234 SALMONID^ OF BRITAHST. 



cannot be taken at other times from the depth of water they frequent. This, 

 however, is not really the case. In October they are taken at a depth of 40 yards 

 or more, and the best fish are got then. The fact is, that ia summer when they 

 are in full season, it is more profitable for the boatmen to attend upon tourists 

 and anglers, and the difficulty of deep-water fishing is made the excuse for taking 

 thera after the spawning season has begun. This fish is in great demand at all the 

 hotels near the lakes ; but if some check be not put upon their destruction at 

 improper seasons they are likely to disappear altogether " (Report, p. v). While 

 Mr. Houghton in his British Fresh-water Fishes, considered that the extension 

 of the Salmon Act to char was a great mistake. " The only time — and that 

 time is of short duration — when char can be taken in any numbers is in October 

 and November, when they leave their deep-water haunts for the shallower parts 

 of the lakes. The destructive agency of man, limited as it was to one or two 

 months' duration, could have but little eifect in causing a diminution of the 

 species in the extensive depths of our great lakes, which, for five-sixths of the 

 year, provide safe and unassailable harbours." On the other hand it has been 

 asserted that the char of Lough Neagh, in Ireland, have been exterminated by 

 man within the last forty years, showing his power, when unchecked by legislative 

 enactments, of effectually accomplishing such a destruction. In Land and Water 

 for December 27th, 1879, is an interesting article upon the result following the 

 preservation of the Llanberris char. Two large fresh-water lakes exist, joined 

 together by a small river. In November the char pass up this stream to the 

 lower portion of the upper lake to spawn, having accomplished which they return 

 to the lower lake. The proprietors, acting on the principle enunciated above, 

 used to net them at the spawning period ; but the Salmon Act of 1873 prohibited 

 the capture of these fish between October 1 and February 1, so the killing of these 

 spawning char has been stopped. Prior to 1874 they were only to be seen here 

 and there in shoals of a score or so, whereas now they may be observed in 

 hundreds, averaging about nine fish to 2 lb. weight. In September, 1879, an 

 angler, with a worm bait, captured in one evening 23 lb. weight of char,* and as 



* H. H., writing in Land and Water, observed of these Llanberis lakes, that " the fact is, the 

 lower lake, in which these interesting fish make their home, is so deep, and the bottom so rooky 

 and uneven, that it is impossible to net them, hence the reason for netting them when spawning, 

 for in those days there was no close time for char, but they could be taken either in or out of 

 season. The Act of 1873 has changed all this, and appointed a close time for char as well as trout ; 

 therefore, it is Ulegal to take char or trout between October 1 and February 1, which is just a 

 month too soon to be able to net char in this particular lake. But since the Act of 1873 came 

 into force (five years) the present proprietor of those lakes, like a thorough sportsman, has not 

 attempted to net char during close time (it is private property), although, as I said before, it is 

 the only time they can be netted. The consequence is that char are now to be seen in Llanberis 

 Lake in shoals. Prior to 1874 they were only to be seen here and there in shoals of a score or so, 

 whereas they are now to be seen in hundreds. What is the cause of this great increase of char ? 

 There is orJy one answer, viz., the preservation of the fish. Now for the mode of angling- for 

 those fish at Llanberis. At the commencement of last September a gentleman from Llanberis 

 went one evening with his rod to the upper end of the lower lake, baited his hooks with worms, 

 expecting to get a large trout ; so, after testing his casting-line and reel, he made a cast, and in a 

 few minutes there was a tug, then a puU, and the fish was landed, but only weighed a quarter of a 

 pound. Fresh bait, another cast, but this time a different tug, so he muttered to himself, ' A big 

 fellow at last ! ' However, when landed, there were two fish, but instead of the nice yellow trout, 

 he beheld two red fish. He could not understand it, but at last exclaimed, ' Char I ' and was over- 

 joyed at his new discovery — viz., the worm bait. He went on fishing, and landed during the 

 evening 23 lb. of char, returned to Llanberis, and found a ready sale at one shilling per lb. The 

 news spread, and the next morning there were several anglers at work, and all had good sport. 

 This continued until close time, and some days hundreds of quarrymen miglit be seen fishing, 

 some in boats, others from the shore, some of them taking as much as 45 lb. in the day; a few 

 were also taken with the fly ; but I am sorry to say another mode of fishing has been practised — 

 viz., ' snatching.' It appears at times those fish are to be seen in shoals on the surface of the 

 lake, and as they will not then take a bait, bare hooks are thrown amongst them and suddenly 

 snatched, often getting two or three fish at a cast. It is a great pity this practice is not put a stop 

 to. The char in this lake are not large ; some a quarter of a pound, but the average is nine fish 

 to the two pounds." 



B. H. B. remarked in The Field, January 15th, 1887, that " with regard to the Windermere 

 char, one wonders that it has survived and multiplied under the surroundings of destruction which 



