THE ENGLISH LAKE COUNTRY 



often run much larger, and very good baskets are occa- 

 sionally made, and many blanks, it may also be added, 

 are endured. I am not passionately attached to boat 

 fishing, but if accessories can glorify it, it is surely here 

 on these matchless lakes. It is a pretty sight, too, 

 that of the mayflies pursuing their brief dance at all 

 heights over Derwentwater with the sea-gulls darting 

 at them in mid-air. The fly hatches considerably later 

 on Bassenthwaite, so that the Keswick angler has some- 

 thing like two seasons, and the trout there are about 

 the same size. I have fished Buttermere, too, and 

 Crummock, only divided, it may be remembered, from 

 one another by a few meadows. Lovely as they are 

 to sojourn by, they furnish nowadays for some reason 

 very indifferent trout-fishing, and the fish run com- 

 paratively small, Buttermere, which is, or was, neither 

 fished, netted, nor poached, being the worst of all ! 

 As in Windermere and Derwentwater, so in these 

 two smaller lakes the char is indigenous. As they 

 haunt the deep waters, they are fished for very deep 

 with special trolling tackle, in June, more, I imagine, 

 for the sake of the pot than the sport. Potted char 

 is as well known a local production of Keswick as is 

 the potted lamprey of Worcester. I believe, however, 

 Ennerdale is quite a good fishing lake for the smaller 

 variety of trout. There is, moreover, a small but 

 comfortable inn upon its banks with boats attached. 

 The lords of the manor have netting rights on nearly 

 all these waters. The nets are used a little, but so far 

 from the privilege being abused, there are some lakes 

 which would benefit if it were exercised more. 



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