THE LAKE DISTRICT. 119 



feeders, in which there are many small trout, readily caught with 

 good red worms, it falls into the 'Eden near Newby. The Irthing 

 is a good river for the fly, and likewise for trolling after rain in 

 summer. 



The Gelt springs from Croglin Fell, and after receiving the 

 waters of some small rivulets, falls into the Irthing near Edmon 

 Castle. It is a pretty fair trouting stream in the early portion of 

 the season, or towards the autumnal months. The angling is 

 frequently seriously damaged in this, as well as in other similar 

 streams in this part of England, by fishing in the autumn with the 

 salmon roe. 



We have been somewhat minute in our notice of the various 

 rivers and still waters of this division of England ; and our sole 

 reason is, that we know of no range of country to which a rod- 

 fisher, who has a few days or weeks to spend in his favourite 

 amusement, could repair with so fair a chance of being gratified, 

 than the one now noticed. It is full of interest to both the mere 

 angler, and to the man of contemplative and intellectual habits. We 

 can form no conception of what a person can be made of, who, with 

 rod in hand, could wander among these hilly districts, without 

 receiving some signal moral benefit, and without bringing back 

 with him a stock of ideas which he never had before. Indeed, we 

 scarcely believe there could be such a specimen of humanity in this 

 country, who could be proof against the influence of such external 

 objects of grandeur and beauty as here surround him on every side. 



The only sure mode, however, by which we shall be able to reap 

 the full benefit /rom such an angling tour as we now recommend 

 and point out, is to travel as much as possible on foot. Nearly 

 every principal section of this lake district is now approachable by 

 railway, and this is a great convenience ; but the rod-fisher should 

 only make it a means to an end. If he wishes to do any good in 

 the way of his amusement, he must leave the beaten tracts of mere 

 visitors and loungers, and betake himself to wild and distant 

 sections of the country, where he may possibly wander by a river 

 side for a whole day, and never see a human being. Tins is the 

 kind of rod-fishing which is really delightful and improving, inas- 

 much as it is not only conducive to health, but it awakens and 

 sustains the dormant powers of inward reflection, which are too apt 

 to become deadened by the long and continued tension of a town 

 life. Angling should invariably be considered only as a means to 

 an end; that end the improvement of the t man, mentally and 

 physically. It is beautifully and eloquently said by an author, who 

 travelled over this tract of country nearly a century ago, "If 

 travellers and anglers would frequent this country, with a view to 

 examine its^ grandeur and beauty, or to explore its varied and 

 curious regions with the eye of philosophy; or to adore the 

 Creator in his sublimer works ; if in their passage through it, they 

 could be content with such fare as the country produces ; if, 

 instead of corruptirg the manners of an innocent people, they 



