CHAR 89 



larger and redder, and spawn in comparatively deep 

 water. It would seem that most of the fish which 

 are spawning for the first time do so in November, 

 but there is room for further investigation, which, 

 however, is not at all likely to establish the exist- 

 ence of two species or races of Char in one lake. 



In most of the lakes inhabited by the Winder- 

 mere Char their capture is a profitable industry. 

 In Goat's Water they are said to be plentiful but 

 very small, averaging eight to the pound, and to 

 rise to the fly readily. The Ennerdale Char spawn 

 in the so-called ' Char Dub,' a long pool in the 

 River Liza, about three hundred yards above the 

 lake ; in an account of a visit to this place in 

 November, 1850, the Char were described as black- 

 ening the bottom of the pool. " Many thousands 

 certainly were there, and in a proper light the 

 gleam and twinkle of their multitudinous white- 

 edged fins was a pretty and singular spectacle." 



The Irish naturalist, Thompson, wrote : " When 

 at the inn at Waterhead, at the northern extremity 

 of Coniston Water, during a tour to the English 

 lakes in June, 1835, a number of Char from this 

 lake were kept alive by our host in a capacious 

 wooden box or trough, into which a constant stream 

 of water poured. They were fine examples of the 

 species, about a foot in length. Here I was in- 

 formed that a supply of this delicate fish was 

 always kept up, that the ' curious ' visitor might 

 gratify his taste at any season by having fresh 

 Char set before him at the rate of ten shillings for 

 the dozen of fish." Some years before, Pennant 

 wrote of Coniston : " The fish of this water are 

 Char and Pike ; a few years ago the first were 

 7 



