THE LAKE DISTRICT 191 



the gentle craft. Indeed, the rivers here are full of 

 fine trout, and sport of the best sort is to be had in 

 every direction. And the most effective, and really 

 the most amusing, method of traversing these waters 

 is by walking just as the eroiu flies. Let a rod-fisher 

 take some provender with him, not neglecting a little 

 spirit for medicine's sake; and, relying upon his own 

 resources, make the best of his way over mountain and 

 valley, and there can be no doubt but he will fill 

 both his basket with capital fish, and his heart with ex- 

 hilarating gladness. This is the true and only method of 

 angling in these wild and secluded tracts of country. 

 To afford him a little guidance, we shall just dot down, 

 from our own personal recollections and experience, a 

 few general observations on the various rivers connected 

 with this interesting range of piscatory waters. 



The chief river in Cumberland is the Eden. It is an 

 imposing and magnificent stream, and abounds with 

 trout and salmon of the finest quality. It springs out 

 of the high grounds — all moorlands of the wildest kind 

 — close upon the western section of Yorkshire, and has 

 a run of forty miles and upwards. It enters the county 

 of Cumberland near its junction with the Eamont, and 

 - flows on, through most interesting sections of the county, 

 to the city of Carlisle, and enters the Solway Firth 

 near Eockcliff March. The angler has a ready access to 

 Carlisle, either by the Lancaster Railway, or the Carlisle 

 and Newcastle line; so that he can be brought into 

 immediate proximity with the finest range of angling 

 streams in the kingdom. 



One of the very best fishing stations on the Eden is 

 that of Penrith. It is about five miles from the river ; 

 but, by a walk to it, we are placed at once on some of 

 its choicest streams. These run so clear and sparkling 

 over the rooky bed of the river, and are broken into 

 such a succession of rippling currents, that the eye of 

 the most experienced rod-fisher cannot but be fascinated 

 with their appearance, and the number of trout which 

 are taken here is often surprisingly great. We have 

 known ten and twelve dozen taken in three or four 



