232 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



remedy for this over stocking may come (it has 

 visited Windermere before) in the shape of a disease 

 which carries off perch by hundreds of thou- 

 sands but this is an undesirable solution of the 

 difficulty. 



The above facts are mentioned only as show- 

 ing the difficulties which beset any attempt to 

 improve the Lake fisheries, and what applies 

 to Windermere is more or less applicable to 

 the neighbouring waters. A parallel case to the 

 number of perch in Windermere is the over- 

 abundance of char in Coniston. For some years 

 past Coniston Water has not been netted, with the 

 result that it swarms with myriads of untakable 

 char. 



In this general connection, however, certain 

 broad facts stand out. Chief among these is 

 that the harder a lake is netted (within reason- 

 able bounds, with proper instruments, and due 

 observance of close-times) the more fish will it 

 produce not only in size but number. At first 

 sight this seems a contradiction, but actual facts 

 bear it out. 



An admirable illustration within the Lake 

 District itself is furnished by Buttermere, 

 Crummock, and Loweswater the chain of lakes 

 in the Derwent watershed. Stated as briefly 

 as possible the facts are these : Buttermere 

 (the first of the chain) is netted in the least 

 degree ; its trout run three to the pound. 

 Crummock is more systematically netted, and 

 its trout run two to the pound. Whilst Lowes- 

 water, which is fished hardest of all, and is 

 regularly netted, contains the largest trout. These 



