260 THE CHARS. 



that in the summer, when they keep at the greatest depths of 

 the lakes, only a few are to he taken with a line — too few to 

 compensate for the time and labour that must be engaged in 

 the work, and it is known that these fish are always slow to 

 take a bait. But on the other hand this view of things has 

 been pronounced a misrepresentation ; and in the summer, when 

 Chars are believed to be in their best condition, the reason 

 assigned by others for their not being fished for is, that the 

 fishermen at that season prefer to follow some more profitable 

 occupation. Those persons however who amuse themselves by 

 fishing for Chars in the summer, pursue the sport by means of 

 a line of sufficient depth to reach the bottom of the lake, which 

 may be with a depth of forty fathoms; and to cause it to sink 

 a bullet of lead is employed. That these will take a bait, and 

 sometimes even eagerly, is known by the enticement of a 

 Minnow, which is found to be a successful lure. Dr. John 

 Davy describes this method of fishing, which is with a lath, 

 and on Windermere the main line measures about sixty yards, 

 added to which what is termed the first dropper is about 

 twenty-four yards, with eight yards of gut; the second dropper 

 measuring about twenty-two yards; and the last, which is nearest 

 the board or lath, that moves like a boy's plaything kite, about 

 twenty yards; each of these droppers with the same length of 

 gut as the first. This line is fastened to an erect pole, and 

 as the boat is rowed gently forward, observation is directed to 

 the line by its vibration when a fish has seized the bait. 



In proportion to their size Chars seem to feed much like 

 the Salmon, to which fish also the armature of their mouth 

 bears a resemblance; and worms with small water insects are 

 their ordinary food. It is only on some rare occasions that 

 they have been known to take the angler's fly when fishing 

 for Trout, as will be noticed when we treat of the Torgoch, or 

 Welsh Char. 



When engaged in shedding the spawn, these fish assemble 

 where the water is moderately shallow; and this probably for 

 the sake of light as well as air; in addition to which warmth 

 must have as ready an influence on the development of the 

 young as it is known to have on those of the Salmon and 

 Trout. Dr. Davy gives a short account of his observations on 

 this subject by remarking that on the twenty-fifth day of 



