cannot 

 fairly be described as a sporting fish, and the 

 instances recorded of its having been taken 

 with fly are only the exceptional cases which 

 prove the rule. The fact of the char spending 

 the greater part of the year in deep water 

 regulates the methods of fishing for it. 



These are (i) by nets ; (2) by trolling with 

 plumb-line ; and (3) ordinary trolling. 



As to the former method netting but little 

 need be said. The nets are shot in deep water, 

 where the char are likely to be at any par- 

 ticular season, and are drawn on to the shallows. 

 Reference has already been made to the des- 

 tructive methods of netting in the past, and as to 

 the smallness of the mesh (f inch), but now the 

 size of the mesh is ij inches from knot to knot. 

 This allows anything under about one-third of a 

 pound to escape. 



In the early part of the season the " deep nets " 

 are used, but as the fish come nearer to the surface 

 these are discontinued, and " top nets " come into 

 use. The deep nets can be used in 30 or 40 

 feet of water ; they are about 35 yards in length 

 and 6 yards deep. The nets are weighted with 

 stones, which have the effect of stirring up the 

 mud, and thus concealing the net from the fish. 



The plumb-line is an instrument contrived to 

 meet the fact of the char swimming and feeding 

 at varying depths, and is fished from a rod. 

 The "plumb" takes the shape of a cone with 

 an elliptical base, weighing from ij to 2 Ibs., 

 and has a "feather," or metal rudder, to keep 



