A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 
taken in February, 1831, and May, 1832. 
I have not seen any recent specimens. 
*71, Loach. Nemachilus barbatulus, Linn, 
Locally, Liggy, Tommy Loach, Gobbly. 
A common resident in our smaller streams. 
MALACOPTERYGII 
** 72, Salmon. Salmo salar, Linn. 
A source of much expense and some little 
revenue, the salmon is still an object of the 
deepest solicitude to a large portion of our 
local population. It remains to be seen what 
measures can be adopted to augment the sport 
which it supplies. Pages might be filled with 
tales of the amusing ruses practised by salmon 
poachers, but many of their pranks would 
have been lightly regarded in earlier days. 
Salmon used to be sent up to London on horses 
from Carlisle and Workington, which, travel- 
ling night and day, delivered the fish in such 
fresh condition that it fetched from half a 
crown to four shillings a pound. I refer to 
the middle of the eighteenth century. The 
weight of Eden and Esk salmon do not, of 
course, come up to those from some Scottish 
rivers, such as the Tay. One of the best fish 
ever taken out of the Eden was the male 
salmon caught by Mr. Francis, in 1888. It 
was landed after being played for half an hour, 
and scaled 554 lb. 
** 73, Sea Trout. Salmo trutta, Fleming. 
Locally, Whiting (immature fish). 
The Esk is specially famous for the sport to 
be obtained with the immature fish, known 
locally as ‘whiting.’ These young fish begin 
to run in June, when they average four or five 
to a pound, but improve in condition until in 
August they reach half a pound or even a 
pound apiece. A few sea trout are taken 
from time to time in our estuaries and larger 
rivers. Occasionally they become entangled 
in drift nets on the open coast. 
Salmo fario, Linn. 
Cumberland is a county of many trout 
streams, and the lakes are reputed to contain 
very large fish, sometimes erroneously called 
‘great lake trout.’ Ulleswater was formerly 
famous for ‘grey trout,’ supposed to weigh 
from 30 to 40 |b. 
*75. Alpine Charr. 
Charr were indigenous to Ulleswater, Enner- 
dale Lake, Buttermere, Crummockwater, as 
well as several lakes in Westmorland. They 
are reported to have become extinct in Ulles- 
water. 
*74. Common Trout. 
Salmo alpinus, Linn. 
76. Smelt. Osmerus eperlanus, Linn. 
Locally, Sparling. 
The sparling fishing in the Solway Firth is 
an industry of considerable importance. ‘The 
best takes are generally made in September, 
but the industry is continued during the winter. 
* 97, Gwyniad. 
Locally, Skelly. 
This fish was formerly abundant in Ulles- 
water, and in autumn congregated in large 
shoals, known to the dalesmen as schools. In 
recent years the numbers decreased, but of late 
the number of ‘skellies’ netted in the lake 
has increased. It sometimes happens that 
this fish enters the Eamont and subsequently 
the Eden. 
*78. Vendace. Coregonus vandesius, Rich. 
This species inhabits Derwentwater and 
Bassenthwaite Lake, but is seldom taken alive, 
as it does not care for a bait. Those that are 
procured have usually been washed up at the 
side of Derwentwater after a storm. 
Coregonus clupeoides, Lacép. 
* 79. Grayling. Thymallus vexillifer, Linn. 
The grayling was first introduced into the 
Eden about 1860 by the late Mr. Carruthers, 
of Eden Grove, but it died out in the lower 
reaches of the river about 1880. In 1883 
the species was re-introduced, in the upper 
waters of the same river, near Appleby, whence 
it has descended into our county waters. 
80. Anchovy. Lngraulis encrasicholus, Linn. 
An occasional visitant. In the summer of 
1890 a small number of anchovies entered 
the Solway Firth, and about a score were 
caught near Silloth. 
81. Herring. Clupea harengus, Linn. 
Locally, Rock Herring (for large race). 
The herring fisheries of the Solway Firth 
were once remunerative, but evil days followed. 
The fish deserted the Firth, the boats rotted, 
and so did thenets. The custom of spreading 
small nets on the edge of the sands, to be 
lifted by the flowing tide, still survives at 
Allonby. But the number of herrings so 
secured is very small. Maryport and White- 
haven boats occasionally secure huge catches. 
82. Sprat. Clupea sprattus, Linn. 
A very common fish in our inshore waters 
at certain seasons. 
** 82, Shad. Clupea alosa, Linn. 
An occasional summer visitant to inshore 
waters, such as the mouth of the Eden, in 
which specimens have been taken ; the males 
being full of milt in the month of June. 
174 
